Secret Army (Finland)

The Secret Army (Finnish: *Salainen Armeija*) is a guerilla and dissident organisation in the occupied territory of the former Kingdom of Finland in Russia.

## After the Russo-Finnish War

### Finnish Army in Germany

The dream of a free Finland was clutched from the Tsarist grasp in the calamitous February revolution. For a few decades it flourished, drifting into the German sphere, and believing its independence assured. Yet Finland would end the same way it began, fighting Moscow.

As the country fell to Russian invasion in 1940, the government turned once again to their benefactors. Hopeful that a Reichspakt victory might still occur, many Finnish government and Army exiles enlisted the German Imperial Navy to aid them in a mass exodus. It was there they formed the “*Finnische Armee in Deutschland*” (Finnish Army in Germany). Throughout the war, they established contacts with remaining government officials and resistance groups both Socialist and Nationalist.

Wiith the existence of the Finnish Army in Germany, the other active remants of Finland were considered secondary innature. Finnish leaders still expected to liberate Finland militarily with the German Army. This meant that most citzens simply held out hope of a German liberation, and remained faithful in the Heer's supremacy.

When the Eastern front started to crack, the Finnish military leaders and the politicians they had fled with concluded that the situation was hopeless. The existing resistance cells in Russian territory were forced to fend for themselves as the Finnish Army in Germany debated its next move. Thankfully, those resistance members that did exist were hardened veterans. Yet the clock remained ticking.

With the Reichspakt unable to protect them they sought new refuge. France was considered by a scant few, but ideological objections and an unwillingness to upset the Germans ended such ideas temporarily. Baron Mannerheim, who was still highly respected amongst the officers, suggested that the monarchy should be abolished and a flight to Scandanavia conducted in secret. Mannerheim himself then departed for Stockholm ahead of his compatriots due to declining health.

Yet Organizing transport to Sweden would take time, money, political influence, and tact. The idea to court France became revived, this time out of necessity.

The Heer still retained strict control over the two Finnish infantry divisions fighting on the eastern front. The Finnish General Staff concocted a plot to remedy this issue. They would conspire with the 2nd French Army under General Pierre Brosolette, agreeing to Surrender when they found themselves transferred to the western front. They also agreed to permit the inclusion of Socialist forces within any future activities against the Russian State.

the 1st and 2nd Finnish Infantry were shortly thereafter assigned to the Elbe defensive line. Almost as if fate willed it, their plan sprung into motion. The 1st and 2nd Finnish Infantry, whose leadership had been briefed on the plan, were ordered to allow the French to overrun them as the German offensive failed. In 1945, 14000 exiled Finnish soldiers surrendered to France.

Wilhelm III was personally furious at their betrayal, especially because they managed to bring the two exile divisions: The 1st and 2nd Finnish Infantry, with them. Finnish leaders felt somewhat regretful of this betrayal, yet anything could be justified in the name of national survival. It was better to jump the sinking ship than allow the fire of self-determinism to die.

The move to France was not a moment too soon, as the German Empire would surrender by 1946.

### In Finland

After the fall of Helsinki the Finnish General Staffs organized their forces into Military Cells. These cells were to be prepared to assist the then meager Finnish Resistance.

The Finnish Union of Patriots was the foremost of these resistance groups. Though it was staunchly nationalist it began to integrate socialists into its ranks on the orders of the Finnish Army. Their numbers swelled with the inclusion of this tactic.

## Ghosts of Lapland

MARPAC officially condemned the Finnish exiles as "bourgeois nationalists" , however they were mildly supportive at best and ambivalent at worst in practice. There was no real reason not to tolerate the exiles in their fight against Russian imperialism. However, they still would not roll the Finnish Army into official membership of the Free Europe Movement.

During the negotiation for the post-war Modus Vivendi in in Oslo, a secret agreement was concluded between French Foreign Minister Marcel Deat and the Norwegian as well as the Swedish Government. Under the table it was arranged for the arrival of the Finnish Army exiles to Stockholm.

The government in exile/Finnish Army would transition in Sweden into the "Free Finland Commitee". This move was done to help establish cooperation and legitimacy.

Due to the hostile diplomatic situation in post-war Scandinavia toward Russia the Swedish goverment would turn a blind eye to any actions by the Finnish exiles.

The committee used this state of affairs to form training camps in the Swedish Lapland for a future "reclaimation". Occasional sighting of these camouflaged scouts by Swedes created a myth of the "Ghosts of Lapland".

In 1948, after Kornilov's Death, the Union of Patriots formally met with the Free Finland Committee at last and agreed on a unified structure for underground resistance in Finland, hence the creation of the Secret Army.

## Russian Finland

A set of repressive laws were enacted in Finland after its defeat to counter the military remnant. The "Gag Laws" were drafted in response to several high profile railway sabotages by the Union of Patriots. The Laws effectively forbid all Finnish free press, association, and elections. All Finnish autonomous rights were abolished after 1946, as Moscow deemed it no longer necessary to tolerate the Finns. An agressive campaign of repression and russification began across the territory.

Laws were drafted in the Duma, sent to the Ministry of reunited, territories, and carried out all without any say from Helsinki.

In addition to the political repression most of the nations industry was seized and shipped off to other parts of Russia to assist in industrialisation programs. The end of trade from the German empire and competition for attention with other Russian "Reunited Territories" led to agriculture in Finland being equally lacking. Widespread poverty characterized the homeland during these times.

Despite all this, it must be said that the repression policy was more lenient and moderate compared to some other occupied regions.

In 1950, Finnish is still allowed to be spoken and written, and is being taught along side mandatory Russian.

The Finnish police have been allowed to retain their position instead of NVD internal battalions, a situation that is unique compared to some other administrations.

Moscow expects Finland to be a more stable territory than others due to perceived closeness of history and ideology. This has been moderately sucessful in keeping the population docile despite their poverty. However, such lenient policy has made it easier for Secret Army cells to organize.