From: sedergre@valt.Helsinki.FI (JARI SEDERGREN (COMM))
Subject: Re: Karelians the palestinians of the north
Organization: University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 17:03:23 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.121722.15499@jyu.fi> joheko@jyu.fi (Jonne Henrikki Kolima) writes:

>In article <sedergre.29@valt.Helsinki.FI> sedergre@valt.Helsinki.FI (JARI 
SEDERGREN (COMM)) writes:
>>Now, this looks clear to me. BH is talking about Petsamo and Jarmo's 
>>somewhat
>>strange historical outlook on that, and what we get: JR starts an
>>outburst about Winter War and Continuity War, and his opinions about 
>>latter are now even more curious. Is there anyone else in this planet to 
>>claim that Soviet Union attacked Finland 1941? Certainly not any 
>>historians? 	
>       Well, actually the SU did declare war to Finland before we had a 
>       chance to declare war to them.  The Soviets even bombed some
>       of our cities before any Finnish military activity (you really
>       can't take in consideration the fact that we had half a million
>       soldiers posted along the eastern border ;) ).  


Hitler had it right: Attack from Black Sea to Ice Sea (or whatever it is in 
English, I don't have any dictionary here) started 22nd of June 1941.
Finnish army had some own operations and took part of German operations from 
Finnish territory all the time 22-25th of June. 
	Maybe I have to give some examples:
Mobilisation started at the morning of 18th of June. Defensetroops were at 
the border 20.6.1941. It was 15 hours late of planned (Heinrichs plan in 
Salzburg 25.5.1941, operation was planned in Berlin with Franz Halder 
originally 30.1.1941). Because of these 15 hours planned common attack from 
Salla did not start 22th of June. Finns occupied Aaland, warships were 
ready for that 21th of June, and came to Aaland at 0600 next 
morning. Good timing! By the way, Russians tried to bomb these ships. 
Finnish submarines were patrolling coincidently at the area (exactly what 
was planned 6th of June in Kiel, Germany).
	Something about mining operations. 21.6.1941 German
'Torbeedoboot's gathered in Porkkala. (Operation command was given 
17th of May 1941". Meeting for operations in cadet school in 
Suomenlinna, near Helsinki). Group Cobra - as it was called - 
left Porkkala at 21th of June starting at 21.40 to lay mines through 
Gulf of Finland cutting it into two areas (Boatnumbers R60, R57, S103, S39, 
S102, S26, S101, S40). Kaiser was on the left, Cobra in 
middle nad Koenig's Luise on the right. Mines were at sea 
from 22.59: first block (what do you do with mines, 
blocks?) was ready 23.39, second 23.47 and third 00.40. At 
4 a.m. these German boats were back at the harbour in 
Suomenlinna. There were Finnish officers at the boats as 
the guides. 
	War began at the Baltic Sea earlier than in Poland. 
Minelayers had a fight with Russian aeroplane 2.28 at Apolda, 30 km south 
from Bengtsk{r. Last mines were laid at 03.06 at the morning.
	There were at least 9 mineblocks (sorry, don't know right 
military term) at the Baltic Sea: 2 by Finnish navy (command given 23.6.
1941, laid 26-27.6.1941) and 9 by German navy. All operated from 
Finland. In Aaland Finns laid 174 mines between the 22nd and 
25th of June. Routes from Hang| to west were mined by Finnish 
troops as well (21th and 22th of June), and route from Jussar| 
to H{st|-Bus|s as well. All happened according to Kiel-
agreement with Germans. German boats attacked to Estonia from 
Turku at 22.6.1941, five estonian fishermen were taken as a 
prisoner. Finnish officials got prisoners from Germans and kept them as 
prisoners!
	Germans operated all the time between 22th and 25th of June 
from Finland and in Finnish territory. That happened near Hang|, 
too. Russians opened the fire from Hang| 22nd of June. Finns 
did not no anything until the evening, when trains coming to 
Hang| were stopped. Telephone lines from Hang| were cut off 
23th of June.
	Finnish submarines were operating near Estonian border 
laying mines. (Sources: Kalervo Kijanen, Suomen laivasto 1918-
1968. Helsinki 1968; Kalervo Kijanen, Sukellush{lytys, Lahti 
1977, Mauno Jokipii, Jatkosodan synty, Keuruu 1987). Operations 
were planned in Berlin 26th of May and in Kiel 6th of June. 
Mines were laid to Ruuskeri, L{nsiviiri, Pieni Tyt{rsaari, 
Kalkgrund, south from Pohja Uhti, little north of Mohni and 
litlle north of Kalkgrund. Layed mines were of German origin. 
Crew of these submarines were kept locked after this for many 
days. Operations were written to wardaybook 26th of June. 
	Germans laid mines in Kronstadt (planned by Fliegerfuhrer Ostsee 
and Finnish Airforce. Operation was practised 20th of June from
East-Prussian (Kampfgruppe 806). Operation was carried at 22th 
of June 00.10 (a.m.) Airplanes laid 28 magnetomines to 
Kronstadt. Planes flew straight to Kotka, Finland, guided by 
the Finnish liason officer, who was with in the first plane.		

I know this is boring. But truth is truth. I hope Mr. Kolima, who had
less bright comments (in Finnish) in his message and Mr Ryyti are happy
to get some information about these things. Of course I can write 
30 pages more of this with full report of sources, but because of our non-
Finnish readers - and my poor English especially in military affairs - I 
prefer not to carry on this anti-propaganda activity. 

Jari Sedergren,
University of Helsinki 















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