Finnish formation commanders in the Continuation War

[Mikko H.]

I thought it would be extremely useful to gather a list of all Finnish formation commanders from Army to brigade level during the Continuation War. This is something I've worked on, on and off, for some time, and all comments, corrections and additions are more than welcome.

My main sources are Mikko Kohvakka's article Jatkosodan suomalaisjoukot ja niiden komentajat in the book Jatkosodan tiellä (ed. by Marko Palokangas) and Itsenäisen Suomen kenraalikunta 1918-1996. Note that different sources often give different dates, sometimes widely apart.

Karjalan Armeija
Army of Karelia

kenraaliluutnantti [1] Erik Heinrichs 29 June 1941 - 29 January 1942
kenraaliluutnantti Karl Lennart Oesch (temporary) 29 January 1942 - 1 March 1942

Formed on 29 June 1941, disbanded on 1 March 1942 and HQ became Aunuksen Ryhmä (Olonets Group) HQ.

[1] promoted to jalkaväenkenraali on 3 October 1941

Kannaksen Joukkojen Komentajan Esikunta
HQ of the Commander of the Isthmus Forces

kenraaliluutnantti Karl Lennart Oesch 14 June 1944 - 6 October 1944

Formed on 14 June 1944, disbanded on 6 October 1944.

Kannaksen Ryhmä
Isthmus Group

kenraaliluutnantti Harald Öhquist 1 March 1942 - 4 March 1944

Formed on 1 March 1942 from the HQ of IV Armeijakunta (IV Army Corps), reformed as HQ of IV Armeijakunta on 4 March 1944.

Aunuksen Ryhmä
Olonets Group

kenraaliluutnantti Karl Lennart Oesch 1 March 1942 - 14 June 1944
kenraaliluutnantti Paavo Talvela 14 June 1944 - 18 July 1944

Formed on 1 March 1942 from the HQ of Karjalan Armeija (Army of Karelia), disbanded on 18 July 1944.

Maaselän Ryhmä
Maaselkä Group

kenraaliluutnantti Taavetti Laatikainen 1 March 1942 - 4 March 1944

Formed on 1 March 1942 from the HQ of II Armeijakunta (II Army Corps), on 4 March 1944 reformed as HQ of the II Armeijakunta.

[Mikko H.]

EDIT 28 September 2005: Added Ryhmä Oinonen.

I Armeijakunta
I Army Corps

eversti [2] Einar Mäkinen 8 August 1941 - 1 February 1942

Formed on 8 August 1941, became the HQ of V Armeijakunta (V Army Corps) on 1 February 1942.

[2] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 3 October 1941

II Armeijakunta
II Army Corps

kenraalimajuri Paavo Talvela 5 June 1941 - 29 June 1941
kenraalimajuri [2b] Taavetti Laatikainen 29 June 1941 - 1 March 1942
(kenraalimajuri Aarne Blick (acting) 25 August 1941 - 30 August 1941)
kenraaliluutnantti Paavo Talvela 4 March 1944 - 14 June 1944
kenraalimajuri Einar Mäkinen 14 June 1944 - 27 November 1944

Formed on 5 June 1941, became Maaselän Ryhmä (Maaselkä Group) HQ on 1 March 1942, reformed as II Armeijakunta HQ on 4 March 1944, disbanded on 27 November 1944.

[2b] promoted to kenraaliluutnantti on 16 January 1942

III Armeijakunta
III Army Corps

kenraalimajuri [3] Hjalmar Siilasvuo 10 June 1941 - 8 November 1942; 25 February 1944 - 28 November 1944

Formed on 10 June 1941, HQ existed without having a commander 8 November 1942 - 25 February 1944, disbanded on 28 November 1944.

[3] promoted on 3 July 1942 to kenraaliluutnantti

IV Armeijakunta
IV Army Corps

kenraaliluutnantti Karl Lennart Oesch 18 June 1941 - 31 January 1942 [3b]
(kenraalimajuri Taavetti Laatikainen (acting) 25 August 1941 - 30 August 1941)
kenraaliluutnantti Harald Öhquist 1 February 1942 - 1 March 1942
kenraaliluutnantti Taavetti Laatikainen 4 March 1944 - 3 December 1944

Formed on 18 June 1941, became the HQ of Kannaksen Ryhmä (Isthmus Group) on 1 March 1942, reformed as HQ of IV Armeijakunta on 4 March 1944, disbanded on 3 December 1944.

[3b] Oesch was on sick leave 25 August 1941 - 30 August 1941

V Armeijakunta
V Army Corps

kenraalimajuri Taavetti Laatikainen 22 June 1941 - 29 June 1941
kenraalimajuri Einar Mäkinen 1 February 1942 - 1 August 1943
kenraalimajuri Antero Svensson 1 August 1943 - 5 December 1944

Formed on 22 June 1941 and became HQ of the VI Armeijakunta (VI Army Corps) a week later. Reformed on 1 February 1942 from the HQ of I Armeijakunta (I Army Corps), disbanded on 5 December 1944.

VI Armeijakunta
VI Army Corps

kenraalimajuri Paavo Talvela 30 June 1941 - 15 January 1942
kenraalimajuri Antero Svensson (acting) 15 January 1942 - 30 January 1942
kenraalimajuri Aarne Blick (temporary) 30 January 1942 - 6 July 1944 [3c]
(kenraalimajuri Ruben Lagus (acting) 29 September 1943 - 12 October 1943)
kenraalimajuri Armas-Eino Martola 6 July 1944 - 21 September 1944
kenraalimajuri Kustaa Tapola 21 September 1944 - 30 November 1944

Formed on 30 June 1941 from the HQ of V Armeijakunta, disbanded on 30 November 1944.

[3c] Blick was replaced by Martola after Blick had withdrawn the army corps without informing his superior, Commander of the Aunuksen Ryhmä (Olonets Group) kenraaliluutnantti Paavo Talvela

VII Armeijakunta
VII Army Corps

kenraalimajuri [4] Woldemar Hägglund 20 June 1941 - 16 June 1943

Formed on 20 June 1941, disbanded on 16 June 1943.

[4] promoted to kenraaliluutnantti on 16 January 1942

Ryhmä Oinonen
Group Oinonen

kenraalimajuri Woldemar Oinonen 18 June 1941 - 29 April 1942

Ryhmä Oinonen was formed on 18 June 1941 using E/RvPr (HQ of the Cavalry Brigade) as the HQ unit. It was an ad hoc formation that had a number of brigades, independent battalions and other units under its command. Ryhmä Oinonen was disbanded in April - May 1942.

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Divisions to follow...

[Mikko H.]

Unlass otherwise noted, all divisions were formed in June 1941 and disbanded (as war-time formations) in November-December 1944.

Note that the numbers 9th, 13th and 16th weren't assigned to any division during the Continuation War (there were a 9th and 13th Division during the Winter War).

EDIT 24 September 2005: Edited some first names.

1. Divisioona
1st Division

eversti [5] Paavo Paalu 18 June 1941 - 2 November 1943
kenraalimajuri Uno Fagernäs 2 November 1943 - 23 November 1944

[5] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 26 April 1942

2. Divisioona
2nd Division

eversti [6] Aarne Blick 10 June 1941 - 1 February 1942
(eversti Armas Kemppi (acting) 25 August 1941 - 30 August 1941)
kenraalimajuri Hannu Hannuksela 1 February 1942 - 12 May 1942 [7]
kenraalimajuri Armas-Eino Martola 19 May 1942 - 6 July 1944
kenraalimajuri Aarne Blick 6 July 1944 - 19 November 1944

[6] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 3 October 1941
[7] died of heart attack

3. Divisioona
3rd Division

eversti [8] Uno Fagernäs 16 June 1941 - 21 October 1943
kenraalimajuri Aaro Pajari 21 October 1943 - 21 October 1944
eversti August Kuistio 21 October 1944 - 3 December 1944

[8] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 16 November 1941

4. Divisioona
4th Division

eversti Kaarlo Viljanen 18 June 1941 - 24 April 1942 [9]
eversti Yrjö Takkula 22 May 1942 - 5 March 1943
eversti [10] Pietari Autti 5 March 1943 - 27 November 1944

[9] killed in accident on 24 April 1942, promoted posthumously to kenraalimajuri on that date
[10] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 31 December 1943

5. Divisioona
5th Division

eversti Eino Koskimies 18 June 1941 - 11 July 1941 [11]
eversti Ruben Lagus 11 July 1941 - 25 July 1941 [12]
eversti Ilmari Karhu 25 July 1941 - 16 June 1942
kenraalimajuri Kustaa Tapola 16 June 1942 - 21 September 1944

[11] relieved from his command by Commander of the VI Armeijakunta (VI Army Corps) kenraalimajuri Paavo Talvela (see also next note)
[12] Talvela had exceeded his authority by relieving a division commander and appointing a new one, accordingly sotamarsalkka Mannerheim replaced Talvela's choice eversti Lagus by eversti Karhu

6. Divisioona
6th Division

eversti Verner Viikla 15 June 1941 - 18 December 1941 [13]
kenraalimajuri Einar Vihma 18 December 1941 - 5 August 1944 [14]
eversti Albert Puroma 8 August 1944 - 14 November 1944
eversti Akseli Kurenmaa 14 November 1944 - 24 November 1944

[13] committed suicide; surname also written as Wiikla
[14] killed in action; surname also written as Wihma

7. Divisioona
7th Division

eversti [15] Antero Svensson 17 June 1941 - 1 August 1943
eversti William Häkli (deputy) August 1943 - January 1944
kenraalimajuri Selim Isakson 28 January 1944 - 15 November 1944

[15] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 18 December 1941

8. Divisioona
8th Division

eversti [16] Claes Winell 10 June 1941 - 9 January 1943 [17]
kenraalimajuri Väinö Palojärvi 6 February 1943 - 17 February 1944
eversti [18] Antti Kääriäinen 17 February 1944 - 15 November 1944

Note: some sources claim eversti Bertil Heinrichs commanded the 8. Divisioona for eight months at some point in 1944, but this is almost certainly erraneous.

[16] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 31 December 1941
[17] died of heart attack
[18] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 12 March 1944

10. Divisioona
10th Division

eversti [19] Jussi Sihvo 18 June 1941 - 17 June 1944 [20]
eversti Kai Savonjousi 17 June 1944 - 4 December 1944

[19] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 3 June 1942
[20] relieved of command because of the Soviet breakthrough on his division's sector

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More divisions to follow...

[Mikko H.]

11. Divisioona
11th Division

eversti [21] Kaarlo Heiskanen 18 June 1941 - 12 November 1944

[21] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 26 April 1944

12. Divisioona
12th Division

eversti Einar Vihma 16 June 1941 - 18 December 1941 [22]
eversti Per Ekholm December 1941 - January 1942

Note: disbanded in early 1942

[22] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 18 December 1941; surname also written as Wihma

14. Divisioona
14th Division

eversti [23] Erkki Raappana 16 June 1941 - 11 December 1944

[23] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 31 December 1941

15. Divisioona
15th Division

eversti [24] Niilo Hersalo 18 June 1941 - 27 November 1944

[24] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 26 April 1942

17. Divisioona
17th Division

eversti Aarne Snellman 11 June 1941 - 13 April 1942 [25]
eversti [26] Viktor Sundman 13 April 1942 - 28 November 1944

[25] mortally wounded in an aerial attack on 13 April 1942, promoted to kenraalimajuri on 26 April 1942, died of wounds on 28 April 1942
[26] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 31 December 1943

18. Divisioona
18th Division

eversti [27] Aaro Pajari 18 June 1941 - 21 October 1943
kenraalimajuri Paavo Paalu 2 November 1943 - 26 June 1944 [28]
eversti Otto Gustaf "Gösta" Snellman 27 June 1944 - 31 July 1944 [29]
eversti Väinö Oinonen 1 August 1944 - 16 December 1944

[27] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 3 October 1941
[28] relieved of command by the request of Commander of the IV Armeijakunta kenraaliluutnantti Taavetti Laatikainen because of alleged lack of initiative and ability that resulted in an enemy breakthrough and failure of own counter-attacks during 25 and 26 June 1944 in the Battle of Tali-Ihantala
[29] seriously wounded, died of wounds on 2 September 1944

19. Divisioona
19th Division

eversti [30] Hannu Hannuksela 20 June 1941 - 1 February 1942

Note: disbanded in early 1942

[30] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 31 December 1941

Divisioona J
Division J

eversti [31] Väinö Palojärvi 9 August 1941 - 7 August 1942

Note: formed in August 1941, disbanded in August 1942.

[31] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 26 April 1942

Panssaridivisioona
Armored Division

kenraalimajuri Ruben Lagus 28 June 1942 - 30 December 1944

Note: formed in June 1942 from the HQ of 1. Jääkäriprikaati (1st Jäger Brigade).

1. Rannikkodivisioona
1st Coast Division

eversti Pekka Enkainen 13 July 1944 - 9 September 1944
kenraalimajuri Iisakki Järvinen 9 September 1944 - 30 November 1944

Note: formed in July 1944. 1. Rannikkodivisioona was a Naval Forces (not an Army) unit.

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Brigades to follow, hopefully tomorrow.

[Mikko H.]

Here are the Army brigades. I've yet to decide whether to tackle the Naval Forces Coast Brigades (Rannikkoprikaati) -- my notes on these are incomplete and I don't know of any good sources.

EDIT 24 September 2005: Edited some names and corrected a typo.
EDIT 28 September 2005: Added & amended info on Ratsuväkiprikaati.

1. Jääkäriprikaati
1st Jäger Brigade

eversti Ruben Lagus 10 June 1941 - 11 July 1941
everstiluutnantti Väinö Merikallio 11 July 1941 - 25 July 1941
eversti [32] Ruben Lagus 25 July 1941 - 28 June 1942

Formed in June 1941, became the HQ of Panssaridivisioona (Armored Division) on 28 June 1942.

[32] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 3 October 1941

2. Jääkäriprikaati
2nd Jäger Brigade

eversti Viktor Sundman 18 June 1941 - 7 March 1942

Formed in June 1941, disbanded on 7 March 1942. Contributed to the formation of Panssariprikaati (Panssaridivisioona).

Panssariprikaati (Panssaridivisioona)
Armored Brigade (Armored Division)

eversti Sven Björkman 28 February 1942 - 20 November 1944

Formed in February - March 1942 from 2. Jääkäriprikaati and Panssaripataljoona (Armored Battalion), disbanded in November 1944.

Jääkäriprikaati (Panssaridivisioona)
Jäger Brigade (Armored Division)

everstiluutnantti Erik Sandström (temporary) 8 December 1943 - 1 February 1944
eversti Albert Puroma 1 February 1944 - 8 August 1944
eversti Valter Nordgren 16 August 1944 - 30 November 1944

Formed in late 1943/early 1944, disbanded in November - December 1944

Ratsuväkiprikaati
Cavalry Brigade

kenraalimajuri Woldemar Oinonen 9 June 1941 - 18 June 1941
eversti Gustaf Ehrnrooth (temporary) 18 June 1941 - 28 April 1942 [33]
(everstiluutnantti Åke Wahren (acting) 30 October 1941 - 7 November 1941)
(everstiluutnantti Hans Olof von Essen (acting) 7 November 1941 - 14 November 1941)
eversti [34] Lars Melander 28 April 1942 - 17 June 1944 [35]
eversti Urho Tähtinen 17 June 1944 - 10 September 1944
(eversti Bertel Ikonen (deputy) 7 August 1944 - ? August 1944)
eversti Hans Olof von Essen (temporary) 10 September 1944 - 29 September 1944
kenraalimajuri Lars Melander 29 September 1944 - 28 November 1944

Existed as a peace-time formation already before the war, brought to war-time strenght in June 1941. On 18 June 1941 E/RvPr (HQ of the Cavalry Brigade) was used to form a new HQ for Ryhmä Oinonen (Group Oinonen). As long as Ryhmä Oinonen existed (until April 1942) Ratsuväkiprikaati had a very small HQ consisting only of the commander and a couple of other officers. Ratsuväkiprikaati was deactivated in November 1944.

[33] on vacation 30 October 1941 - 14 November 1941
[34] promoted to kenraalimajuri on 12 March 1944
[35] relieved from command because of brigade's unsuccessful defensive fighting in the face of the Soviet offensive; demanded investigation and cleared of all charges; later reinstated

3. Prikaati
3rd Brigade

everstiluutnantti [36] Kai Savonjousi 16 January 1942 - 8 June 1942
eversti Pietari Autti 8 June 1942 - 22 February 1943
eversti Antti Kääriäinen 27 March 1943 - 1 March 1944
eversti Joose Hannula 1 March 1944 - 12 June 1944 [37]
eversti Kai Savonjousi 12 June 1944 - 17 June 1944
eversti Lauri Haanterä 17 June 1944 - 14 November 1944

Formed on 16 January 1942 from the Jalkaväkirykmentti 3 (Infantry Regiment 3), disbanded in November 1944.

[36] promoted to eversti on 30 March 1942
[37] killed in an aerial attack

11. Prikaati
11th Brigade

eversti Joel Walldén 15 April 1942 - 22 June 1942

Jalkaväkirykmentti 11 (Infantry Regiment 11) went for two months with the name 11. Prikaati, but it was never formed into a brigade.

12. Prikaati
12th Brigade

eversti August Mäkiniemi 27 February 1942 - 11 February 1943

Formed out of Jalkaväkirykmentti 33 (Infantry Regiment 33) on 27 February 1942, but reverted back to Jalkaväkirykmentti 33 a year later.

15. Prikaati
15th Brigade

eversti August Kuistio 31 May 1943 - 21 October 1944
eversti Antti Pennanen 21 October 1944 - 1 January 1945

Formed in May 1943, disbanded in December 1944.

16. Prikaati
16th Brigade

eversti Väinö Merikallio 28 November 1941 - 25 May 1942

Formed out of Jalkaväkirykmentti 16 (Infantry Regiment 16) on 28 November 1941, but never really operated in brigade strength. Reverted back to Jalkaväkirykmentti 16 on 25 May 1942.

19. Prikaati
19th Brigade

eversti Lauri Maskula 1 January 1944 - 5 September 1944
eversti Mauno von Schrowe 5 September 1944 - ?
eversti Lauri Maskula ? - November 1944

Formed out of Jalkaväkirykmentti 16 (Infantry Regiment 16) on 1 January 1944, disbanded in November 1944.

20. Prikaati
20th Brigade

eversti Armas Kemppi 1 January 1944 - 22 June 1944 [38]
eversti Yrjö Sora 22 June 1944 - ?

Formed out of Jalkaväkirykmentti 22 (Infantry Regiment 22) on 1 January 1944.

[38] Dismissed after brigade had lost the City of Viipuri (Vyborg) almost without a fight on 20 June 1944

21. Prikaati
21st Brigade

eversti Torvald Ekman 6 December 1943 - 27 November 1944
(eversti Urho Tähtinen 13 August 1944 - ? August 1944)

HQ formed from the HQ of Jalkaväkirykmentti 101 (Infantry Regiment 101) on 6 December 1943, disbanded in November 1944.

Rajajääkäriprikaati
Border Jäger Brigade

eversti Kustaa Inkala 4 July 1944 - 10 October 1944
eversti Eero Juva 10 October 1944 - 30 November 1944

Formed on 27 June 1944, disbanded in November 1944.

Prikaati Kuussaari
Brigade Kuussaari

eversti Eero Kuussaari 29 July 1941 - 4 November 1941

Formed in July 1941, disbanded in November 1941. Also known as Prikaati K (Brigade K).

Kevyt Prikaati T
Light Brigade T

eversti Matti Tiiainen 9 July 1941 - 24 August 1941 [39]
everstiluutnantti Valter Nordgren 26 August 1941 - 5 September 1941

Formed as a light and fast ad hoc unit for the offensive phase of war in Karelian Isthmus. Also known as Kevyt Prikaati Tiiainen (Light Brigade Tiiainen).

[39] seriously wounded, died of wounds on 29 August 1941

[Mikko H.]

I found one more Continuation War era army brigade (http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=4812543):

Linnoitusprikaati/IV Armeijakunta
Fortification Brigade/IV Army Corps

everstiluutnantti Veikko Räsänen 30 June 1941 - 30 July 1941
majuri Aarne Hirva 30 July 1941 - 31 October 1941

Formed on 30 June 1941 to consolidate all IV Army Corps fortification infantry and artillery under one administrative unit. Disbanded on 31 October 1941.

[Mikko H.]

Amended information about the 19. Prikaati based on its war diary http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=3074362

19. Prikaati
19th Brigade

eversti Lauri Maskula 1 January 1944 - 5 September 1944 [*]
eversti Mauno von Schrowe (deputizing) 5 September 1944 - 3 October 1944
everstiluutnantti Santeri Särmä (deputizing) 3 October 1944 - 12 November 1944

[*] left for sick leave

Formed out of Jalkaväkirykmentti 16 (Infantry Regiment 16) on 1 January 1944, disbanded by 12 November 1944.