The Army of the Isthmus ( fi, Kannaksen Armeija) was a formation of the

Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( Finnish: ''Maavoimat'', Swedish: ''Armén'') is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: the infantry (which includes armoured units), field artillery, anti-aircraf ...

during the

Winter War The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...

. It was stationed on the

Karelian Isthmus The Karelian Isthmus (russian: Карельский перешеек, Karelsky peresheyek; fi, Karjalankannas; sv, Karelska näset) is the approximately stretch of land, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern ...

and was the largest formation of the Finnish Army, as it was charged to defend the important isthmus.

Organisation

The army was organized into two corps. At the beginning of the war it had one division in reserve. Along the Soviet border four delaying groups of smaller units was deployed. * II Corps (''II AK'') under Lieutenant General

Harald Öhquist Harald Öhquist (1 March 1891, Helsinki – 10 February 1971, Helsinki) was a Finnish Jäger and Lieutenant General during World War II. Biography Öhquist joined the Jaeger Movement in 1915 and trained and fought in the Royal Prussian 27th ...

** 4th Division **

5th Division In military terms, 5th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 5th Division (Australia) *5th Division (People's Republic of China) * 5th Division (Colombia) *Finnish 5th Division (Continuation War) * 5th Light Cavalry Division (France) *5th Mo ...

** 11th Division (later the 2nd Division) ** Cavalry Brigade * III Corps (''III AK'') under

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Erik Heinrichs Axel Erik Heinrichs (21 July 1890 – 16 November 1965) was a Finnish military general. He was Finland's Chief of the General Staff during the Interim Peace and Continuation War (1940–1941 and 1942–1944) and commander-in-chief for a short t ...

. **

8th Division 8th Division, 8th Infantry Division or 8th Armored Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 8th Division (Australia) * 8th Canadian Infantry Division * 8th Air Division (People's Republic of China) * 8th Division (1st Formation) (People's Repu ...

** 10th Division (later the 7th Division) *Reserve ** 1st Division Immediately by the border on the isthmus were the four delaying groups named after their location: * U-Group at Uusikirkko * M-Group at Muolaa * L-Group at Lipola * R-Group at Rautu On February 25 the II Corps was split and a new

I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...

was established. It was given the 1st and 2nd Divisions (former 11th Division).

Commanders

* Lieutenant General

Hugo Österman Hugo Viktor Österman (5 September 1892, Helsinki – 17 February 1975) was a Finnish lieutenant-general during World War II. He was commander of the Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( Finnish: ''Maavoimat'', Swedish: ''Armén'') is the land f ...

(until 19 February 1940) * Lieutenant General

(after 19 February 1940)

References

* * {{Cite book, title=The Winter War: The Russo–Finnish War of 1939–40, last1=Trotter, first1=William R., publisher=Aurum Press, year=2002, isbn=1-85410-881-6, edition=5th, location=London, ref=Trotter2002, author-link1=William R. Trotter, orig-year=1991 Military units and formations of Finland in the Winter War Military units and formations of Finland in World War II

Organisation

Commanders

See also

References