Swedish Volunteer Corps (SVC) in Finland - The Organization
The Place of residences’ of the Swedish Volunteers
In total, 12.705 men applied to enroll with the Swedish Volunteer Corps (727 of these were Norwegians). Out of all the applicant volunteers, 8,260 Swedes were admittedand enrolled with the Corps. Of all the members of the Swedish Volunteer Corps, 38 men were killed, about 50 wounded in action and over 130 were frostbitten.The Swedish volunteers came from most parts of Sweden. However, the majority came from major cities such as Stockholm and Göteborg. The chart below shows the Swedish volunteers in numbers per county (Län) in descending order.
The Military Department (Swe: Militärbyrån); A department within Swedish Rail (Swe: Statens Järnvägar, SJ) responsible for the cooperation with the Swedish military regarding the transportation of troops and military equipment. The Military Department was established on 1 September 1905 with the mission to have the railroad prepared for military purposes such as different types of transportations in case of mobilization, deployment of troops, military campaigns, etc. These activities were planned together with the military authorities. Ages of the volunteers: Most volunteers in the Corps were in the age group 20 - 30 years (67%). Military ranks:The volunteers with a Swedish military rank received the corresponding rank in the Finnish Army when they joined the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland. However, Swedish Vice Corporals and Corporals obtained the rank of sergeant, while the Swedish volunteers with the rank of Furir became First Sergeants (Fin: Översergeant). The Swedes with the Swedish rank of Sergeant and Sergeant First Class (Swe: Fanjunkare) obtained the Finnish rank of Fältväbel.The Commander of the Swedish Volunteer Corps was General Ernst Linder. Chief of Staff was Lieutenant Colonel Carl August Ehrensvärd.The Volunteer Corps was an independent force within the Finnish Armed Forces, directly subordinated to the Finnish Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim.
The Organization of the Volunteer Corps
The Swedish Volunteer Corps was organized into a Headquarters with a Headquarters Company, a Signal Company, and three battlegroups (strengthened battalions) supported by artillery and antitank units. Each battlegroup consisted of company headquarters, a snowplow platoon, three infantry rifle companies, a ranger company, a heavy company, a military baggage unit, a 7 cm artillery battery, an anti-aircraft battery, and an army service unit. In total, each battle-group numbered about 1,600 men. There were also anti-aircraft units, army engineers, and different supply unitsThe Headquarters of the Corps with the Signal Company consisted of 249 men.
The Battlegroups - Order of Battle
Commander of the I. Battlegroup was initially Lieutenant Colonel Magnus Dyrssen. However, Lt. Col. Dyrssen was one of the first to fall in the Corps. In a battle in Märkäjärvi on 1 March 1940 he was hit by shell splinters and died immediately. Acting Commander of the I. battlegroup then was Captain Carl Bonde. He was succeeded on 12 March by Lieutenant Colonel Carl-Oscar Agell.
The Units
The Rifle Companies
Each rifle company (Swe: Skyttekompani) consisted of 248 men and was composed of a company headquarters and 3 rifle platoonsof each 3 rifle squads and one anti-tank squad. Each rifle squad was composed of 10 men of which one man was equipped with a light machine gun and one with a sub-machine-gun. The rest of the riflemen was equipped with the Mauser m/96. The anti-tank squad was equipped with two 13 mm anti-tank guns m/38.The fourth platoon was the heavy weapons platoon composed of a machine-gun troop equipped with three machine-guns m/14, an anti-tank troop with two 20 mm automatic anti-tank guns, and a mortar troop equipped with two 8 cm mortars m/29. The heavy weapons platoons in the rifle companies of the II. battlegroup was strengthened with yet another mortar troop.The Company Baggage consisted of a field kitchen troop (Swe: koktross) and a tent and baggage troop. Each rifle company was equipped with 27 motor vehicles, 20 horses with sleds, 10 draught dogs with handlers, and one-man sleds.Terminology:•Platoon = a sub-unit of the company composed of 20–40 soldiers. A platoon is subdivided into three or four squads (US: sections).•Troop = a sub-unit of the platoon or the battery corresponding to a half platoon or 2 - 3 squads (Swe: Tropp).•Armament, see Arms
The Ranger Companies
The ranger companies consisted of a headquarters, three ranger platoons, a heavy weapons troop, and a company service/supply troop. Each ranger platoon was composed of four squads and within each squad was a ranger equipped with a light machine gun and one with a sub-machine-gun. the rest of the rangers were equipped with the carbine m/94. The heavy weapons troop was equipped with four light machine guns and three anti-tank guns. Each ranger company consisted of 168 men, 15 horses with sleds, and 12 draught dogs.
The Heavy Weapons Companies
The heavy weapons companies were composed of a headquarters and three heavy weapons platoons. The machine gun platoon consisted of three machine gun troops and each troop was subdivided into three machine gun squads, each equipped with the machine gun m/14.The anti-tank platoon consisted of four squads, each equipped with a 20 mm automatic anti-tank gun. The mortar platoon consisted of three squads, each equipped with the 8 cm mortar m/29. Each heavy weapons company consisted of 180 men and was equipped with 23 motor vehicles, 34 horses with sleds, and 16 draught dogs.
The 16. Independent Ranger Company
The Commander of the 16. Independent Ranger Company was Captain Gunnar Westerhall. The company was composed in a similar way as the Ski Ranger Battalion with the Norrbotten Regiment, I 19, in Boden, North Sweden. The training of the rangers with the 16. Independent Ranger Company was performed in Rytikari near Kemi, Finland. Regarding cross-country skiing capabilities; the minimum requirement of the rangers was that they had to manage to cross-country ski 30 km (20 mi.) in the terrain, dressed in full battledress with kit and weapons, in less than 3 hours and 15 minutes. Field exercises with the company were held daily and the unit was quartered most of the time under canvas, even during the training period. The Independent Ranger Company was well equipped with automatic guns, especially with sub-machine-guns. Further, they also carried hand grenades, anti-tank mines, and equipment to make so-called Molotov cocktails. After the Winter War, Captain Westerhall was commissioned to establish and organize the Ranger School in Kiruna (I 22), Sweden.
The Anti-tank Company
The Anti-tank Company consisted of two anti-tank platoons with four respectively three anti-tank squads each. Each squad was equipped with the Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun m/38. The guns were painted white for better camouflage in the snowy terrain. Besides the anti-tank squads, the company also consisted of a headquarters, troops for mining and blasting work, ammunition, fuel, and field kitchen service. The two platoons each disposed of motor vehicles such as passenger cars, 12 armored vehicles, 10 trucks, and 8 motorbikes of which two were equipped with sidecars, armed with the light machine gun m/17. All vehicles were brand new and painted white.The image to the right shows a white truck with fitted snow-chains, assigned to the second anti-tank platoon. Image: Krigsarkivet.
The Anti-aircraft Company
The Commander of the anti-aircraft company was Lieutenant Per E:son Frumeries. The company fired more than 2,500 shells upon enemy aircraft during the Winter War. Four bombers and four fighters were shot down and further about 10 uncertain down-shootings.The anti-aircraft company was equipped with Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannon m/36. The 1st anti-aircraft troop was under the command of Second Lieutenant Gerhard Dryssen and Second Lieutenant Gerhard Uno Engström commanded the 2nd troop. The anti-aircraft defense at the Swedish Volunteer Air Wing’s main airbase in Veitsiluoto, south of Kemi, was initially performed by the 3rd troop under the command of Second Lieutenant Tore Norrevang. In total there were six anti-aircraft troops in the company. Besides these six troops, there was also a 7.5 cm anti-aircraft battery under the command of Captain Ture R:son Mark.The image to the right shows the Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannon m/36 in firing position. The guns were painted white for camouflage reasons in the snowy landscape. Image: Krigsarkivet.
The Artillery
The two artillery batteries with the Volunteer Corps were equipped with four 7.5 cm artillery guns m/02. These old guns were, at this time, rather old-fashioned. However, they were light in weight and easy to transport, therefore very mobile. Their weight was only 1.070 kg. Each artillery battery had a crew of 180 artillerymen and each piece was served by 5 men. However, the firing range was short, only 7 km.The Swedish batteries regularly fired at the Soviet lines. The targets were Russian batteries, observation points, fortifications, roads, and barracks. The image to the right shows the 2nd Artillery battery’s second piece at the firing moment of a 7.5 cm artillery gun m/02. Image. Miliseum, ID: MILIF.003907.Swedish patrols were regularly sent out to high grounds, hills, etc. to control and observe what the Russians were up to. The Swedish artillery set up observation and fire control stations at the top of several hills, among them the Hatajavaara mountain, from which tops they could watch over the enemy traffic on the Salla road and guide their own artillery‘s firing.
Reconnaissance Assignments
At the front there were above all three reoccurring activities for the volunteer soldiers of the Corps; guard duty, fieldwork, and patrol duties. Usually, about a third of the men were constantly on guard duty in two hours turns. Another reoccurring duty was the patrolling of areas on both sides of the front-line in closely planned routes. Reconnaissance, surveillance, and dispatch patrols were on duty every day and night. Patrolling was very strenuous and the risk of being detected by the enemy was high. The forestland in the front sector in Märkäjärvi was teeming with enemy soldiers and the Swedish ski patrols were forced to uphold a strict ski-track discipline; they mustn’t follow existing ski tracks, not even their own; the risk of a Russian ambush or assault was greater then. The Swedish ski patrols, therefore, were forced to ski in unspoiled deep powder snow which was very arduous. The image two the right shows a Swedish ski-patrol on a mission behind enemy lines. Image: Krigsarkivet.Patrolling was also carried out in the wasteland north and south of the Russian positions in Märkäjärvi; usually at night. Most of these patrol missions were regular reconnaissance, while others were intended to alarm or disturb the Russians. Further, other patrolling missions were scouting of possible attack routes onto the Russian positions at the front. it was then important to establish enemy positions, strongholds, activities, etc. Further, to find out whether the Russian’s were in positions of defense or if they were preparing for an attack. It was foremost the Swedish ranger units that carried out the patrolling of the enemy lines.
Fieldwork
The defense area at the front sector in Märkäjärvi was incompletely developed when the Swedish Volunteer Corps took over. There were several fire pits, however only simple shallow prone rifle pits. So, there was an immediate need to improve the defense area and arrange bivouacs for the soldiers. The existing prone trenches were turned into deeper armpit trenches and were partly equipped with shrapnel protection. However, the hard-frozen ground was a great problem for this work. Additional korsun was also being built.However, most of the soldiers were quartered in squad tents surrounded by heavy snow banks which gave a good shelter as long as soldiers were lying down in the tents.A continuous work was to pull logs on sleds up the tents from a nearby road behind the front. The logs were then to be sawed in smaller pieces and split into firewood. The firewood was used for heating the squad tents which were equipped with firewood stoves. Further, once a day, the cooked food had to be pulled from the same pick-up point to the tent camp area. The food was cooked behind the front and delivered in insulated containers. The soldiers received two meals a day, of which the second had to be heated. The energy the food gave was very important in the very cold weather.
The Battles
The Swedish Volunteer Corps (SVC) were involved in many battles with the Russian forces in Märkäjärvi after the time the Swedes took over the front sector from the Finnish units. For information about these battles see Swedish Volunteer Corps - Battles in Märkäjärvi.
The Peace Treaty
The Peace Treaty was signed on 12 March 1940 with a cease-fire at 11:00 on 13 March. (Helsinki time). Finland ceded about 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union.On 26 March, the Finnish Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim (1867 - 1951), officially thanked the members of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in a ceremony in Paikanselkä, just north of the former front-line. At the ceremony, the Field Marshal promoted many of the Swedes. Further, several volunteers were awarded the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty and other medals of distinction. Since all Swedish units weren’t able to participate in the ceremony in Paikanselkä, ceremonies were also held in Kemi and Joutsijärvi for the personnel of the Swedish Volunteer Corps.
North Finland or Finnish Lapland is on the Arctic Circle with extremely cold temperatures in winter, down to -45 C (-49 F), and with up to 1.5 m of snow. The climate was a challenge to both men and equipment during the Winter War. This region is a vast wilderness, sparsely populated and mostly road-less with hilly forestland and open mires or lakes.The winter during the war 1939/1940 was extremely cold with temperatures down to -40 degrees C (-49 F) and snowy with a snow-depth of about 1.5 m (5 ft.). The very cold weather was a great problem. It was a real challenge to keep the engines warm in the motor vehicles and aircraft. If the motor oil froze it would get stone hard and the engines impossible to start. If the water in the vehicle’s radiators would freeze it would burst the radiator. The cars and trucks had to be running idle most of the time when they weren’t in use to avoid freezing. The units were equipped with special kerosene heaters which were placed underneath the engines to heat them before they were started.The Swedish Volunteer Corps was inserted in North Finland. The Finns had to concentrate their armed forces down in the south of Finland and weren’t were strong in North Finland. The Volunteer Corps was therefore a reinforcement of the Finnish units up here. The Swedish Corps was also easier to maintain with supplies from Sweden up here since it was close to the Swedish border. By inserting the Corps in Finnish Lapland they would also be remote protection of the Swedish border by delaying a possible Russian advance towards the Swedish border.When the Swedish Corps took up position in North Finland, most Finnish units up here could be relieved and inserted on the southern front. Further, Finland had no air defense in North Finland which meant that the Soviet aircraft fully dominated the air over North Finland until the Swedish Air Wing arrived on 10 January 1940. The map to the right shows North Finland with the airbases of the Swedish Air Wing marked on the map. On the right-hand side of the map, by the red arrow, we find the towns of Salla and Märkäjärvi where the front-line was. Image source: The book "För Finlands frihet: Svenska frivilligkåren 1939-1940 (von Schmidt-Laussitz)" and shown with the consent of the author.The area of operation for the Swedish Volunteer Corps was north of the line Uleåborg - Kuusamo - Paanajärvi. The advanced airbases of the Swedish F 19 Air Wing were foremost frozen lakes. The aircraft was equipped with skis.
The Battlegroups are being formed
The I. Battlegroup was formed at the beginning of February 1940 and a period of field exercises under realistic conditions began. For example, a field march was carried out from Kemi to Rovaniemi, a distance of 120 km (75 mi.). The march, which began on 3 February,was a cross-country ski march in the terrain, while the baggage was transported by horse-pulled sleds and motor vehicles on narrow unplowed snowy logging roads. During the march different exercises were performed, such as delaying action, regrouping, etc. Night marches were also performed. The entire field-march was carried out in very cold weather with temperatures down to - 30 C (-22 F). The battlegroup arrived in Rovaniemi on 14 February. On the same evening began the transportation of the battlegroup to Kemijärvi by train, in three rounds. During the unloading of the third round of soldiers in Kemijärvi, the train station was attacked by a Soviet air raid, which luckily caused no damages. The aircraft was fired at by Swedish anti-aircraft units.Between 17 - 22 February, the battlegroup was preparing for the final march to the front. During this time, the Russians daily dropped bombs over Kemijärvi. On 22 February also the II. battlegroup arrived in Kemijärvi. On 24 February the two battlegroups received an order to begin the march from Kemijärvi to the front in Märkäjärvi and there relieve the Finnish units. This ski march was carried out during nights under extreme conditions in deep snow with temperatures down to -45 C (-49 F). The I. battlegroup was better off since they used the road while the II. battlegroup had to use the terrain. Despite the cold weather; due to the high risk of being discovered the units weren’t allowed to light log fires in the squad tent’s stoves until darkness. Several soldiers were frostbitten during the cold march, some so severe that they had to be discharged (5%) and sent home.
The Swedish Volunteer Corps relieves the Finnish Units at the Front on 26 February 1940
According to the original plan, the Swedish Volunteer Corps was to relieve the Finns at the front sector in Märkäjärvi on 29 February. However, due to the alarming situation on the Karelia Isthmus, most Finnish units were needed there. On 25 February the Corps headquarters received an order to force the relief. The I. battlegroup relieved the Finns in Märkäjärvi on the following day, 26 February. On 26 February the II. battlegroup prepared for the final march to the front sector and arrived the following day. They took up positions just north of the I. battlegroup. The map to the right shows the front in Märkäjärvi, North Finland. The Russian positions to the right, the Swedish Volunteer Corps to the left. The I. battlegroup was positioned in Paikanselkä and the II. battlegroup in Laijeselkä, north of the I. battlegroup. Image source: The book "För Finlands frihet: Svenska frivilligkåren 1939-1940 (von Schmidt-Laussitz)" and shown with the consent of the author.The relief of the Finns took a few days, but from 28 February the Swedish Corps had the full responsibility of the front sector in Märkäjärvi. The III. battlegroup was at this time not yet fully formed and they didn’t arrive at the front until 11 March.The arrival of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Märkäjärvi made it possible for the Finnish units to disengage their commitments here, five battalions and two artillery batteries, a force that now could be inserted in the fiery battles in Southeast Finland on the Karelia Isthmus. On the Russian side of the front-line in Märkäjärvi was the Soviet 122nd Division with three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment.The two Swedish battlegroups in Märkäjärvi, together with three remaining Finnish battalions, tided vastly stronger Soviet forces to the area; forces that the Soviets might have needed elsewhere during the war.
Korsun - Sheltered Bivouacs
In the front sector which the Swedes took over the responsibility for from the Finns, were several shrapnel proof shelters, so-called korsun. These “korsun” were both shelters as well as bivouacs. A korsu was usually built into a hillock equipped with a deep trench-like footpath up to the entrance. The korsun was usually completely built-into the hillock. The interior walls were constructed of logs. The roof consisted of several layers of crossed logs and above these logs were layers of stones and dirt or soil. The roof was carefully camouflaged to blend into the environment. In the korsu was normally one or several ventilation pipes and a chimney. The chimney pipe was constructed ingeniously with gratings so that a hand-grenade dropped down the chimney would bounce out again. The usual size of a korsu would hold 20 men and was furnished with bunk beds, a table, stools, and an iron-stove. Kerosene lamps were used for lightning. The image to the right shows the entrance to a new korsu at the front in Märkäjärvi in 1940, used by the Volunteer Corps. Photo: Krigsarkivet.The image to the left shows the interior of a korsu used by the II. Battlegroup as a headquarters at the front in Märkäjärvi in 1940. Photo: Krigsarkivet.
In total, 12.705 men applied to enroll with the Swedish Volunteer Corps (727 of these were Norwegians). Out of all the applicant volunteers, 8,260 Swedes were admittedand enrolled with the Corps. Of all the members of the Swedish Volunteer Corps, 38 men were killed, about 50 wounded in action and over 130 were frostbitten.The Swedish volunteers came from most parts of Sweden. However, the majority came from major cities such as Stockholm and Göteborg. The chart below shows the Swedish volunteers in numbers per county (Län) in descending order.
The Military Department (Swe: Militärbyrån); A department within Swedish Rail (Swe: Statens Järnvägar, SJ) responsible for the cooperation with the Swedish military regarding the transportation of troops and military equipment. The Military Department was established on 1 September 1905 with the mission to have the railroad prepared for military purposes such as different types of transportations in case of mobilization, deployment of troops, military campaigns, etc. These activities were planned together with the military authorities. Ages of the volunteers: Most volunteers in the Corps were in the age group 20 - 30 years (67%). Military ranks:The volunteers with a Swedish military rankreceived the corresponding rank in the Finnish Army when they joined the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland. However, Swedish Vice Corporals and Corporals obtained the rank of sergeant, while the Swedish volunteers with the rank of Furir became First Sergeants (Fin: Översergeant). The Swedes with the Swedish rank of Sergeant and Sergeant First Class (Swe: Fanjunkare) obtained the Finnish rank of Fältväbel.The Commander of the Swedish Volunteer Corps was General Ernst Linder. Chief of Staff was Lieutenant Colonel Carl August Ehrensvärd.The Volunteer Corps was an independent force within the Finnish Armed Forces, directly subordinated to the Finnish Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim.
The Organization of the Volunteer
Corps
The Swedish Volunteer Corps was organized into a Headquarters with a Headquarters Company, a Signal Company, and three battlegroups (strengthened battalions) supported by artillery and antitank units. Each battlegroup consisted of company headquarters, a snowplow platoon, three infantry rifle companies, a ranger company, a heavy company, a military baggage unit, a 7 cm artillery battery, an anti-aircraft battery, and an army service unit. In total, each battle-group numbered about 1,600 men. There were also anti-aircraft units, army engineers, and different supply unitsThe Headquarters of the Corps with the Signal Company consisted of 249 men.
The Battlegroups - Order of Battle
Commander of the I. Battlegroup was initially Lieutenant Colonel Magnus Dyrssen. However, Lt. Col. Dyrssen was one of the first to fall in the Corps. In a battle in Märkäjärvi on 1 March 1940 he was hit by shell splinters and died immediately. Acting Commander of the I. battlegroup then was Captain Carl Bonde. He was succeeded on 12 March by Lieutenant Colonel Carl-Oscar Agell.
The Units
The Rifle Companies
Each rifle company (Swe: Skyttekompani) consisted of 248 men and was composed of a company headquarters and 3 rifle platoons of each 3 rifle squads and one anti-tank squad. Each rifle squad was composed of 10 men of which one man was equipped with a light machine gun and one with a sub-machine-gun. The rest of the riflemen was equipped with the Mauser m/96. The anti-tank squad was equipped with two 13 mm anti-tank guns m/38.The fourth platoon was the heavy weapons platoon composed of a machine-gun troop equipped with three machine-guns m/14, an anti-tank troop with two 20 mm automatic anti-tank guns, and a mortar troop equipped with two 8 cm mortars m/29. The heavy weapons platoons in the rifle companies of the II. battlegroup was strengthened with yet another mortar troop.The Company Baggage consisted of a field kitchen troop (Swe: koktross) and a tent and baggage troop. Each rifle company was equipped with 27 motor vehicles, 20 horses with sleds, 10 draught dogs with handlers, and one-man sleds.Terminology:•Platoon = a sub-unit of the company composed of 20–40 soldiers. A platoon is subdivided into three or four squads (US: sections).•Troop = a sub-unit of the platoon or the battery corresponding to a half platoon or 2 - 3 squads (Swe: Tropp).•Armament, see Arms
The Ranger Companies
The ranger companies consisted of a headquarters, three ranger platoons, a heavy weapons troop, and a company service/supply troop. Each ranger platoon was composed of four squads and within each squad was a ranger equipped with a light machine gun and one with a sub-machine-gun. the rest of the rangers were equipped with the carbine m/94. The heavy weapons troop was equipped with four light machine guns and three anti-tank guns. Each ranger company consisted of 168 men, 15 horses with sleds, and 12 draught dogs.
The Heavy Weapons Companies
The heavy weapons companies were composed of a headquarters and three heavy weapons platoons. The machine gun platoon consisted of three machine gun troops and each troop was subdivided into three machine gun squads, each equipped with the machine gun m/14.The anti-tank platoon consisted of four squads, each equipped with a 20 mm automatic anti-tank gun. The mortar platoon consisted of three squads, each equipped with the 8 cm mortar m/29. Each heavy weapons company consisted of 180 men and was equipped with 23 motor vehicles, 34 horses with sleds, and 16 draught dogs.
The 16. Independent Ranger Company
The Commander of the 16. Independent Ranger Company was Captain Gunnar Westerhall. The company was composed in a similar way as the Ski Ranger Battalion with the Norrbotten Regiment, I 19, in Boden, North Sweden. The training of the rangers with the 16. Independent Ranger Company was performed in Rytikari near Kemi, Finland. Regarding cross-country skiing capabilities; the minimum requirement of the rangers was that they had to manage to cross-country ski 30 km (20 mi.) in the terrain, dressed in full battledress with kit and weapons, in less than 3 hours and 15 minutes. Field exercises with the company were held daily and the unit was quartered most of the time under canvas, even during the training period. The Independent Ranger Company was well equipped with automatic guns, especially with sub-machine-guns. Further, they also carried hand grenades, anti-tank mines, and equipment to make so-called Molotov cocktails. After the Winter War, Captain Westerhall was commissioned to establish and organize the Ranger School in Kiruna (I 22), Sweden.
The Anti-tank Company
The Anti-tank Company consisted of two anti-tank platoons with four respectively three anti-tank squads each. Each squad was equipped with the Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun m/38. The guns were painted white for better camouflage in the snowy terrain. Besides the anti-tank squads, the company also consisted of a headquarters, troops for mining and blasting work, ammunition, fuel, and field kitchen service. The two platoons each disposed of motor vehicles such as passenger cars, 12 armored vehicles, 10 trucks, and 8 motorbikes of which two were equipped with sidecars, armed with the light machine gun m/17. All vehicles were brand new and painted white.The image to the right shows a white truck with fitted snow-chains, assigned to the second anti-tank platoon. Image: Krigsarkivet.
The Anti-aircraft Company
The Commander of the anti-aircraft company was Lieutenant Per E:son Frumeries. The company fired more than 2,500 shells upon enemy aircraft during the Winter War. Four bombers and four fighters were shot down and further about 10 uncertain down-shootings.The anti-aircraft company was equipped with Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannon m/36. The 1st anti-aircraft troop was under the command of Second Lieutenant Gerhard Dryssen and Second Lieutenant Gerhard Uno Engström commanded the 2nd troop. The anti-aircraft defense at the Swedish Volunteer Air Wing’s main airbase in Veitsiluoto, south of Kemi, was initially performed by the 3rd troop under the command of Second Lieutenant Tore Norrevang. In total there were six anti-aircraft troops in the company. Besides these six troops, there was also a 7.5 cm anti-aircraft battery under the command of Captain Ture R:son Mark.The image to the right shows the Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannon m/36 in firing position. The guns were painted white for camouflage reasons in the snowy landscape. Image: Krigsarkivet.
The Artillery
The two artillery batteries with the Volunteer Corps were equipped with four 7.5 cm artillery guns m/02. These old guns were, at this time, rather old-fashioned. However, they were light in weight and easy to transport, therefore very mobile. Their weight was only 1.070 kg. Each artillery battery had a crew of 180 artillerymen and each piece was served by 5 men. However, the firing range was short, only 7 km.The Swedish batteries regularly fired at the Soviet lines. The targets were Russian batteries, observation points, fortifications, roads, and barracks. The image to the right shows the 2nd Artillery battery’s second piece at the firing moment of a 7.5 cm artillery gun m/02. Image. Miliseum, ID: MILIF.003907.Swedish patrols were regularly sent out to high grounds, hills, etc. to control and observe what the Russians were up to. The Swedish artillery set up observation and fire control stations at the top of several hills, among them the Hatajavaara mountain, from which tops they could watch over the enemy traffic on the Salla road and guide their own artillery‘s firing.
Reconnaissance Assignments
At the front there were above all three reoccurring activities for the volunteer soldiers of the Corps; guard duty, fieldwork, and patrol duties. Usually, about a third of the men were constantly on guard duty in two hours turns. Another reoccurring duty was the patrolling of areas on both sides of the front-line in closely planned routes. Reconnaissance, surveillance, and dispatch patrols were on duty every day and night. Patrolling was very strenuous and the risk of being detected by the enemy was high. The forestland in the front sector in Märkäjärvi was teeming with enemy soldiers and the Swedish ski patrols were forced to uphold a strict ski-track discipline; they mustn’t follow existing ski tracks, not even their own; the risk of a Russian ambush or assault was greater then. The Swedish ski patrols, therefore, were forced to ski in unspoiled deep powder snow which was very arduous. The image two the right shows a Swedish ski-patrol on a mission behind enemy lines. Image: Krigsarkivet.Patrolling was also carried out in the wasteland north and south of the Russian positions in Märkäjärvi; usually at night. Most of these patrol missions were regular reconnaissance, while others were intended to alarm or disturb the Russians. Further, other patrolling missions were scouting of possible attack routes onto the Russian positions at the front. it was then important to establish enemy positions, strongholds, activities, etc. Further, to find out whether the Russian’s were in positions of defense or if they were preparing for an attack. It was foremost the Swedish ranger units that carried out the patrolling of the enemy lines.
Fieldwork
The defense area at the front sector in Märkäjärvi was incompletely developed when the Swedish Volunteer Corps took over. There were several fire pits, however only simple shallow prone rifle pits. So, there was an immediate need to improve the defense area and arrange bivouacs for the soldiers. The existing prone trenches were turned into deeper armpit trenches and were partly equipped with shrapnel protection. However, the hard-frozen ground was a great problem for this work. Additional korsun was also being built.However, most of the soldiers were quartered in squad tents surrounded by heavy snow banks which gave a good shelter as long as soldiers were lying down in the tents.A continuous work was to pull logs on sleds up the tents from a nearby road behind the front. The logs were then to be sawed in smaller pieces and split into firewood. The firewood was used for heating the squad tents which were equipped with firewood stoves. Further, once a day, the cooked food had to be pulled from the same pick-up point to the tent camp area. The food was cooked behind the front and delivered in insulated containers. The soldiers received two meals a day, of which the second had to be heated. The energy the food gave was very important in the very cold weather.
The Battles
The Swedish Volunteer Corps (SVC) were involved in many battles with the Russian forces in Märkäjärvi after the time the Swedes took over the front sector from the Finnish units. For information about these battles see Swedish Volunteer Corps - Battles in Märkäjärvi.
The Peace Treaty
The Peace Treaty was signed on 12 March 1940 with a cease-fire at 11:00 on 13 March. (Helsinki time). Finland ceded about 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union.On 26 March, the Finnish Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Gustaf Mannerheim (1867 - 1951), officially thanked the members of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in a ceremony in Paikanselkä, just north of the former front-line. At the ceremony, the Field Marshal promoted many of the Swedes. Further, several volunteers were awarded the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty and other medals of distinction. Since all Swedish units weren’t able to participate in the ceremony in Paikanselkä, ceremonies were also held in Kemi and Joutsijärvi for the personnel of the Swedish Volunteer Corps.
The Volunteer Corps in North
Finland
North Finland or Finnish Lapland is on the Arctic Circle with extremely cold temperatures in winter, down to -45 C (-49 F), and with up to 1.5 m of snow. The climate was a challenge to both men and equipment during the Winter War. This region is a vast wilderness, sparsely populated and mostly road-less with hilly forestland and open mires or lakes.The winter during the war 1939/1940 was extremely cold with temperatures down to -40 degrees C (-49 F) and snowy with a snow-depth of about 1.5 m (5 ft.). The very cold weather was a great problem. It was a real challenge to keep the engines warm in the motor vehicles and aircraft. If the motor oil froze it would get stone hard and the engines impossible to start. If the water in the vehicle’s radiators would freeze it would burst the radiator. The cars and trucks had to be running idle most of the time when they weren’t in use to avoid freezing. The units were equipped with special kerosene heaters which were placed underneath the engines to heat them before they were started.The Swedish Volunteer Corps was inserted in North Finland. The Finns had to concentrate their armed forces down in the south of Finland and weren’t were strong in North Finland. The Volunteer Corps was therefore a reinforcement of the Finnish units up here. The Swedish Corps was also easier to maintain with supplies from Sweden up here since it was close to the Swedish border. By inserting the Corps in Finnish Lapland they would also be remote protection of the Swedish border by delaying a possible Russian advance towards the Swedish border.When the Swedish Corps took up position in North Finland, most Finnish units up here could be relieved and inserted on the southern front. Further, Finland had no air defense in North Finland which meant that the Soviet aircraft fully dominated the air over North Finland until the Swedish Air Wing arrived on 10 January 1940. The map to the right shows North Finland with the airbases of the Swedish Air Wing marked on the map. On the right-hand side of the map, by the red arrow, we find the towns of Salla and Märkäjärvi where the front-line was. Image source: The book "För Finlands frihet: Svenska frivilligkåren 1939-1940 (von Schmidt-Laussitz)" and shown with the consent of the author.The area of operation for the Swedish Volunteer Corps was north of the line Uleåborg - Kuusamo - Paanajärvi. The advanced airbases of the Swedish F 19 Air Wing were foremost frozen lakes. The aircraft was equipped with skis.
The Battlegroups are being formed
The I. Battlegroup was formed at the beginning of February 1940 and a period of field exercises under realistic conditions began. For example, a field march was carried out from Kemi to Rovaniemi, a distance of 120 km (75 mi.). The march, which began on 3 February, was a cross-country ski march in the terrain, while the baggage was transported by horse-pulled sleds and motor vehicles on narrow unplowed snowy logging roads. During the march different exercises were performed, such as delaying action, regrouping, etc. Night marches were also performed. The entire field-march was carried out in very cold weather with temperatures down to - 30 C (-22 F). The battlegroup arrived in Rovaniemi on 14 February. On the same evening began the transportation of the battlegroup to Kemijärvi by train, in three rounds. During the unloading of the third round of soldiers in Kemijärvi, the train station was attacked by a Soviet air raid, which luckily caused no damages. The aircraft was fired at by Swedish anti-aircraft units.Between 17 - 22 February, the battlegroup was preparing for the final march to the front. During this time, the Russians daily dropped bombs over Kemijärvi. On 22 February also the II. battlegroup arrived in Kemijärvi. On 24 February the two battlegroups received an order to begin the march from Kemijärvi to the front in Märkäjärvi and there relieve the Finnish units. This ski march was carried out during nights under extreme conditions in deep snow with temperatures down to -45 C (-49 F). The I. battlegroup was better off since they used the road while the II. battlegroup had to use the terrain. Despite the cold weather; due to the high risk of being discovered the units weren’t allowed to light log fires in the squad tent’s stoves until darkness. Several soldiers were frostbitten during the cold march, some so severe that they had to be discharged (5%) and sent home.
The Swedish Volunteer Corps relieves the
Finnish Units at the Front on 26 February
1940
According to the original plan, the Swedish Volunteer Corps was to relieve the Finns at the front sector in Märkäjärvi on 29 February. However, due to the alarming situation on the Karelia Isthmus, most Finnish units were needed there. On 25 Februarythe Corps headquarters received an order to force the relief. The I. battlegroup relieved the Finns in Märkäjärvi on the following day, 26 February. On 26 February the II. battlegroup prepared for the final march to the front sector and arrived the following day. They took up positions just north of the I. battlegroup. The map to the right shows the front in Märkäjärvi, North Finland. The Russian positions to the right, the Swedish Volunteer Corps to the left. The I. battlegroup was positioned in Paikanselkä and the II. battlegroup in Laijeselkä, north of the I. battlegroup. Image source: The book "För Finlands frihet: Svenska frivilligkåren 1939-1940 (von Schmidt-Laussitz)" and shown with the consent of the author.The relief of the Finns took a few days, but from 28 February the Swedish Corps had the full responsibility of the front sector in Märkäjärvi. The III. battlegroup was at this time not yet fully formed and they didn’t arrive at the front until 11 March.The arrival of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Märkäjärvi made it possible for the Finnish units to disengage their commitments here, five battalions and two artillery batteries, a force that now could be inserted in the fiery battles in Southeast Finland on the Karelia Isthmus. On the Russian side of the front-line in Märkäjärvi was the Soviet 122nd Division with three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment.The two Swedish battlegroups in Märkäjärvi, together with three remaining Finnish battalions, tided vastly stronger Soviet forces to the area; forces that the Soviets might have needed elsewhere during the war.
Korsun - Sheltered Bivouacs
In the front sector which the Swedes took over the responsibility for from the Finns, were several shrapnel proof shelters, so-called korsun. These “korsun” were both shelters as well as bivouacs. A korsu was usually built into a hillock equipped with a deep trench-like footpath up to the entrance. The korsun was usually completely built-into the hillock. The interior walls were constructed of logs. The roof consisted of several layers of crossed logs and above these logs were layers of stones and dirt or soil. The roof was carefully camouflaged to blend into the environment. In the korsu was normally one or several ventilation pipes and a chimney. The chimney pipe was constructed ingeniously with gratings so that a hand-grenade dropped down the chimney would bounce out again. The usual size of a korsu would hold 20 men and was furnished with bunk beds, a table, stools, and an iron-stove. Kerosene lamps were used for lightning. The image to the right shows the entrance to a new korsu at the front in Märkäjärvi in 1940, used by the Volunteer Corps. Photo: Krigsarkivet.The image to the left shows the interior of a korsu used by the II. Battlegroup as a headquarters at the front in Märkäjärvi in 1940. Photo: Krigsarkivet.
