Finnish snipers during the Winter & Continuation War

[Mangrove]

Have anyone done research from the subject other Finnish snipers than Häyhä during the Winter and Continuation War? Who had the second most kills?

Martti

[w9816]

Sulo Kolkka 400+

Though his existence is debated...

[Mikko H.]

AFAIK, nobody has managed to find a mention of Kolkka in Finnish sources (not counting the sport journalist and educator of the same name). All the deeds attributed to Kolkka greatly resemble those Häyhä is said to have performed. Given that the first sources describing this Kolkka the super sniper seem to be American, my bet is Kolkka is the result of some US author's confusion with Finnish names.

Perhaps Sulo Kolkka the journalist wrote an article about Simo Häyhä, and the names got mixed?

[Mangrove]

Mannerheim Cross 1st class was proposed to Kalle Moilanen in February 1941 for his merits during the Winter War (The cross wasn't given to Moilanen as it wasn't given to anyone with merits only from Winter War).

Res. Vänr. Kalle Moilanen, ottanut osaa KrhK/JR 37:n mukana taisteluihin Uuksussa, Syskyjärvellä, Ruhtinaanmäessä ja "moteissa". Haavoittui Lemetissä 26.2.40 jääden invalidiksi. Saanut 13. divisioonan komentajan, paikallispäällikkö Nuoran lahjoittaman kultaisen suurmestarimerkin, divisioonan parhaana miehenä.
Muutamia saavutuksia:

Mestariluokan ampujana on hän saanut merkitä tililleen yli 200 ryssää, jotka hän on ampunut kiväärillä. Tämä luku on huomattavasti suurempi, jos otetaan lukuun epävärmat tapaukset. Taistelun aikana ampui hän mm. erään konekivääripesäkkeen taakse 12 ryssää, ollen ampumamatkana noin 500 metriä. Edellä mainittuja tapauksia voisi luetella enemmänkin "Osasto Moilasen" tiliin. Erinomaisena ampujana, rohkeana ja taitavana sotilaana tunnettiin "Osasto Moilanen" niin omien kuin naapurinkin puolella.

Second Lieutenant in Reserve, Kalle Moilanen has fought with KrhK/JR 37 at Uuksu, Syskyjärvi, Ruhtinaanmäki and "mottis". He was wounded at Lemet on 26th February 1940 and became an invalid. He has received the golden Grand Master medal donated by the leader of 13th Division, chief Nuora, as a best man in the division.

Few achievements:

As a champion level marksman he has got over 200 kills with rifle. This number is even greater when uncertain kills are counted. During a battle he shot 12 russians behind a machine gun nest with shooting distance of circa 500 meters. Aforesaid cases could be list more to "Group Moilanen". As excellent marksman, brave and skillful soldier the "Group Moilanen" was well known at our and neighbour side.

Source: Military Archives of Finland: Kom.Os/PM

Martti

[Robb]

World War II

Name Conflict Service Branch Kills

Simo Hayha W.W. II Finland 542
Sulo Kolkka W.W. II Finland 400+


Could only find these two (already mentioned above at the link below
regards Robb

http://www.snipercentral.com/snipers.htm#WWII

[Suomäki]

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulo_Kolkka
and one of listed sources is reserve officers list

[Jarkko Hietala]

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulo_Kolkka
and one of listed sources is reserve officers list

Deeds of Sulo Kolkka are very similar than deeds of Simo Häyhä its pretty likely that they are same person.

[Mangrove]

Has anyone heard from Toivo W. Maukonen? He has wrote a book called "Tarkka-ampujan polku" (the path of sniper). He served at Sininen Prikaati (3. prikaati / 3rd Brigade) during the Continuation War.

http://www.cows.fi/index.php?id=316

Martti

[Juha Hujanen]

JR 2 Kannaksella ja Syvärillä book mentions Corporal Kaarlo (Karl?) Aarnio from 10./JR 2.He started his "career" in Spring 42 using an armored shield as cover.He liked to work alone and mainly operated in Metsäkangas in Kuukso sector in Syväri.Book claims that he had made over 150 kills by Autum 42.He carved an notch to rifle butt after a kill.

In base Jaala I in summer he usually said to sentry that he would go to no-mans land before twilight to find a good place and he would came back after dark.With some food and ammunition in breadbag anf off he went.During day few shots were heard and to relief of others Aarnio always came back after dark.

However Aarnio was killed in 12.1.44 when 50mm mortar shell exploted next to him and shell splinter hit to his temple.He was waxing his skies in trench when this happened.

Because he liked to "work" alone its very difficult to verify his kills.

http://tietokannat.mil.fi/menehtyneet/i ... 25&sort=sy

Regards/Juha

[Mangrove]

Because he liked to "work" alone its very difficult to verify his kills.

Unless one will go through the Soviet archives on that sector and look (unsual?) high number of soldiers killed by enemy snipers.

Martti

[Mangrove]

Just read the Maukonen's book and here's a some kind of summary those who don't know Finnish.

• - Born on 16th October 1921
  - Volunteer during the Winter War.
  - Served in 3rd Brigade in 1942. On 6th February 1942 the 3rd Brigade attacked to the village of Krivi. During the battle Maukkonen shot a Soviet Captain from 200 meters without a scope with a "suojeluskuntakivääri" (m/28?). Few minutes later he got lucky again as he hit a rider's horse from 700 after he had missed the first two shots.
  - During the trench war (in Krivi) he was released from ordinary duty because of his excellent marksmanship. His main targets were enemy guards, sometimes even officers. Sometimes he used the L-39 to break down Soviet trenches.
  - Most of the kills were confirmed by his fellow soldiers with binoculars.

Martti

[Mangrove]

JR 2 Kannaksella ja Syvärillä book mentions Corporal Kaarlo (Karl?) Aarnio from 10./JR 2.

This reminds me of book I read few months ago. The writer had fought on the Svir Front. He participated to a shooting contest and was selected to a special sniper team unique among the Finnish armies.

Martti

[Uncle Joe]

Indeed Toivo W. Maukonen has recently published his memoirs. I tried to read the book but the amount of religious Jesus propaganda resulted in a quick return to the library.

[Von Arnim]

I think i saw tv.program about Maukonen,last winter? he tells about his tactics"tin plate
in trench"

[patrik.possi]

How was the finnish snipers organized during the Continuation War? Were they in a seperated unit or did, say every commpany have one?

One intresting note here is in his book Jatkonsodan taistelut Jatkosodan taktiikkaa Col Järvinen shows a ToE list where the number of scoped rifles in a division is 492. ofcurse this dont mean they hade 492 snipers but they have the mean.