INFANTRY DIVISIONS
DURING WINTER WAR 1939 - 1940

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Numbering System of Divisions and Divisional Units

Numbering of Infantry Regiments

In 1939 all three Infantry Regiments (Jalkaväkirykmentti, JR) within division were numbered according to following method:

  • 3rd Rgt No. =  3 x Div.No.
  • 2nd Rgt No. = 3rd Rgt No. - 1
  • 1st Rgt No. = 3rd Rgt No. - 2

For example regiments of the 5.D were (3 x 5 =) 15, (15 -1 =) 14 and (15 - 2 =) 13.

There were a few exception in this rule:

  • JR 16 of 6.D acted independently as part of Detachment / Group Talvela
  • JR 22 of 8.D belonged initially to Group Hanell and was attached to 6.D (later 3.D) in December 1939
  • JR 25 of 9.D was moved to Kuhmo region as the bulk of Brigade Vuokko
  • JR 26 of 9.D was given to 8.D instead of JR 22
  • JR 64 of 2nd Supplement Division was attached to 9.D in December 1939
  • JR 65 of 2nd Supplement Division was attached to 9.D in January 1940

Independent infantry regiments were:

  • JR 32 (of new dummy 11.D which didn't exist after 1.1.1940) was an independent regiment formed in 1940 of Field Supplement Battalions VIII / KT-Pr. (I/JR 32), IX / KT-Pr. (II/JR 32)
  • JR 40 (of dummy 14.D which existed only on paper) was an independent regiment formed of 2nd Home Supplement Brigade (2. Koti-T-Prikaati) or 2nd Supplement Division (2.T-D) and fought at first in Salla region and since late February 1940 at Bay of Viborg
  • JR 41 (of dummy 14.D which existed only on paper) was an independent regiment formed of Field Supplement Battalions V / KT-Pr. (I/JR 41), XII / KT-Pr. (II/JR 41) and XIII / KT-Pr. (III/JR 41)
  • JR 44 (of dummy 15.D which never existed) was an independent regiment formed of Field Supplement Battalion IV / KT-Pr. (II/JR 44)
  • JR 64 (of never formed 22.D) was first attached to Group Siilasvuo (9.D) at Suomussalmi but on 12 January 1940 it was moved north from Lake Ladoga as an independent regiment and subordinated to IV Army Corps
  • JR 65 (of never formed 22.D) was subordinated to Group Susi north from Suomussalmi in December 1939. In January 1940 regiment was moved to Kuhmo as part of 9.D

All other divisional sub-units (except engineer companies) usually had their divisional number. When division numbers were changed in 6th, 10th and 11th Divisions on 1.1.1940 most sub-units received new numbers which resembled the new division numbers.
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4th Division

Certain supply units of 4th Division (4.D) had other number than 4, because many supply units of Cavalry Brigade used that number.
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9th Division and 2nd Supplement Division

Original 9th Division (9.D) which was largely without equipment was suspended before Winter War but it was reformed on 22 December 1939 using the troops of 2nd Supplement Division (2.T-D) which never became 22nd Division. Its two infantry regiments were numbered as 65 and 64. At first the forthcoming 9.D was in brigade form as Group Siilasvuo which was gradually enlarged during December 1939 when new troops arrived and new units, for example Engineer Battalion 9, were formed.

Infantry Regiment 25 (JR 25) and the not full Light Detachment 9 (Kev.Os.9) (Light Detachment Essen) - both originally of suspended 9.D - were moved to Kuhmo area at the beginning of December 1939 and became Brigade Vuokko (Prikaati Vuokko). Infantry Regiment 26 (JR 26) was moved to Karelian Isthmus at the beginning of December 1939 and attached to 8.D. Only Infantry Regiment 27 (JR 27) stayed with Group Siilasvuo, which later became 9.D. Infantry regiment 64 (JR 64) and Light Detachment 22 (Kev.Os.22, operational only between 26.12.1939 - 11.1.1940) attached to 9.D. Light Company Hannila from Kev.Os.9 was with 9.D like the not full Artillery Regiment 9.
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21st and 23rd Division

On 1.1.1940 1st and 2nd Supplement Division (1.T-D and 2.T-D) were re-named as 21st and 23rd Division (21.D and 23.D). The first one was attached to the Field Army (land forces) on 19.1.1940. It was intended to replace 12th Division north from Lake Ladoga but it was soon moved to middle Karelian Isthmus. The latter one was attached to the Field Army on 7.2.1940. Division was moved to western Karelian Isthmus and was soon involved in hard battles east and north-east from Viborg. During that about one month period division suffered heavier losses than any other Finnish division during the Winter War.

These new divisions were slightly smaller and weaker than other Finnish divisions, they for example had only two light artillery battalions in their artillery regiment. They were partly equipped with obsolescent weapons and equipment, soldiers wore mainly their own civilian clothes under white winter suits and their worn-out rifles were typically without outfits like bayonets and slings. In many cases only winter suit, weapon and Finnish blue and white cockade on civilian fur cap indicated a soldier of the Finnish Army! These shortcomings, inexperience in all levels and short war-time training meant that combat spirit and morale of troops were much lower than that of the typical Finnish units.
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Finnish Infantry Divisions in Winter War

At the beginning of Winter War Finnish Defence Forces had a total of nine full (Infantry) Divisions [Divisioona, D]. In addition one division (9.D) was almost completely without heavy weapons and partly without other equipment and three supplement divisions were under forming. Original 9.D was suspended at the beginning of December 1939 but 22.T-D was re-named as 9.D on 22.12.1939. Two of the supplement divisions were re-named in January 1940 as infantry divisions. The total number of Finnish divisions was thus 12.

Finnish divisions were numbered as follows:

Division
Finnish Name (and Abbreviation)
(Name in English),
Notes
Commander / Chief of Staff
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Rank
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Name
1. Divisioona (1.D) (1st Division)
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4. Divisioona (4.D) (4th Division)
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5. Divisioona (5.D) (5th Division)
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6. -> (since 1.1.1940) 3. Divisioona (6./3.D) (6th/3rd Division)
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8. Divisioona (8.D) (8th Division)
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10. -> (since 1.1.1940) 7. Divisioona (10./7.D) (10th/7th Division)
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11. -> (since 1.1.1940) 2. Divisioona (11./2.D) (11th/2nd Division)
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12. Divisioona (12.D) (12th Division)
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13. Divisioona (13.D) (13th Division)
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1. Täydennysdivisioona (1.T-D) (1st Supplement Division)
-> (since 10.12.1939) 21. Divisioona (21.D) (21st Division)

2. Täydennysdivisioona (2.T-D) (2nd Supplement Division)
->
(since 22.12.1939) 9. Divisioona (9.D) (9th Division)

3. Täydennysdivisioona (3.T-D) (3rd Supplement Division)
-> (since 1.1.1940) 23. Divisioona (23.D) (23rd Division)
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Maj.Gen.
Col.
Lt.Col.
Maj.

Col.
Col.
Col.
Maj.
Maj.

Col.
Maj.
Lt.Col.
Maj.

Col.
Col.
Maj.
Maj.
Maj.
Maj.

Col.
Maj.
Capt./Maj.
Maj.
Maj.

Col.
Col.
Col.
Maj.
Capt./Maj.

Col.
Maj.

Col.
Col.
Col.
Maj./Lt.Col.

Col.
-

Col.
Maj.

Col.
Capt./Maj.

Col.
Col.
Maj.
Maj.

T. Laatikainen
A.-E. Martola
(25.2.40-)
L. Maskula
A. Särmä
(2.2.40-)

B. Nordenswan
A. Kaila
(6.12.39-)
J. Arajuuri
(1.3.40-)
E. Hülpers
S. Simelius (6.12.39-)

S. Isakson
G. Sittkoff (got sick)
H. Hirki (acting ?.12.39-)
A. Kurenmaa
(7.12.39-)

P. Paalu
A. Kaila
(2.3.40-)
I. Ahonen
E. Nohrström
(?.12.39-)
V. Raikkala (18.2.40-)
Z. Duncker
(?.40-)

B. Winell
N. Sahlgren (KIA)
A. Järvi
(11.12.39-)
K.-E. Lindemann
(10.2.40-)
O. Lilius
(18.2.40-)

V. Kauppila (resigned)
A. Blick (acting 21.12.39-)
E. Vihma
(15.1.40-)
T. Kohonen
A. Ehrnrooth
(12.1.40-)

E. Koskimies
T. Elomaa

L. Tiainen (got sick)
A. Snellman (acting 31.1.40-)
A. Svensson
(2.2.40-)
E. Juva

E. Hannuksela
?

N. Hersalo
S. Frey

Hj. Siilasvuo
A. Marttinen

G. Heinrichs
W. Oinonen
(27.2.40-)
N. Roos
Y. Haahti
(22.2.40-)

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Table of Organization 1939 - 1940

More detailed information on divisional unit compositions can be seen on page Divisional Units 1939 - 1940.
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Esikunta (E) (Staff)
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Esikuntakomppania (EK)
(Staff Company)

2x Kaasusuojelukomppania (Kss.K) (Gas Protection Company)

3x Jalkaväkirykmentti (JR) (Infantry Regiment)
----- Esikunta (Staff) +
----- Esikuntakomppania (Staff Company)
----- ----- Komentojoukkue (Command Platoon)
----- ----- Viestijoukkue (Signals Platoon)
----- ----- Pioneeri- ja liikennejoukkue (Engineer and Traffic Platoon)
----- ----- (not in all divisions with Engineer Battalion)
----- ----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)
----- I - III Jalkaväkipataljoona (Infantry Battalion)
----- ----- Esikunta (Staff) +
----- ----- Esikuntakomppania (Staff Company)
----- ----- ----- Komentojoukkue (Command Platoon)
----- ----- ----- Viestijoukkue (Signals Platoon)
----- ----- ----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)
----- ----- 3x Jalkaväkikomppania (Infantry Company)
----- ----- ----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)
----- ----- ----- I - IV Jalkäväkijoukkue (Infantry Platoon)
----- ----- ----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)
----- ----- Konekiväärikomppania (MG Company)
----- ----- ----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)
----- ----- ----- I - III Konekiväärijoukkue (MG Platoon) [4 + 4 + 4x 7.62 mm Maxim MG]
----- ----- ----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)
----- Kranaatinheitinkomppania (Mortar Company)
----- ----- I - II Kranaatinheitinjoukkue (Mortar Platoon) [2 + 2 x 81 mm mortar]
----- Rykmentin kolonna (Regiment Column)
----- ----- Ammuskolonna (Ammunition Column)
----- ----- Elintarvikekolonna 1 (Rations Column 1)
----- ----- Elintarvikekolonna 2 (Rations Column 2)

Kevyt osasto (Kev.Os.) (Light Detachment)
----- Esikuntajoukkue (Staff Platoon)
----- Polkupyöräkomppania (Bicycle Company)
----- Eskadroona ([Cavalry] Squadron)
----- Polkupyöräkonekiväärijoukkue (Bicycle MG Platoon) [4x 7.62 mm Maxim MG]
----- Kevyt kolonna (Light Column)

2x Pioneerikomppania (Pion.K) (Engineer Company)
(or Engineer Battalion in the following divisions:
1.D since 2.2.1940-, (6.D ->) 3.D 1.1.1940-, 4.D 17.12.1939-,
9.D 31.12.1939-, 21.D 25.1.1940- and 23.D 10.12.1939-)

Viestikomppania (VK) (Signals Company)
Linjarakennuskomppania (LRak.K)
(Line Constructing Company)

Kranaatinheitinkomppania (Krh.K) (Mortar Company)
----- I - II Kranaatinheitinjoukkue (Mortar Platoon) [2 + 2 x 81 mm mortar]

Kenttätykistörykmentti (KTR) (Field Artillery Regiment)
----- Esikunta (Staff)
----- I - III Patteristo (Artillery Battalion) [12 + 12 + 12x light field gun or howitzer each]
----- rykmentin huoltojoukot (regimental supply units)

Ammusvarastokomppania (AVar.K) (Ammunition Depot Company)

Työasevarasto-osasto (TyöaseVar.Os.) (Tool Depot Detachment)

Lääkintäkomppania (Lääk.K) (Medical Company)

Talouskomppania (Tal.K) (Household Company)

Kolonna (Kol.) (Column)

Kenttätäydennypataljoona (KT-P) (Field Supplement Battalion)

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Sources: TALHI, RESUP, VALPA2, PAUJY2, PAUJY3, SAAEE1, ITJOU
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© 2001 - 13.9.2004 Harri Anttonen

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