The official AHF Winter & Continuation War quiz thread

[Jagala]

I have a nagging sense that I *should* know the answer (but, alas, I no longer remember everything I read). However, my educated guess would tend to occillate between "incendiary weapons" (i,e, "Molotov cocktails") and "chemical weapons" (the use of which was "observed" and reported by both sides). Many left-wing Labour Party politicians (such as Konni Zilliacus with his Finnish roots) supported the Soviet line almost fervently and it is highly imaginable that some such MP could have been delivered this juicy bit by a Soviet diplomat in London and found it irresistible.

I say: "chemical weapons".

[peeved]

I can't for sure say that a Finnish "use" of chemical weapons wasn't debated but my question relates to something that was actually used. The question was more in line of what His Majesty's Government was doing to introduce similar ordnance. The problem faced dealt with warfare beneath a member of the USMC.

Markus

[ML]

New subject: The Finnish use of what led to a Parliamentary question in the British House of Commons?

Airborne use of navy depth charges?

[peeved]

Airborne depth charges it was. My source Merilentäjät sodan taivaalla by Joppe Karhunen.

Over to you.

Markus

[ML]

My source Merilentäjät sodan taivaalla by Joppe Karhunen.

I also remember reading this from one of the books by Joppe Karhunen (probably Birger Ek section of "Marskin ritarilentäjät").

New question will follow soon. Have to check some details first.

[John Hilly]

The problem faced dealt with warfare beneath a member of the USMC.

Meaning what?

Juha-Pekka

[peeved]

The problem faced dealt with warfare beneath a member of the USMC.

Meaning what?

Sub being beneath or under and a
Marine a member of the United States Marine Corps
the hint of course referred to the problem of submarine warfare the British were facing.

Markus

[John Hilly]

Oops!
J-P :roll:

[ML]

At least one fortification in Finland confronted German armed forces during both WW1 and WW2. What was the fortification, when these events took place and what were the major German units present?

[John Hilly]

At least one fortification in Finland confronted German armed forces during both WW1 and WW2. What was the fortification, when these events took place and what were the major German units present?

Well, you really gave us an "easy" quiz!
Suursaari?
Edit: Rankki, although I cannot understand what could have happened there in WWII!

Greets
Juha-Pekka

[ML]

Well, you really gave us an "easy" quiz!
Suursaari?

As far as I know, there were no fortifications in Suursaari during WW1, but correct me if I am wrong. Germans probably operated in waters around the island though, as they occupied Estonia in 1918, but I am not aware of any conflict between defenders of Suursaari (if there were any at all) and German forces.

Hint: Only one of the events include actual combat. The other was eventually settled peacefully, although the fortification had authorization to open fire on Germans.

By the way, sorry to expand the quiz to WW1 events! Therefore, it is enough to answer the WW2 part of the question.

[ML]

Edit: Rankki, although I cannot understand what could have happened there in WWII!

Rankki is not the place I have in my mind. Red Guards manned Rankki in spring 1918 and prevented German landing (Detachement Brandenstein) to Kotka, but Finnish-German group sent to capture the island never reached its destination. I am not aware of any German action against Rankki in WW2, although it could be possible in September 1944. Blocking the sea lanes of Kotka by minelaying is not the German WW2 action I am after, either.

And while reading more on Brandenstein in 1918 I found out that Germans really were in Suursaari spring 1918, but as I said, Suursaari was not fortification.

[Juha Tompuri]

Utö?

Regards, Juha

[ML]

Utö?

Yes, Utö is the coastal fort I am after. When and what kind of hostilities its garrison had with Germans? WW1 should be easy, WW2 maybe trickier, though the timeframe should be clear.

[Juha Tompuri]

WW1 should be easy, WW2 maybe trickier, though the timeframe should be clear.

Well... actually Iknew about the WWII era incident and "guessed" right about the WWI era one

Battlecruiser Von der Tann and Cruiser Kolberg shelled the Island 10th Aug-15:
http://books.google.com/books?id=6hwb6o ... f=false''¨

After the Soviet offensive was halted on late summer of 1944 the defence of Åland Islands was reinforced to guard against a possible German invasion. While there were no clashes between Finnish and German forces in Åland Islands or Archipelago Sea area, a force of three German ships that had left Finland late were allowed to pass by the Utö fort on 19.9.1944, the same day that Moscow Armistice was signed. The German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen along with escorts was patrolling of Utö, coming to a range of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) at closest, when the three ships sailed by. Utö fort was at battle stations during the event, and guns on the three German ships were similarly manned.[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turku_Coastal_Regiment

Regards, Juha