laststandonzombieisland

80 years ago, during the Finnish Continuation War against the Soviets, showing camouflaged Finnish troops outside the Karelian village of Vitele (Sotilaskasvoja Ylä-Vitele), 28 June 1944.

Of note, the soldier to the left has what appears to be a Finnish-made Mosin m/39 rifle while the one on the left has a shorter m/27 or m/28 variant, with a “dog collar” sling attachment. Also, note what looks like a Finnish m/28 mess kit.

Captured during the Finnish offensive in July 1941, the Finns at the time of these photos were in the process of pulling back all along the collapsing Karelian Front as the Soviets advanced, as witnessed by what may be the same soldier in the nearby burning village of Suurmäki on 29 June.

Hostilities between Finland and the Soviets ceased in early September 1944 after the Moscow Armistice guaranteed Finland’s 1940 borders sans the Barents Sea port of Petsamo and a lease on the Porkkala Peninsula. This led to a rapid recalibration in which the Finns harassed the retreating 200,000 German troops in the country– mostly the 20. Gebirgsarmee— as they retired to Norway during the so-called Lapland War which would simmer until April 1945.