German units in Finland before Jatkosota

[Laurance.Robinson]

More often than not I have come across comments to the effect that German units were deployed in Finland before the German invasion of the Soviet Union broke out.

What units, if any, German Wehrmacht units were deployed inside Finland before the 22nd June?

Regards,

Laurance

[Mangrove]

Here's a list of more or less permanent units that is not probably comprehensive:

Heer
169. Infanterie-Division
Panzer-Abteilung 211
Panzer-Abteilung 40

Waffen SS
- SS-Division Nord. 7 June 1941 onwards. Arrived to Rovaniemi on 10 June 1941.

Luftwaffe
- Aufklärungskette (F)/ Lappland. Arrived to Rovaniemi between 17 and 18 June 1941. 3 x Dornier Do 17 P, 3 x Fieseler Fi 156, 1 x Junkers Ju 52 and 1 x Focke Wulf Fw 58.
- IV Stuka Gruppe / Lehrgeschwader 1 (IV.(St.)/LG 1). Arrived to Rovaniemi on 19(?) June 1941. Junkers Ju 87 B/R.
- "Kommando Luonetjärvi", Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.L.). 18 June 1941 onwards. 3 x Dornier Do 215 B, 3 x Heinkel He 111 P and at least one Junkers Ju 52.
- Fliegerhorst Malmi / Befehlskommandatur E 1, Malmi. 20 June 1941 onwards.

[Art]

- SS-Division Nord. 7 June 1941 onwards. Arrived to Rovaniemi on 10 June 1941.

It was officially called Kampfgruppe Nord and not reorganized as division yet:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... GebDSS.htm

[Laurance.Robinson]

Here's a list of more or less permanent units that is not probably comprehensive:

Heer
169. Infanterie-Division
Panzer-Abteilung 211
Panzer-Abteilung 40

Waffen SS
- SS-Division Nord. 7 June 1941 onwards. Arrived to Rovaniemi on 10 June 1941.

Luftwaffe
- Aufklärungskette (F)/ Lappland. Arrived to Rovaniemi between 17 and 18 June 1941. 3 x Dornier Do 17 P, 3 x Fieseler Fi 156, 1 x Junkers Ju 52 and 1 x Focke Wulf Fw 58.
- IV Stuka Gruppe / Lehrgeschwader 1 (IV.(St.)/LG 1). Arrived to Rovaniemi on 19(?) June 1941. Junkers Ju 87 B/R.
- "Kommando Luonetjärvi", Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.L.). 18 June 1941 onwards. 3 x Dornier Do 215 B, 3 x Heinkel He 111 P and at least one Junkers Ju 52.
- Fliegerhorst Malmi / Befehlskommandatur E 1, Malmi. 20 June 1941 onwards.

So they arrived in June?

So when Molotov accused the Finns of breaking the treaty and housing Germans in early 1941, it wasn't the case?

[Mangrove]

So when Molotov accused the Finns of breaking the treaty and housing Germans in early 1941, it wasn't the case?

Finland and Sweden allowed the transit of German troops through their territories after Denmark and Norway were invaded in 1940. However, Soviet troop transfers were also allowed through Finland to Hanko territory.

[Seppo Jyrkinen]

German traffic through Finland started 21.9.1940 and, depending on source, 1.500 - 2.500 men stayed permanently in Finland. A big change was in the beginning of June 1941 as Mangrove has listed.

[Laurance.Robinson]

Thanks again for the information.

Always grateful