WW2 Finnish Units

 

A small army, which managed to hold the Russians for some eight or nine months in the winter of 1939 to 1940, and then joined Germany in their invasion of Russia in 1941. The army had little in the way of heavy weapons, most of its armour came from captured Russian sources, or later supplied by the Germans. From 1944 the Finns saw the writing on the wall and changed sides, and fought with the Soviets until the Germans were expelled from Finnish soil.

Finnish Regimental Headquarters 1939 to 1945 (May Command 2 Infantry Battalions and 1 Cyclist Battalion)

HQ                                                       1 HQ

Finnish Infantry Battalion 1939 to 1945

HQ                                                       1 HQ

3 Infantry Companies each                  3 Rifle 

1 Machinegun Company                      3 MMG

1 Anti Tank Platoon                             1 37ATG, 1 Limber

1 Mortar Platoon                                  1 81M

1 Cannon Platoon                                1 75IG, 1 Limber

Note                                                                                                     Jaeger, Cyclist and Light Infantry Battalions had Bicycles in summer, and skis in snow.  From 1941 the 37ATG may be replaced by 50ATG.  From 1943 the Anti-Tank Guns may be 76.2ATG

Finnish Tank Company 1939 to 1940 (only one was used, Renault FT17/37’s were dug in as defenses.)

                                                            3 T26

Finnish Cavalry Brigade 1939 to 1945 (Only one of these existed)

HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Cavalry Regiments each      

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Cavalry Squadrons each       3 Rifle, 3 Horses

            1 MMG Squadron                     3 MMG, 3 Horse

1 Jaeger Battalion HQ                                     1 HQ

3 Jaeger Companies each       3 Rifle, 3 Bicycles 

            1 Machinegun Company          3 MMG, 3 Bicycle

            1 Anti Tank Platoon                 1 37ATG, 1 Limber

            1 Mortar Platoon                      1 81M, 1 Wagon

Note                                                                                                     Notes on anti tank guns for the infantry battalion apply

Finnish Tank Regiment 1942 to 1945

HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Tank Battalions each           

          HQ                                             1 T 26

          3 Tank Companies each                        3 T26 or 2 T34 & 1 T26 or 3 Pz4H

Note                                                                                                     Only one company of T34/T28 and one Company of Pz IV may be used; Pz IV may only be used from 1944.

Finnish Assault Gun Battalion 1943 to 1945

HQ                                                       1 HQ

3 Assault Gun Companies each           3 StuG3

                       

Finnish Artillery Battalion

            HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Light Artillery Batteries each                        1 75H, 1 Limber

1 Heavy Artillery Battery                      1 105H, 1 Limber

                                                                        Note                                                     The weapons used are highly variable. 75mm came from Sweden, the US, and Norway. Russian 76mm were captured and used in large numbers, as were the 122mm. 105’s came from France and Sweden, 150mm (also 152’s and 155’s) came from France, Sweden, and Russia.

Independent Finnish Units these may be attached to any Regimental Headquarters

            Armored Car Platoon                           1 HQ

            Anti Aircraft Platoon                            1 40AAG, 1 Light Truck

Finnish Border Guard Battalion 1941

HQ                                                       1 HQ

3 Guard Companies each                    4 Scout

1 Towed Companies each                   1 81M, 1 45ATG, 1 Limber

Large Units:

Infantry Division – 3 Infantry Regiments, 1 Artillery Regiment (3 Battalions), 1 Engineer Company (3 platoons), 1 Tank Company