The Winter War 1939-1940: Information on Combat Forces

The Number of Men in Arms

Nov 1939: 295000 Mar 1940: 364500

Combat formations: Army

Army HQ Corps Designation Battlefields Notes
Kannaksen armeija (Army of Isthmus) II AK 1. D Muolaa, Ihantala later in the new I AK
4. D Kuolemajärvi, Gulf of Viborg
5. D Summa, Tammisuo
6. D Summa, Viborg later 3. D
11. D Punnusjärvi,Äyräpää later 2. D
23. D Tali reinforcement division, not full strenght, arrived 2/40
4. Pr Muolaa, Kuparsaari later in the new I AK
RvPr Uusikirkko, Lemetti Cavalry brigade, fought on several fronts
Group Uusikirkko Terijoki, Uusikirkko Operational only in the opening phase
Group Muolaa Joutselkä Operational only in the opening phase
Group Lipola Lipola Operational only in the opening phase
III AK 8. D Kiviniemi
10. D Taipale later 7. D
21. D Vuosalmi reinforcement division, not full strenght, arrived 2/40
Group Rautu Rautu Operational only in the opening phase
Group Metsäpirtti Metsäpirtti Operational only in the opening phase
Under control of GHQ in St. Michel IV AK 12. D Kollaa
13. D Ruhtinaanmäki, Lemetti
Group Talvela Os P Tolvajärvi, Aittojoki JR 16 & indep. battalions
Os A Ilomantsi Later as JR 41. Formed from various indep. and reinf. battalions in Jan 1940
North Carelian Group indep. battalions Lieksa
North Finland Group 9. D Raate, Kuhmo reinforcement division, not full strenght, arrived 12/39
Pr Vuokko Kuhmo stop-gap expansion of JR 25, part of 9. D later
Group Susi Juntusranta indep. battalions
Lapland Group JR 40 Pelkosenniemi later send to Gulf of Viborg
Os R Märkäjärvi, Joutsijärvi indep. battalions
Os Pennanen Petsamo, Nautsi 10. ErK at first, later 11. ErK & and 1 art.battery, later about 1 battalion
SFK Märkäjärvi Swedish volunteers, arrived 2/40

Abbreviations: AK = Corps ,D = Division, JR = Infantry Regiment, Pr =Brigade, Os = Detachment ErK = Independent Company

Information on Battalions

The table above contains only major units in every separate front. There were also lots of independent battalions and battalion was the standard unit which formed various groups and task forces. So it's appropriate to mention amount of forces in battalions and types of battalions.

Number of battalions Types of battalions
Front beginning end of war
Carelian Isthmus (II & III and in the end I AK) 72 114
IV AK 22 32
Aittojoki & Ilomantsi (Group Talvela) 4 11
Northern Finland 2 25
Original battalions ErP1-26, ErP 112
Reinforcement battalions KT-Pr IV-XIII
Jaeger battalions JP1-4
Bicycle battalions PPP5-8
Guerrilla Battalions SissiP1-5

Information on Divisions

Divisional Order of Battle, Winter War Order of battle of a Winter War division:
1.D 1. Pr 2. Pr 3. Pr
4.D JR10 JR11 JR12 KTR4 KevOs4
5.D JR13 JR14 JR15 KTR5 KevOs5
6.D(3) JR16* JR17(7) JR18(8) KTR6(3) KevOs6(3)
8.D JR22(9) JR23 JR24 KTR8 KevOs8
9.D JR25 JR26 JR27 KTR9 KevOs9
10.D(7) JR28(19) JR29(20) JR30(21) KTR10(7) KevOs10(7)
11.D(2) JR31(4) JR32(5) JR33(6) KTR11(2) KevOs11(2)
12.D JR34 JR35 JR36 KTR12 KevOs12
13.D JR37 JR38 JR39 KTR13 KevOs13
21.D JR61 JR62*   KTR21 KevOs21
23.D JR67 JR68 JR69 KTR23 KevOs21
Personnel 14200
Horses 3200
Motor Vehicles 46
Field Guns 75-105mm 24
Field Guns 105-155mm 12
Mortars 81mm 18
Medium MG's 7,62mm 112
Light MG's 7,62mm 250
Submachine Guns 9mm 250
Rifles 7,62mm 11000
Not associated to any division permanently:
JR40 JR64 JR65

Numbers in brackets are for changed unit designations on 1st January 1940.

* Unit fought mainly with some other unit than the original one

KT-Pr was meant to serve as replacements for divisions, but battalions had to be sent to the front as such. Three went to the Isthmus, three to Ilomantsi and three to Northern Finland.

Green is infantry, red is artillery and black is light/reconnaissance infantry

 Usually something was lacking, mostly artillery. Especially 9th, 21st and 23rd Divisions were badly equipped

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