Soldier Boys (Suojeluskuntapojat) at AAA duties

[Juha Tompuri]

30. PTk (Helsinki)
It.R 1 (Helsinki)...

...
- 31 January 1944 = 2338 men and 31 lotta.
- 29 February 1944 = 2649 men and 34 lotta.
- 31 March 1944 = 2758 men and 39 lotta.
- 30 April 1944 = 2905 men and 41 lotta.
- 31 May 1944 = 3682 men and 45 lotta.
- 30 June 1944 = 3478 men and 20 lotta.
- 31 July 1944 = 3546 men and 20 lotta.
- 31 August 1944 = 3701 men and 18 lotta.
- 30 September 1944 = 3472 men and 20 lotta.

How about the "underage" (Sotilaspojat - Soldier boys)?
Were they listed there under the men or are their number missing from those lists above?

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 5&start=15

Because of the shortage of men at AAA arm it was decided to enroll 350 Soldier boys (under 18yrs age) to home front AAA duties.
Apparently the number was not reached, as it's mentioned that 248 boys had enlisted to 20th May 1942.
During Spring 1943 the Supreme Hq allowed the AF Hq to enroll 300 Soldier boys (18-16yrs, at special cases 15yrs "old") to home front AAA duties.
The number of Soldier boys at AAA duties during 1943 was 188(166?).
During 1944, due the severe shortage of trained AAA-men, and the Soviet bombings of Helsinki forced the Supreme Hq to allow the AF Hq to enroll 300 Soldier boys (born before 1928, later changed to "about 15yrs old well built, structurally strong") to home front AAA duties.
After the 2nd Soviet AF (AAD) attack against Helsinki (16-17th Feb-44) it was decided to increase the number of Soldier boys (also the ones who volunteered, but had not served at the Soldier boy organisation, were listed as Soldier boys) at AAA duties to 1500 Soldier boys.
During the 3rd AAD attack (26-27th Feb-44) againt Helsinki there were 258 Soldier boys at the (quote above mentioned) It.R 1.
At mid March the number of Soldier boys was ca. 1716, and at the above mentioned It.R 1 there were serving 404 Soldier boys = ~10% of the total manpower.
Some smaller AAA units were "manned" with even greater %/wholy with Soldier boys.

Sources: books Poikasotilaista Sotilaspoikiin by Elja Puranen and Ilmavaara by Ahti Lappi

Regards, Juha

[Swing]

Soldier boy organisation

Could you please clear this fact. Thanks in advance.

[Juha Tompuri]

Soldier boy organisation

Could you please clear this fact. Thanks in advance.

(also the ones who volunteered, but had not served at the Soldier boy organisation, were listed as Soldier boys

Because of the lack of volunteer Soldier boys, also those boys that had previously not been members of the Soldier boy organisation, were allowed to enlist to the volunteer AAA duties. The enlisting to AAA duties was done at (local) Soldier boy units.
When enlisting, they were conted as Soldier boys.
Soldier boy organisation = Sotilaspoikajärjestö

Regards, Juha

[Swing]

Thank you, Juha, for a new bit of Finnish history ! Special thanks for last word of your post.

[John Hilly]

Soldier boys were a kind of junior department of the Civil Guards. Under aged for being conscripts.

With best, J-P

[Juha Tompuri]

Some examples from SA-photo collection:


SA-photo 132273


SA-photo 149628


SA-photo 150623


SA-photo 150522

Regards, Juha

[John Hilly]

Famous actor Lasse Pöysti in SA-photo 149628.

With best, J-P

[Juha Tompuri]

Famous actor Lasse Pöysti in SA-photo 149628.

Yes, second from left looks very like him.

Regards, Juha

[Seppo Koivisto]

The Civil Guards and the Lotta Svärd organisation became extremely popular in the 1930’s. In the same way, the Civil Guard for Boys became one of the largest and most important youth organisations. Especially after the Winter War of 1939-1940, its membership increased significantly. By the end of 1939 it had about 32,000 members and four years later this had risen to over 70,000.

In 1941, the youth organisation officially became an independent organisation. At the same time, the name of the organisation was changedto Soldier Boys (Sotilaspojat). The age limit for joining the voluntary defence organisation was lowered from 12 to 10.

http://www.ennenjanyt.net/2006_3/nevala.html

[Juha Tompuri]

Lasse Pöysti on the left at ammunition maintenance (attaching fuzes?) duties


SA-photo 146977 (146976-146978)

Regards, Juha

[Martti]

Ilmatorjunnan vuosikirja 92-93 (Anti-aircraft year book 92-93) has also an article on the subject, pages 236-247: Asevelvollisuus- ja suojeluskuntalait (conscription and civil guard laws) forbade using under 17 year olds in armed duties, but because of the severity of the situation and manpower shortage 300 16 year old high school (lukio) boys were accepted for service in early 1944. Because of the technical nature of anti-aircraft service high school students were selected. The boys were volunteers and parental consent was required.

After the large Soviet air attacks against Helsinki in winter 1944 the number of soldier boys in anti-aircraft duties was raised to 1500 (in the entire country, not just Helsinki) and the age limit was dropped to 15 years (in few cases even 14 years olds were accepted). The target number was not reached; in April 1944 there were 837 soldier boys in anti-aircraft duties in the entire country.

Three boys were killed in action and a few more were wounded. Kotka was the most severely hit city in summer 1944 and some the soldier boys were moved to other locations from there.