Finland during World War II encompasses three major conflicts. The first two of these – the defensive Winter War in 1939–1940, and the Continuation War alongside the Axis Powers in 1941–1944 – were waged against the Soviet Union. The third one, the Lapland War in 1944–1945, followed the signing of an armistice agreement with the Allied Powers, which stipulated expulsion of German forces from Finnish territory.
By the end of hostilities, Finland managed to defend its independence, but had to cede nearly 10% of its territory, including its second largest city, Viipuri, and pay out a large amount of war reparations to the Soviet Union. As a result of this territorial loss, many Finnish Karelians fled or were evacuated from their homes, relocating to areas that remained within the borders of Finland.
A soldier with a pack Reindeer, on slippery ice, near the tiny village of Nautsi, in northern Lapland, Finland, on October 26, 1941. # SA-kuva
Flamethrower in action in the woods near the village of Niinisalo, on July 1, 1942. # SA-kuva
Pilots in flight above Jämijärvi, on July 17, 1942. # SA-kuva
Propeller-driven snowmobile near Haapasaari, Finland. The swastika was used as the official national marking of the Finnish Air Force and Tank Corps between 1918 and 1945. # SA-kuva
Looking out toward approaching aircraft with binoculars and listening with a huge acoustic locator. # SA-kuva
Finnish tank crew, July 8, 1941. # SA-kuva
Hitler’s visit to Finland. Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, made a brief visit to Finland in June of 1942. # SA-kuva
Anti-aircraft fire over Suomenlinna, Helsinki. # SA-kuva
The Soviet bombing of Helsinki, on November 30, 1939. On this day, the Soviet Union invaded Finland with 21 divisions, totaling some 450,000 troops. # SA-kuva
The bombing of Helsinki. The main building of Helsinki University, on Senate Square, burns during the night. This scene today, on Google Maps. # SA-kuva
A street scene after enemy bomb attacks. # SA-kuva
Icicles hang inside a bombed-out building in Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia). # SA-kuva
A Finnish armored train. # SA-kuva
An experiment in troop transportation in cold weather. # SA-kuva
At the Hämeenlinna war dog school. # SA-kuva
A small rocket launched in the woods. # SA-kuva
Street fighting in Medvezhyegorsk, Russia. The town was occupied by Finland for three years. # SA-kuva
Some of an estimated 400 Russian soldiers killed in a battle, on February 1, 1940. # SA-kuva
A downed Russian plane. # SA-kuva
Russian prisoners of war. # SA-kuva
A barge lifts a wrecked locomotive. # SA-kuva
Aftermath of a bombing attack. # SA-kuva
Vyborg Cathedral, after the bombing. # SA-kuva
Stuka dive-bombers fly over, Immola, July 2, 1944. # SA-kuva
Nurmoila village, shortly after Russian bombers attacked. # SA-kuva
Finnish motorcycle and tank. # SA-kuva
A parked bicycle, camouflaged. Ontrosenvaara, August 17, 1941. # SA-kuva
via Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive
