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Finnish Forces: Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941
On
26th June Finland declared war on the USSR (although apparently Soviet
aircraft attacked Finnish cities and airfields the day before). The
Finns (under Mannerheim) launched their main attacks on 10th July 1941.
The Finnish Army and Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) Forces Available to Support Operation Barbarossa from 22nd June to 10th July 1941
- Karelia Army with 16 divisions and 302 600 personnel (total in the Finnish Army and Air Force Ground Forces).
- 6 infantry corps HQs, 16 infantry divisions, 2 Jager (Rifle) brigades and 1 cavalry brigade.*
- 79 tanks, tankettes and armoured cars, 222 combat aircraft (excluding 4 transport aircraft),^
- 2
141 artillery pieces (including 486 AT guns, 2 rail guns, and all old
fortress guns and coastal guns), 366 (20-76mm) AA guns, 714 (81-120mm)
mortars, and 12 940 motor vehicles (excluding artillery prime movers,
armoured cars and motorcycles).**
- Commander: Marshal Mannerheim.
*
Includes the 17th Infantry Division which was deployed against the
Soviet Hanko Peninsula as part of the Finnish ‘Hanko Group’. It was
transferred to East Karelia on 18th July 41.
^ An additional 148
combat and transport aircraft were in service but were not deployed
with front line LeLv units (Lentolaivue or Aviation Squadrons). (Total
374 combat and transport aircraft).
** Figures include the ‘Hanko
Group’, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Coastal Brigades deployed at
Helsinki, Kotka, Porvoo, Hanko, Turku, Vaasa and Mariehamm respectively.
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copyright © Nigel Askey 2008.
Last updated, 27th Sept 2008.