Soviet–Finnish conflict 1921–1922 and East Karelian Uprising

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=East Karelian Uprising
campaign=


caption=
partof=Heimosodat
date=December 12, 1939
place=East Karelia
result=
combatant1=Karelians and Finns
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=2,500 Karelians + 500 Finnish (Finnish sources) / 5,000–6,000 (Soviet sources)
strength2=20,000
casualties1=
casualties2=The Soviet–Finnish conflict 1921–1922 (Russian: "вторжение финских войск в Карелию") or the East Karelian Uprising (Finnish: "itäkarjalaisten kansannousu") broke out when Forest Guerrillas, East Karelians, and the Finnish volunteers not supported by Finnish government by Finnish view [Jussi Niinistö: Heimosotien historia, p. 250 (translation: "Although official Finland did not support rebellers, there was a risk that war could extend.")] but by Russian view supported by the Finnish government [Shirokorad Alexander: Finland – Russia. Three unknown wars, p.63] started to rebel in Russian East Karelia on November 6, 1921. The conflict ended on March 21, 1922 with signing of the "Agreements between the governments of Soviet Russia and Finland about the measures of maintenance of the inviolability of the Soviet–Finnish border". [ [http://kirjazh.spb.ru/biblio/pohleb1/pohleb3.htm Text of the Agreement in Russian. Place of signing: Moscow. Representative of Finland: Charge d'Affaires ad interim Antti Hackzel, representative of RSFSR: Member of the Board of the National Commissariat for Foreign Affairs Yakov Ganetski] ] On June 1, 1922 in Helsinki the additional "Agreement between RSFSR and Finland about the measures providing the inviolability of the Soviet–Finnish border" has been signed. [ [http://kirjazh.spb.ru/biblio/pohleb1/pohleb3.htm Text of the Agreement in Russian. Place of signing: Helsinki (Helsingfors). Representatives of Finland: Antti Ahonen, Paavo Hunninen etc; representatives of RSFSR: S.M.Frankfurt, A.M.Smirnov etc.] ] The conflict has seen as one of the heimosodat in Finland.

Before the conflict

Although the Russian East Karelia never was a part of the Swedish–Finnish state or the Grand Duchy of Finland, many supporters of Greater Finland wanted their inclusion to the newly independent Finland. Finnish expeditions to Russian East Karelia and the Russian region of Kola in 1918–1920 (named by Russian historians as First Soviet–Finnish War and in Finland as "heimosodat") ended with the signing of the Treaty of Tartu, that fixed the territorial losses of Soviet Russia.

In elections the people of parishes of Repola (Rebola, Реболы) (in 1st September 1918) and Porajärvi (Porosozero, Поросозеро) (in 1919) of Russian Olonets province had decided to join Finland. In the end of 1919 the Red Army advanced and White forces retreated towards the parishes. The Finnish government led by Juho Vennola decided in February 1920 that Finland should defend the parishes. Foreign minister Rudolf Holsti sent a note to Tshitsherin in which he stated that Finland could disarm the White troops while the Red Army does not enter the parishes. Tshisherin accepted and Finnish troops disarmed the White Russians. Although there were some fights between Finnish troops and the Red Army, too. These fights led to armistice negotiations in Rajajoki, which ended unsuccessfully after two weeks. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 216]

There had been rebelling in White Karelia already in 1920. After British forces left Karelia, Karelians arranged a meeting in Ukhta in March–April 1920 where they elected 117 representatives. In the meeting they decided that White Russia should become an independent nation. Some parishes of Olonets Karelia joined it too and the "Väliaikainen toimikunta" (Temporary Commission) renamed itself to "Karjalan väliaikainen hallitus" (Temporary Government of Karelia). However, the Red Army waged a war against them and in midsummer 1920 the Temporary Government escaped to Finland. [Jussi Niinistö p. 225]

After that, during negotiations in Tartu, it become obvious that Finland does not demand the parishes in exchange of Petsamo. That led to a secret plan led by Bobi Sivén, the chief executive officer of a Repola county. Sivén organized "Repolan toimikunta" (commission of Repola) and collected 500 rifles and 100,000 cartridges. They also had two Maxim machine guns and four Lewis rapid-fire rifle. However, at the beginning of 1920 the Soviet government got to know about the plan and informed the Finnish government which in 6th January demanded account from Sivén. Sivén conceded the plan and on 12 January he committed a suicide. Little by little the plan ceased. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 222–238]

On several regions of White Russia, Karelians formed small troops. These 600 Karelians formed Karjalan Metsäsissirykmentti. Its leaders were Vaseli Levonen (nicknamed Ukki Väinämöinen) and Ossippa Borissainen (Borissof) from Tunkua (Tunguda), Karelia and 22 years old Jalmari Takkinen (Finnish-born, nicknamed Ilmarinen). In Northern White Karelia there were formed smaller Vienan Rykmentti (White Karelia Regiment) and in Olonets Karelia Repolan Pataljoona (Repola Battalion). In all, there were 2500 guerrillas. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 239]

Conflict

On November 6, 1921 the Finnish and Karelian forces (5,000–6,000 according to Russian sources) [Shirokorad Alexander: Finland – Russia. Three unknown wars, p.63] began the new expedition to East Karelia. According to Finnish historians, on that day Karelian and Finn guerrilla forces attacked in Rukajärvi. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 244]

The Finnish government allowed humanitarian help but did not allow to recruit volunteers. However, it did not prevent private persons from crossing the border. [Jussi Niinistö, p.246–247] In all, there were some 500 Finnish volunteers who went to East Karelia, the first of them reached their destination at the end of November. Most of them joined the Repolan Pataljoona. The command of the Repolan Pataljoona was first taken by Gustaf Svinhufvud and thereafter by Paavo Talvela, at the middle of December 1921. [Jussi Niinistö, p.248]

By the end of December 1921, the Finnish and Karelian troops had advanced to the line Kestenga (Kiestinki) – Suomussalmi – Rugozero (Rugarvi, Rukajärvi) – Padany (Poadenen, Paatene) – Porosozero (Porarvi, Porajärvi).

By the end of December the troops of the Red Army, about 20,000 men, led by Alexander Sedyakin [http://www.hrono.ru/biograf/sedyakin.html] have been moved to the Karelian front. In the Red Army, there were also "Red Finns" who have emigrated to Soviet Russia after the civil war in Finland. For example, the ski battalion (commander A.A. Inno) and Toivo Antikainen's troops fought in the ranks of the Red Army. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 250, 252] In January 1922 the group of Toivo Antikainen, moving into the rear of the Finnish troops, occupied Peninga, entered in Rebola, crushed the Finnish troops in the Kimasozero village (January, 20). [ [http://www.muezerobs.newmail.ru/history.html] ]

According to Petrozavodsk the troops of the Red Army had crushed the main group of the Finnish and Karelian troops by the beginning of January 1922 and occupied Porosozero, Rebola and Kamasosero. On January, 25 the Northern group of the Soviet troops had occupied Kestenga and Kokkosalma (Kokkosalmi), and by the beginning of February occupied the settlement Ukhta (Uhtua). [Shirokorad Alexander: Finland – Russia. Three unknown wars, p.64]

The rebel situation was difficult. It was not helped by the order of Finnish Interior minister Ritavuori. According to it, the border control was tightened and in the beginning of February 1922 transferring ammunition, food and volunteers was prevented almost totally. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p. 258] Last rebelling group was Vienan Rykmentti, which left Tiirovaara on 16 February 1922 at 10.45 am and reached the border at 1 pm. [Jussi Niinistö 2005, p.260]

After the war, many Karelians escaped to Finland. The amount of Karelian refugees in Finland were 2,000 in 1919, and 12,000 in 1922. [Toivo Nygård, Itä-Karjalasta Suomeen 1917–1922 tulleet pakolaiset, Genos 67/1996, p. 2–11 ( [http://www.suku.fi/genos/67/67_2.htm on Internet] (in Finnish))]

See also

* Forest Guerrillas (Finland)

Sources

* Shirokorad. Alexander. "Finland – Russia. Three unknown wars", 2006, ISBN 5-9533-1084-6
* Niinistö, Jussi. "Heimosotien historia". Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2005, ISBN 951-746-687-0

References