page_title: Finnish Army
section_title: Continuation War
hierarchical_section_title: Finnish Army / History of the Finnish Army / Continuation War
caption_attribution_description: Suomi: Marsalkka Mannerheim ojentaa Mannerheim-ristin kadetti Yrjö Keinoselle päämajassa syyskuussa 1942
context_page_description: The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.
  Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry, field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops. The commander of the Finnish Army since 1 August 2017 is Lieutenant General Petri Hulkko.
context_section_description: The Army of Karelia was formed on 29 June 1941 soon after the start of the Continuation War. There were seven Finnish corps in the field during the war: the I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII. During the war, the Finnish Army was responsible for the front from Gulf of Finland to Kainuu. The front in the Northern Finland was the responsibility of German AOK Norwegen. During summer and autumn 1941, the Finnish Army re-conquered the areas lost to the Soviet Union in the Winter War and pushed deep into Soviet territory in Eastern Karelia. In winter 1942, the Finnish political leadership ended offensive action and the front stagnated for over two years.
  The relatively inactive period of stationary war ended abruptly in June 1944, as the Soviet Union started its Fourth Strategic Offensive. As a result, the Finnish Army lost large areas of the Karelian Isthmus, most importantly Viipuri, a major city, and was forced to retreat from Eastern Karelia. However, in the decisive Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the Soviet advance was halted. The Soviet Union concentrated its forces for the battles in Central Europe, and Finland made a separate peace in September 1944.
caption: Mannerheim awarding Mannerheim Crosses to soldiers. He is congratulating cadet Yrjö Keinonen, who later became Finnish Chief of Defence.
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