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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
.
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 |
.
. |
Rank
. |
Name |
1. Divisioona (1.D) (1st
Division)
.
.
.4. Divisioona (4.D) (4th
Division)
.
.
.
.
5.
Divisioona (5.D) (5th Division)
.
.
.
6. -> (since 1.1.1940) 3.
Divisioona (6./3.D) (6th/3rd Division)
.
.
.
.
.
8.
Divisioona (8.D) (8th Division)
.
.
.
.
10. -> (since 1.1.1940) 7.
Divisioona (10./7.D) (10th/7th Division)
.
.
.
.
11. -> (since 1.1.1940) 2.
Divisioona (11./2.D) (11th/2nd Division)
.
12.
Divisioona (12.D) (12th Division)
.
.
.
13.
Divisioona (13.D) (13th Division)
.
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)
.
.
.
|
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-)
|
.
.
Table of Organization 1939 - 1940
More detailed information on divisional unit
compositions can be seen on page Divisional Units 1939 - 1940.
.
Esikunta
(E) (Staff)
+
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)
.
|