Finnish prisoners of war in the Soviet Union
Encyclopedia
There were two waves of the Finnish prisoners of war in the Soviet Union during the World War II
: POWs during the Winter War
and the Continuation War
.
(1939–1940), the Soviet Union established the main camp for Finnish POW within the former monastery near Gryazovets
in Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. NKVD planned for many POWs in the war and planned nine camps to handle about 25,000 men, however during the whole Winter War there were about 900 Finnish POWs, about 600 of which were placed in the Gryazivets camp. A total of 838 Finnish POWs were returned to Finland. The last party of Finns left Russia on April 20, 1940.
(1941–1944) is estimated from 2,377 to 3,500 persons.
was 17 percent.
According to Russian historian Viktor Konasov, 2,476 Finns were registered by NKVD
, of which 1,972 were handled by POW camps with the majority handled by Camp no. 158 in Cherepovets
, Vologda Oblast, and its subcamps. From all captured, 582 were captured during the Finnish offensive in 1941, 506 during 1942-1943 and 2,313 during the Soviet offensive of 1944.
s were hunger, cold and oppressive transportation.
In the beginning of a capture, executions of the Finnish prisoners of war were mainly done by the Soviet partisans
. The partisans operated deep inside Finnish territory and they mainly executed their soldier and civilian POWs after a minor interrogation. Usually Finnish officer POWs had a chance to survive until arriving to a major interrogation in the headquarters of Soviet Karelian partisans or Karelian front, or a quarter of NKVD
. After this, a Finnish POW had a much better chance to stay alive until the end of the war.
The high mortality rate of prisoners of war had objective issues, such as huge territory losses in the beginning of the war and high number of POWs. There were shortages of food and medicine, and POWs had to work in exhausting duties in labour camps. Furthermore, medical treatment was of very low standard. However, overall the treatment of Finnish POWs was humane minding the war time.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: POWs during the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
.
Winter War
Before the Winter WarWinter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
(1939–1940), the Soviet Union established the main camp for Finnish POW within the former monastery near Gryazovets
Gryazovets
Gryazovets is a town and the administrative center of Gryazovetsky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Gryazovetskoe Urban Settlement in Gryazovetsky Municipal District. Population: -History:...
in Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. NKVD planned for many POWs in the war and planned nine camps to handle about 25,000 men, however during the whole Winter War there were about 900 Finnish POWs, about 600 of which were placed in the Gryazivets camp. A total of 838 Finnish POWs were returned to Finland. The last party of Finns left Russia on April 20, 1940.
Continuation War
Number of Finnish prisoners of war during the Continuation WarContinuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
(1941–1944) is estimated from 2,377 to 3,500 persons.
Soviet and Russian views
According to the official Soviet statistics, Finland lost 2,377 men as prisoners of war, and their mortality rateMortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
was 17 percent.
According to Russian historian Viktor Konasov, 2,476 Finns were registered by NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
, of which 1,972 were handled by POW camps with the majority handled by Camp no. 158 in Cherepovets
Cherepovets
Cherepovets is the largest city in Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Rybinsk Reservoir of the Sheksna River, a tributary of the Volga River. Population: 311,869 ; It is served by Cherepovets Airport.-Location:...
, Vologda Oblast, and its subcamps. From all captured, 582 were captured during the Finnish offensive in 1941, 506 during 1942-1943 and 2,313 during the Soviet offensive of 1944.
Finnish historians
Finnish historians estimate the number of prisoners was around 3,500 persons, of whom five were women. The number of deceased is estimated around 1,500 persons. Approximately 2,000 persons returned home. It is estimated that the mortality rate was even 40 percent. The result is different from the Soviet statistics, where officials mainly checked only prisoners, who survived to a prisoner camp. Finnish studies have tracked individual persons and their destinies. Most common cause of deathCause of Death
Cause of Death is a 1990 album by American death metal band Obituary. Cause of Death is considered a classic album in the history of death metal. The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan...
s were hunger, cold and oppressive transportation.
In the beginning of a capture, executions of the Finnish prisoners of war were mainly done by the Soviet partisans
Soviet partisans
The Soviet partisans were members of a resistance movement which fought a guerrilla war against the Axis occupation of the Soviet Union during World War II....
. The partisans operated deep inside Finnish territory and they mainly executed their soldier and civilian POWs after a minor interrogation. Usually Finnish officer POWs had a chance to survive until arriving to a major interrogation in the headquarters of Soviet Karelian partisans or Karelian front, or a quarter of NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
. After this, a Finnish POW had a much better chance to stay alive until the end of the war.
The high mortality rate of prisoners of war had objective issues, such as huge territory losses in the beginning of the war and high number of POWs. There were shortages of food and medicine, and POWs had to work in exhausting duties in labour camps. Furthermore, medical treatment was of very low standard. However, overall the treatment of Finnish POWs was humane minding the war time.
Aftermath
In 1992 a memorial monument was established at the Cherepovets cemetery, where Finnish POWs were buried.External links
- Soviet prisoners of war in Finland (in Russian)http://www.aroundspb.ru/finnish/pietola/pietola1.php