The Lapland War in Käsivarsi In 1944, the 20th German Mountain Regiment received new orders, to keep the Petsamo area under their rule, but change the direction of their frontline to face south instead of east. Those behind the frontline were ordered to build two fortification camps.
In 1944, the 20th German Mountain Regiment received new orders, to keep the Petsamo area under their rule, but change the direction of their frontline to face south instead of east. Those behind the frontline were ordered to build two fortification camps. Work began near the Arctic Ocean to build "Ivalo-Schutzstellung" station. A second station was built in Enontekiö, in the narrowest point of the arm of Finland, with the code name "Sturmbock-Stellung".
At the beginning of 1944 work began on the western bank of Lätäseno river, on the eastern slope of the birch tree zone. These fortification camps were built by soldiers specialising in construction work and the German Organisation "Todt", which recruited civilian workers and prisoners of war. The prisoners may have been mainly Russians. The total work force was possibly as great as 3000 men.
After Finland made peace with the Soviet Union, and the political atmosphere changed, the Germans’ plans to bid a peaceful retreat from Lapland abrubtly changed. The result was the Lapland War. This meant a bitter end from WWII, for the Germans, the Finnish and especially Lapland and its inhabitants. The Germans 7th Mountain Division recruited approx. 12,000 extra men, and settled into the almost completed Sturmbock camp in late October 1944. The Finnish forces, which consisted of only two battalions plus some extra men, remained in Markkina village, just south of the German camp. When the harsh winter winds arrived, military action was reduced to fights between patrols.
At the beginning of January 1945, after the 20th Mountain Army’s mission changed a second time, the Germans finally left their well fortified stations on the western bank of Lätäseno river, without a fight. During this period, other German armies had already given up the Petsamo area, and retreated to Norway or back to their homeland. The Germans last defence station in the northern Calotte region was Lyngen station, the right side of which faced in the direction of Kilpisjärvi. The last German troops left from our country at the end of April 1945.
Kilpisjärvi (Photo: Pirkka Aalto)