New book on Soviet spies in Finland 1941-1944

[Lotvonen]

In a Finnish history forum I found interesting data:
Soviet spies in Finland from June 1941 to April 1944
Estimated total: 1428
Caught alive: 495
Killed (failed parachute, suicide, shot when resisting arrest): 162
Active April 1944: 320
(Data from May 1944 on was destroyed by Finns in September 1944 to deny it from the Allied Control Commission, i.e. Soviets.)

Now a new book has been published in Finnish, translated title: "Enemies among us - Soviet spies in Finland 1939-1944"
(Viholliset keskellämme - Desantit Suomessa 1939-1944, by Atso Haapanen, Minerva Kustannus Oy)
The publisher's blurb:
"The description of the fates of the "desants" (spies) and spies recruited locally in Finland are now collected and available in one book.
Basing on authentic archive documents this great piece of work documents all people sentenced by Finnish martial courts to death or lifetime in jail as spies or traitors.
During WW2 most of the parachutists sent to Finland to spy or sabotage were quickly captured. Some surrendered themselves immediately after arrival. Others carried out their task and when caught committed suicide. The Russians had indoctrinated their desants into believing that they would suffer a terrible fate if caught alive by Finns. Finns were also recruited as spies were recruited, for example people who had defected or emigrated to S.U. in the 30s, and residents of border communities.
Caught desants. if foreign nationals, were sentenced as spies. Finnish nationals, recruited as spies, were sentenced for high treason if civilians, and for "war treason" if soldiers. Most common sentences were death sentence or for life."

Anyone read the book yet ? 500 pages must fit in a lot of material.

[Juha Tompuri]

Anyone read the book yet ? 500 pages must fit in a lot of material.

I have had the book loaned from local library and read parts of it.

"The description of the fates of the "desants" (spies) and spies recruited locally in Finland are now collected and available in one book.
Basing on authentic archive documents this great piece of work documents all people sentenced by Finnish martial courts to death or lifetime in jail as spies or traitors.

The book mainly is a collection of war time reports how the (caught) spies were caught, interrogation reports and their fates after that.
A pretty good summary and at several cases interesting reading.

In a Finnish history forum I found interesting data:
Soviet spies in Finland from June 1941 to April 1944
Estimated total: 1428
Caught alive: 495
Killed (failed parachute, suicide, shot when resisting arrest): 162
Active April 1944: 320

The book mentions p.452
During Winter War:
executed - 23
lifetime sentence - 3
fallen - 10

During Continuation War:
executed - 447
lifetime sentence - 141
fallen - 161

Regards, Juha

[Lotvonen]

Juha T,
while you are reading the book could you kindly check if there is the following case:
In 1970 a book called "Minä, desantti" by Onni Palaste was published (http://wsoy.fi/yk/products/show/27211)
The book is said to be basing on a true story.
Is this man, hailing from Suomussalmi, a Finnish NCO, wounded in action and taken POW, recruited as spy and parachuted to Finland, listed in this new publication?
This spy turned himself in and ratted on his "comrades", finally surviving the war and returning home.

[Juha Tompuri]

At least for my surprise (after a quick re-reading) Pallaste book is in fact (loosely) based on a true story.

At pages 383-384 at the Haapanen book it is mentioned that a four man spy team parachuted on night September 13/14th 1943 at Aska village at Puolanka.
The members being:
Martti Leevi Juhonpoika Klemetti (born 1900, moved to USSR 1932, got Soviet citizenship 1935, enlisted Soviet spy school 1942. Klemetti was caught while bathing at a sauna at Salokylä village at Ristijärvi 28th September and executed on 14th December 1944)
Corporal Karl Valter Hermansson (born 1919, defected from his unit to USSR 29th December 1942, joined to the same spy school as Klemetti on May 1943. Hermansson was caught 14th September about 11.00 o'clock and he was executed with Klemetti.)
Corporal Emil Heikkinen (The lead character/teller figure at the Pallaste book, born 1906, belonged to 9./JR 32 and was taken as POW during a patrol mission 29th March 1942. Heikkinen reported himself to Finnish officials 15th September and was not therefore convicted at all)
Vilho Pekkojev (A soviet radio operator, captured with Hermansson, his fate is mentioned to be unknown)

Regards, Juha

[Lotvonen]

Thank you Juha for your reply, that is what I wanted to know.
BTW Klemetti & Hermansson must have been executed in 1943 (not 1944) ?
Was Hermansson one of "Pärmi's men"?

[Juha Tompuri]

BTW Klemetti & Hermansson must have been executed in 1943 (not 1944) ?

08.41 o'clock 14th December 1944 at Suomussalmi according to the book

Was Hermansson one of "Pärmi's men"?

He had served at LinP 10 (10th Fortification Construction Battalion) at Aunus/Olonets district, but had defected (skied over Lake Ääninen/Onego) to the Soviet side 29th December 1942.

Regards, Juha

[Harri]

BTW Klemetti & Hermansson must have been executed in 1943 (not 1944) ?

08.41 o'clock 14th December 1944 at Suomussalmi according to the book

Was Hermansson one of "Pärmi's men"?

He had served at LinP 10 (10th Fortification Construction Battalion) at Aunus/Olonets district, but had defected (skied over Lake Ääninen/Onego) to the Soviet side 29th December 1942.

Juha, I think you mean this:
Lin.Rak.P 10 = Linnoitusrakennuspataljoona 10 = Fortification Construction Battalion 10

Lin.P 10 = Linnoituspataljoona 10 = Fortress Battalion 10 (a heavy MG battalion)
Lin.P 10 was suspended in the summer 1942. It was originally part of Lake Ladoga Coastal Brigade but was moved to Lake Onega Coastal Brigade until was suspended and new 38th (Coastal) Defence Company (38.TK) and 39th (Coastal) Defence Company (39.TK) were formed using its personnel.

[Juha Tompuri]

Juha, I think you mean this:
Lin.Rak.P 10 = Linnoitusrakennuspataljoona 10 = Fortification Construction Battalion 10

Sorry, by mistake.
The unit mentioned at that book was Lin.P 10 and the defection had taken place January 29th 1942.

Regards, Juha

[Juhapaavo]

The fate of the radio operator Vilho Pekkojev is not unknown. Either he was not captured with Karl Hermansson. Pekkojev was parachuted first, but his parachute did not open and he dropped to a swamp, where his remains are still today. However, the date and place of birth of Vilho Pekkojev are still unknown. Seura 43 and 44/1972: "Olin venäläisten desanttina" (An interview of Eemil Heikkinen).

[Mikko H.]

BTW Klemetti & Hermansson must have been executed in 1943 (not 1944) ?

08.41 o'clock 14th December 1944 at Suomussalmi according to the book

Must be a typo in the book, no executions took place after the Continuation War ended in September 1944.

[Juhapaavo]

According to a report sent to the Finnish Ministry of Justice by war judge Gunnar Nyman, the death sentences of Hermansson and Klemetti implemented in Suomussalmi on January 14, 1944 at 8:41. The exact place of execution in Suomussalmi is unknown.
The corpse of Hermansson was transferred and buried to his birth place Parainen in July 1945. The location of the corpse of Martti Klemetti is unknown, but unless it´s still somewhere in Suomussalmi, it´s likely that it has been transferred to a Soviet mass grave in Kuusamo Nilonkangas.