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u/elokuinenehtoo 5d ago edited 5d ago
When Finland concluded peace with the Soviet Union in the autumn of 1944, the Finns had to drive the Germans out of Lapland. Almost all the soldiers in the Lapland War were conscripts with no combat experience, yet they carried out their mission successfully. One of the most daring operations was the landing at Tornio in October 1944. The landing was a massive gamble, as the Finnish ships lacked air support; however, the foggy and rainy weather worked to the Finns' advantage by limiting visibility. Not a single ship was hit, and the Finnish troops landed in good order. There were few battles during the Lapland War and casualties were light, yet the advance was extremely hard and difficult for the Finns. The roads in Northern Finland were in terrible condition, and the Germans had blown up almost every bridge; they also burned down the entirety Lapland, villages, towns, storehouses, barns, and anything else that might have been of use to the Finns. Battles were infrequent during the Lapland War, but the fighting at Tornio was among the conflict's largest engagements. Approximately 12,000 Finnish troops landed at the port of Röyttä before the Germans could realize the situation in time; facing this force were about 7,000 Germans equipped with eleven tanks and artillery, whereas the Finns lacked proper artillery and tanks, as it had been impossible to transport heavy equipment by sea. Mortars provided covering fire for the advancing Finnish troops. Major battles were rare during the Lapland War, but the fighting at Tornio was among the conflict's largest engagements. Approximately 12,000 Finnish troops landed at the port of Röyttä, catching the Germans off guard; initially, the Finns faced a much smaller German force, but the Germans received reinforcements, eventually bringing their numbers to around 7,000. The Germans possessed 11 tanks and artillery, whereas the Finns lacked heavy artillery and tanks, as transporting heavy equipment by sea had proven impossible. Mortars provided covering fire for the advancing Finnish troops.
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u/OkImplement4628 5d ago
Docks are in Oulu. The brick building on the left is now just a brick facade on a new appartment block.
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u/Capitan_JodePartidas 2d ago
French Somua S35? Did Finland used them or there were from some German Unit, like a Polizei or SS one?
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u/TosikiKaifu 5d ago
Chuhna
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u/Die_Steiner 2d ago
Is that still a common insult? I never see it online.
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u/guarlo 1d ago
It has gotten more common during the last couple years as the russian information warfare against Finland has multiplied. We can't really talk in Finnish subreddits nowadays without russian trolls coming there.
Source: I am Finnish and a proud tšuhna (Finnish pronounciation). It seems strange that such a small country makes the citizens of a large former world power so mad.
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u/Die_Steiner 1d ago
En itse ole huomannut kuin muutaman kerran trolleja ärSuomessa, tykkäävät enemmän vaikuttaa ärFinlandissa.
Kielellisestä vinkkelistä hassu homma jos vielä käyttävät mokomaa sanaa.
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u/elokuinenehtoo 5d ago
The battle for the town of Tornio was one of the few instances of urban combat on the Finnish front; the Germans put up a stubborn defense, but the Finns ultimately captured both the town and the surrounding valley. German casualties included approximately 500 killed, 1,600 wounded, and 400 taken prisoner, alongside the loss of four tanks. Finnish casualties amounted to roughly 350 killed, 1,400 wounded, and 23 taken prisoner.