Finnish radio intelligence
Encyclopedia
The Finnish Radio Intelligence was founded in 1927 by Reino Hallamaa
. He quickly managed to build up an efficient organization Through international exchange, and during World War II, the radio intelligence proved very successful in breaking the codes and ciphers used by the Soviet Union
, as well as other countries. At the beginning of the Winter War
the organization employed some 75 persons, by the end of World War II
it had a strength of over 1,000.
The Finnish Air Force
had its own radio intelligence unit, which focused on intercepting and deciphering Soviet Air Force radio messages. Its strength was about 300.
At the end of World War II, the organization staged the Operation Stella Polaris
, in order to evacuate intelligence personnel and material to neutral Sweden in case of a Soviet invasion.
After the wars many former officers signed up with foreign intelligence units in order to escape the communist infiltrated secret police Valpo, who wanted to investigate and arrest them.
Today the signals intelligence is handled by Viestikoelaitos
in Finland.
Reino Hallamaa
Reino Henrik Hallamaa was a Finnish Colonel and developer and head of the Finnish Radio Intelligence during World War II.- Early life :...
. He quickly managed to build up an efficient organization Through international exchange, and during World War II, the radio intelligence proved very successful in breaking the codes and ciphers used by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, as well as other countries. At the beginning of 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...
the organization employed some 75 persons, by the end of World War II
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...
it had a strength of over 1,000.
The Finnish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
had its own radio intelligence unit, which focused on intercepting and deciphering Soviet Air Force radio messages. Its strength was about 300.
At the end of World War II, the organization staged the Operation Stella Polaris
Operation Stella Polaris
Operation Stella Polaris was the cover name for activity in which Finnish signals intelligence records, equipment and personnel were transported into Sweden after the ending of the Continuation war in 1944...
, in order to evacuate intelligence personnel and material to neutral Sweden in case of a Soviet invasion.
After the wars many former officers signed up with foreign intelligence units in order to escape the communist infiltrated secret police Valpo, who wanted to investigate and arrest them.
Today the signals intelligence is handled by Viestikoelaitos
Viestikoelaitos
The Finnish Intelligence Research Establishment is a signals intelligence unit of the Finnish Defence Forces, founded in 1960. It is part of the organization of the Finnish Air Force, and shares its headquarters in Tikkakoski...
in Finland.