Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

Discussions on the Winter War and Continuation War, the wars between Finland and the USSR.
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Aleksander P
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Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#1

Post by Aleksander P » 08 Oct 2014, 02:17

Hi all,

I've been wondering how the use of Sissi Battalions (sissipataljoona) differed from regular infantry and jaeger troops during the wars? How was the fighting style different?

The word sissi is a pretty broad term in Finnish military terminology and thus catched my interest. Long-range reconnaisance patrols were a thing of their own, but they too were called by the name sissi.

Of course I know what the word sissi means, but I'm just interested in the differences between normal infantry and the sissi battalions.

I don't know any good forums about military history in Finnish, so I just decided to ask you guys here :).

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John Hilly
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#2

Post by John Hilly » 08 Oct 2014, 14:34

Actually the Sissipataljoonat formed during the Winter War were in a way ad hoc battalions which hadn't any special training or something. No specialities nor specialists.

AFAK In the Continuation War there wasn't Sissipataljoonia left any more.

With best, J-P :milwink:
"Die Blechtrommel trommelt noch!"


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Aleksander P
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#3

Post by Aleksander P » 08 Oct 2014, 14:50

Thanks for the info.

There were in the Continuation War at least by name, like Sissipataljoona 3.

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JTV
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#4

Post by JTV » 08 Oct 2014, 17:35

I am loaning stuff from not yet published next update of my website:

Sissi battalions were basically extra-light infantry units intended for fighting in vast wilderness of forests and swamps, which formed large part of the Finnish - Soviet front in areas north of Lake Laatokka / Ladoga. Fighting in such an environment made transporting all heavy weapons that the soldiers could not carry with them very difficult and this reflected to selection of equipment used to equip these units. Shortly said, that while during Winter War these battalions also had to do with what small arms were available, during Continuation War light machineguns, submachineguns and rifles became the preferred weapons used for equipping battalions of this type. Organisation-wise these battalions also had unusually large battalion HQ and if compared to normal infantry battalions seem to have lacked heavy weapons units (machine company with medium machineguns, plus during Continuation War mortar platoon). Due to nature of these units their signal equipment also was radios, not field telephones.

Intended main purpose for sissi battalions was to use them for raids and harassing enemy flanks and rear, but due to shortage of troops, equipment and lack of proper specialist training during Winter War they typically ended up being used as additional infantry, even if they were poorly suited for this purpose. Five sissi battalions were mobilised during Winter War and three for Continuation War - one battalion for each Army Corps operating in area north of Lake Ladoga. Year 1941 once again those three battalions saw only limited use in their intended role and instead ended up mostly being used like normal infantry. Sissi battalions 1 and 2 were disbanded in February of 1942.

While the literal translation of sissi is guerilla, ranger is the better translation of the term in this case, since these were not irregular troops, but part of regular Finnish Army. However the term is not totally incorrect as it refers to the guerilla-warfare like tactics that these units were intended to use - such as ambushes and hit & run.

You can one example of Winter War Sissi Battalion organisation here in my website (bottom of the page):
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/FORMATIONS6.htm

Recommended reading about the subject for those with Finnish language skills:
http://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/96810

Jarkko
Last edited by JTV on 09 Oct 2014, 07:04, edited 1 time in total.

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Aleksander P
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#5

Post by Aleksander P » 08 Oct 2014, 18:43

Thank you for the thorough explanation!

I noticed from wartime maps that the battalions were used like normal infantry, with performing frontal assaults etc.

I don't know why I've forgotten that study on sissi activity. I must read it now!

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#6

Post by Juha Tompuri » 08 Oct 2014, 21:07

Hi
Aleksander- wrote:I don't know any good forums about military history in Finnish, so I just decided to ask you guys here :).
Welcome here :)
There is one Finnish language forum that I can recommend: http://pkymasehist.fi/phpBB2/
Even not that active recently.

Here another decent finnish language book about the subject
Image
http://www.kirjapalvelu.fi/kirjat/suoma ... iminta.php

Regards, Juha

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Aleksander P
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Re: Sissi Battalions in the Winter- and Continuation War

#7

Post by Aleksander P » 08 Oct 2014, 21:28

Thank you!

I'm on the forum, but I've noticed that it isn't very active. That seems like a great book on the subject. I must loan it from somewhere because of the high price :D.

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