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{{Infobox military unit
The '''6th Division''' (''6.Divisioona'') was a unit of the [[Finnish Army]] during the [[Continuation War]].
| unit_name = 6th Division
| native_name = 6. Divisioona
| start_date = 1941
| end_date = 1944
| country = {{flagcountry|Finland}}
| branch = [[Finnish Army|Army]]
| type = [[Division (military)|Division]]
| notable_commanders = [[Einar Vihma]]
}}


The '''6th Division''' ({{Lang-fi|6. Divisioona}}) was a unit of the [[Finnish Army]] during the [[Continuation War]]. Subordinated to the [[German XXXVI Corps]], the division took part in the German-led [[Operation Arctic Fox]] in 1941. In 1943, the division was moved to [[Eastern Karelia]], from where it was moved to the [[Karelian Isthmus]] following the start of the 1944 Soviet [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive]]. Following the [[Moscow Armistice|Moscow armistice]], the division also took part in the [[Lapland War]] against the German forces remaining in [[Lapland (Finland)|Finnish Lapland]].
⚫
== History ==
The 6th Division was attached to the [[German XXXVI Corps]] in Northern Finland in [[1941]]. As part of [[Operation Barbarossa]] the division attacked with the [[SS Division Nord]] and [[German 169th Infantry Division]] against [[Salla]] with the goal of reaching [[Kandalaksha]] on the [[White Sea]] coast. The division also fought alongside a small German tank unit, the [[Panzer-Abteilung 211]], which consisted entirely of captured French tanks. The attack was a failure.


⚫
==History==
In 1942 the 6th division was reorganized into the '''12th Brigade''' but was later brought back to division strength in [[1943]].
Originally a part of the [[Finnish V Corps (Continuation War)|Finnish V Corps]], the 6th Division was attached to the [[German XXXVI Corps]] in Northern Finland in 1941.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=257}} As part of [[Operation Arctic Fox]], the division attacked alongside the [[SS Division Nord]] and [[German 169th Infantry Division]] against [[Salla]] with the goal of reaching [[Kandalaksha]] on the [[White Sea]] coast.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|pp=260-262}} The town of Salla was captured, but the division suffered 405 casualties in the process.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=262}} Following the capture of Salla, the division continued towards [[Verman (river)|river Verman]], reaching it on October 18, 1941.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=264}} By this point, both increasingly difficult logistics and the losses suffered forced Operation Arctic Fox to be halted.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=264}} The 6th division was considered unfit for attack.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=264}} During these actions, the division also fought alongside a small German tank unit, the [[Panzer-Abteilung 211]],{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1993|p=35}} which consisted of captured French tanks.{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1993|p=38}}


Following the failure of Operation Arctic Fox, the Finnish general headquarters wanted to reduce the division to a brigade-sized element to help both a labor shortage on the home front, as well as for foreign political reasons related to attacking beyond the pre-[[Winter War]] borders.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|pp=264-266}} The division was reorganized as the '''12th Brigade''' in early 1942.{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1993|p=161}} In January 1943, the brigade was re-expanded to divisional size, again taking the name 6th Division, and assigned to the [[Aunus Group]]. In July 1943, it was reassigned to the isthmus north of [[Lake Onega]] as part of the [[Maaselkä Group]].{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1993|p=188}}
The division was transported to the Maaselkä isthmus in 1942, but after the Soviet main assault started in [[1944]], it was moved to the [[Karelian Isthmus]]. There it took part in the decisive [[Battle of Tali-Ihantala]].


After the Soviet [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive]] started in 1944, the 6th Division was moved to the [[Karelian Isthmus]]{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=800}}{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=804}} as a component of the [[Finnish IV Corps (Continuation War)|Finnish IV Corps]].{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=789}} There it took part in the decisive [[Battle of Tali-Ihantala]], where its arrival prevented the breaking of the [[Finnish Armoured Division|Armored Division]]{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=934}} and enabled the Armored Division and the [[Finnish 11th Division (Continuation War)|11th Division]] to be moved out of the line to act as a reserve.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|pp=935-936}}
After the Continuation War ended, the division also took part in the [[Lapland War]]. The division was disbanded after it had occupied [[Rovaniemi]].


After the [[Moscow Armistice|Moscow armistice]], the division also took part in the [[Lapland War]] against the German forces still in Lapland.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|pp=1129-1130}}{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=1136}} On September 30, 1944, the division was subordinated to the Armored Division, with the resulting formation being named Group [[Ruben Lagus|Lagus]].{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=1141}} As a part of this formation, the division participated in the capture of [[Rovaniemi]], after which it was disbanded.{{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|pp=1140-1143}}
== Commanders ==
⚫
* [[Colonel]] Werner Viikla (1941)
* Colonel A. Mäkiniemi (12th Brigade)
⚫
* [[Major General]] E. Vihma (1943)


== Organization ==
==Commanders==
⚫
* [[Colonel]] Werner Viikla (1941){{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=127}}
⚫
* [[Major General]] [[Einar Vihma]] (1943–1944){{sfn|Uola|2007}}
* [[Colonel]] A. Puromaa (1944){{sfn|Leskinen|Juutilainen|2005|p=127}}


==Organization==
The 6th Division was organised from men from the Far-North Military Province (''Perä-Pohjolan Sotilaslääni''). It lacked the Heavy Artillery Battalion.
The 6th Division was organised from men from the Far-North Military Province (''Perä-Pohjolan Sotilaslääni'').{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1988|p=100}} It lacked the Heavy Artillery Battalion.{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1988|p=100}}


The division consisted of the following subordinate units:{{sfn|Sotatieteen laitos|1988|p=100}}
* Infantry Regiment 12 ([[Rovaniemi]])
* Infantry Regiment 12 ([[Rovaniemi]])
* Infantry Regiment 33 ([[Sodankylä]])
* Infantry Regiment 33 ([[Sodankylä]])
* Infantry Regiment 54 (Western [[Lapland Province|Lapland]])
* Infantry Regiment 54 (Western [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
* Field Artillery Regiment 14 ([[Tornio]])
* Field Artillery Regiment 14 ([[Tornio]])
* Light Battalion 3
* Light Battalion 3
Line 27: Line 38:
* Signal Battalion 36
* Signal Battalion 36


== Notes ==
⚫
''See also: [[List of Finnish divisions in the Continuation War]], [[Finnish 6th Division (Winter War)]]''
{{reflist}}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
| editor-last1=Leskinen
| editor-first1=Jari
| editor-last2=Juutilainen
| editor-first2=Antti
| title=Jatkosodan pikkujättiläinen
| year = 2005
| publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö
| location=Helsinki
| isbn=951-0-28690-7
| language=Finnish
}}
* {{cite book
| editor=Sotatieteen laitos
| title=Jatkosodan historia 1
| series=Sotatieteen laitoksen julkaisuja XXV
| volume=1
| year = 1988
| publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö
| location=Porvoo
| isbn=951-0-15327-3
| language=Finnish
}}
* {{cite book
| editor=Sotatieteen laitos
| title=Jatkosodan historia 4
| series=Sotatieteen laitoksen julkaisuja XXV
| volume=4
| year = 1993
| publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö
| location=Porvoo
| isbn=951-0-15330-3
| language=Finnish
}}
* {{cite encyclopedia
| last=Uola
| first=Mikko
| year=2007
| title=Vihma, Einar (1893–1944)
| encyclopedia=Kansallisbiografia
| series=Studia Biographica
| volume=4
| url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/7705
| access-date=26 October 2021
| publisher=The Finnish Literature Society
| issn=1799-4349
| language=Finnish
}}
{{refend}}

==See also==
⚫
*[[List of Finnish divisions in the Continuation War]]
*[[Finnish 6th Division (Winter War)]]

{{Finnish formations WW2}}


[[Category:Continuation War]]
[[Category:Continuation War]]
[[Category:Divisions of Finland]]
[[Category:Divisions of Finland]]
[[Category:Articles lacking sources (Erik9bot)]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Finland in World War II]]

[[fi:6. Divisioona (jatkosota)]]

Latest revision as of 09:33, 28 June 2024

6th Division
6. Divisioona
Active1941–1944
Country Finland
BranchArmy
TypeDivision
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Einar Vihma

The 6th Division (Finnish: 6. Divisioona) was a unit of the Finnish Army during the Continuation War. Subordinated to the German XXXVI Corps, the division took part in the German-led Operation Arctic Fox in 1941. In 1943, the division was moved to Eastern Karelia, from where it was moved to the Karelian Isthmus following the start of the 1944 Soviet Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive. Following the Moscow armistice, the division also took part in the Lapland War against the German forces remaining in Finnish Lapland.

History

[edit]

Originally a part of the Finnish V Corps, the 6th Division was attached to the German XXXVI Corps in Northern Finland in 1941.[1] As part of Operation Arctic Fox, the division attacked alongside the SS Division Nord and German 169th Infantry Division against Salla with the goal of reaching Kandalaksha on the White Sea coast.[2] The town of Salla was captured, but the division suffered 405 casualties in the process.[3] Following the capture of Salla, the division continued towards river Verman, reaching it on October 18, 1941.[4] By this point, both increasingly difficult logistics and the losses suffered forced Operation Arctic Fox to be halted.[4] The 6th division was considered unfit for attack.[4] During these actions, the division also fought alongside a small German tank unit, the Panzer-Abteilung 211,[5] which consisted of captured French tanks.[6]

Following the failure of Operation Arctic Fox, the Finnish general headquarters wanted to reduce the division to a brigade-sized element to help both a labor shortage on the home front, as well as for foreign political reasons related to attacking beyond the pre-Winter War borders.[7] The division was reorganized as the 12th Brigade in early 1942.[8] In January 1943, the brigade was re-expanded to divisional size, again taking the name 6th Division, and assigned to the Aunus Group. In July 1943, it was reassigned to the isthmus north of Lake Onega as part of the Maaselkä Group.[9]

After the Soviet Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive started in 1944, the 6th Division was moved to the Karelian Isthmus[10][11] as a component of the Finnish IV Corps.[12] There it took part in the decisive Battle of Tali-Ihantala, where its arrival prevented the breaking of the Armored Division[13] and enabled the Armored Division and the 11th Division to be moved out of the line to act as a reserve.[14]

After the Moscow armistice, the division also took part in the Lapland War against the German forces still in Lapland.[15][16] On September 30, 1944, the division was subordinated to the Armored Division, with the resulting formation being named Group Lagus.[17] As a part of this formation, the division participated in the capture of Rovaniemi, after which it was disbanded.[18]

Commanders

[edit]

Organization

[edit]

The 6th Division was organised from men from the Far-North Military Province (Perä-Pohjolan Sotilaslääni).[21] It lacked the Heavy Artillery Battalion.[21]

The division consisted of the following subordinate units:[21]

  • Infantry Regiment 12 (Rovaniemi)
  • Infantry Regiment 33 (Sodankylä)
  • Infantry Regiment 54 (Western Lapland)
  • Field Artillery Regiment 14 (Tornio)
  • Light Battalion 3
  • Engineer Battalion 36
  • Signal Battalion 36

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 257.
  2. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, pp. 260–262.
  3. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 262.
  4. ^ a b c Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 264.
  5. ^ Sotatieteen laitos 1993, p. 35.
  6. ^ Sotatieteen laitos 1993, p. 38.
  7. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, pp. 264–266.
  8. ^ Sotatieteen laitos 1993, p. 161.
  9. ^ Sotatieteen laitos 1993, p. 188.
  10. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 800.
  11. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 804.
  12. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 789.
  13. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 934.
  14. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, pp. 935–936.
  15. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, pp. 1129–1130.
  16. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 1136.
  17. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 1141.
  18. ^ Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, pp. 1140–1143.
  19. ^ a b Leskinen & Juutilainen 2005, p. 127.
  20. ^ Uola 2007.
  21. ^ a b c Sotatieteen laitos 1988, p. 100.

References

[edit]
  • Leskinen, Jari; Juutilainen, Antti, eds. (2005). Jatkosodan pikkujättiläinen (in Finnish). Helsinki: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. ISBN 951-0-28690-7.
  • Sotatieteen laitos, ed. (1988). Jatkosodan historia 1. Sotatieteen laitoksen julkaisuja XXV (in Finnish). Vol. 1. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. ISBN 951-0-15327-3.
  • Sotatieteen laitos, ed. (1993). Jatkosodan historia 4. Sotatieteen laitoksen julkaisuja XXV (in Finnish). Vol. 4. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. ISBN 951-0-15330-3.
  • Uola, Mikko (2007). "Vihma, Einar (1893–1944)". Kansallisbiografia. Studia Biographica (in Finnish). Vol. 4. The Finnish Literature Society. ISSN 1799-4349. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

See also

[edit]
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