Salpa Line

The Salpa Line (Finnish: Salpalinja, literally Bolt-line; Swedish: Salpalinjen), or its official name, Suomen Salpa (Finland's Bolt), is a bunker line on the eastern border of Finland. It was built during the Interim Peace between the Winter War and the Continuation War to defend Finland against a possible Soviet invasion.

Salpa Line
Eastern Finland
Type	Defensive line
Site information
Controlled by	Finland
Site history
Built	1940–44
In use	1941–44
Materials	Concrete, steel, natural features
Battles/wars	Continuation War
Garrison information
Garrison	reserve

The line is 1,200 km long, stretching from the Gulf of Finland to Petsamo in northern Finland (now Pechenga, Russia). It never saw military action because the Soviet offensive in 1944 was stopped at the VKT-line on the Karelian Isthmus. The fortifications of the Salpa Line were much stronger than those of the Mannerheim Line.[1]

Construction

The construction of the Salpa Line began in the end of the Winter War in 1940. At first, volunteers worked there—then people ineligible for the war service were mobilized. The maximum number of workers, on site was near 35 000 in the spring of 1941. After the beginning of the Continuation War on 25 June 1941 the fortification work was stopped, pillboxes and bunkers were stripped of armaments, which were sent to the front. As the tide of the conflict turned, and the front began to approach the prewar Finnish borders in early 1944, the work on the Salpa Line resumed and continued until the end of the Continuation War on 4 September 1944.

Line composition and terrain

728 various concrete installations, 315 km of wire obstacles, 225 km of anti-tank obstacles, 130 km of anti-tank ditches, more than 3000 entrenchments, 254 concrete infantry shelters, trenches, rifleman's cells and dugouts composed the power and strength of this defence line. The line even employed old 11 and 9 inch coastal mortars from the late 19th century, due to unavailability of more modern artillery.

Numerous lakes, marshes and small rocks were also incorporated in the defence line. For example, the Lake Saimaa area is a labyrinth of lakes of varying sizes, islands, straits and rivers, making the area very easy to defend. 90% of all the concrete installations of the Salpa-Line were on the line between the Gulf of Finland and the Lake Saimaa waterway system. This part, as the original post-Winter War defence line, was also referred with the name "Luumäki-Suomenlahti-linja" (Luumäki-Gulf of Finland line) or simply as "Luumäen linja" (Lake Saimaa is situated north of Luumäki).

Impact on the war

The fortifications were never used in combat, because the Red Army was stopped at the end of the Continuation War well before its advance units reached Salpa (see Battle of Tali-Ihantala). The line was partially manned with old reservists in the summer of 1944. However, the existence of the fortified line was an advantage for the Finns in the subsequent peace talks.[2]

Present day

The remains of the decommissioned line are currently undergoing renovation and serve as a tourist attraction. On the southernmost part of the Salpa line a museum, Salpa linja -museo (The Salpa Line Museum) has been founded in 1987 by the Miehikkälä municipality and the Second World War veteran organisations.

Gallery

Maps

• 
  Start of the Salpa-line between Lake Saimaa and the Gulf of Finland. The line continues up to the Northern Finland. Also shown are the VT-line and the VKT-line.

Kymenlaakso and South Karelia

Municipality	Place	Name	WGS 84	Description
Lappeenranta		The bunker tour [3][4]
Lappeenranta	Ylämaa	The Salpa Line
Luumäki		The Salpa Line [5]
Lemi	Kärmeniemi	The gun battery and ball casemate
Lemi	Juvola	The gun battery remains of the four 280 mm naval mortars of the year 1877 from the Continuation War. No mortars left
Miehikkälä		The Salpa Line Museum
Miehikkälä	Myllylampi			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [6] (map reference)
Miehikkälä	Kylmälä			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [7] (map reference)
Miehikkälä	Kuntakeskuksen alue (Municipal center area)			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [7] (map reference)
Miehikkälä	Muurikkala			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [8] (map reference)
Ruokolahti		The Salpa Line area of Syyslahti
Taipalsaari	Jauhiala			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [9] (map reference)
Virolahti		The Virolahti Bunker Museum
Virolahti	Mustamaa	Mustamaa island		Built-up cultural environments of national importance [10] (map reference)
Virolahti	Säkäjärvi			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [11] (map reference)
Virolahti	Ylä-Pihlaja			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [12] (map reference)
Virolahti	Santasaari	South-East part of Santasaari island		Built-up cultural environments of national importance [13] (map reference)
Virolahti	Ravijoki			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [14][15] (map references)
Virolahti	Ravijoki			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [14][15] (map references)
Virolahti	Saarasjärvi	East beach of Saarasjärvi		Built-up cultural environments of national importance [16] (map references)
Virolahti	Säkäjärvi			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [17] (map references)

Built-up cultural environments of national importance refers to the official classification of The National Board of Antiquities of Finland.[18] The references refers to a clickable map link.

• 
  7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40 in the Salpa Line Museum #360[19]
• 
  A machine gun bunker in the Salpa Line Museum
• 
  Tank obstacles in Miehikkälä

Southern Savonia

Municipality	Name	WGS 84	Description
Kerimäki	The Salpa Line in Raikuu
Puumala	The main village bunker
Sulkava	Sarsuinmäki area

North Karelia

History

Some of the Salpa Line objects dates back to the Winter War. In Lieksa "Viisikon Salpalinja etusema" was started to build already during the pre-Winter War extra military training period . The name "Viisikko" refers to the name of the village and can be translated as "The Five". The other names of the village are Hattuvaara (of Lieksa) or just Hattu (a Hat).[20] The battles in Hattu are related to the battles of Lieksa from the very first war day, 30 November 1939 to 27 December 1939.[21] The Soviet forces attacked against the Viisikko positions on 9 December 1939 and it had to start to withdraw on the Christmas Day.[22]

The other place where the it has been battles during the Winter War was on the Änänkäinen and Puuruu lake areas. In the very first war day the Soviet troops tried to capture the Kiviranta border control post just after the 7 o'clock in the morning, but the prepared and reinforced Finnish border troops succeeded in slower the speed of the attacking forces and only by the evening the Finnish border troops had withdrawn to Äninkäinen position, where the positions of the 13th separate battalion were. The Finnish counter-attack took place the next day, 1 December 1939. The 13th separate battalion was assisted by the 12th separate battalion, which had come to the place. Both the battalions attacked until the Soviet troops stopped them on the crossroad of Hattuselkonen. Then 12th separate battalion occupied the Änänkäinen position, while the 13th battalion was withdrawing driven by the Soviet troops to the Nurmijärvi of Lieksa. The Laklajoki position was missed almost without the fight. The delay action actually started only 2 December. The Soviet troops started harassing artillery fire 3 December and continued to do so for five days. In the first days of December also in Kuhmo the Sivakka road-crossing was lost in Kuhmo, which made it possible for the Soviet troops to go the Nurmijärvi of Lieksa to the back side of the Aninkäinen defenders.

The 13th separate battalion hold the positions and the 12th separate battalion was ordered to withdraw to Puuruu to reinforce the next possible defence position about four kilometres back. The mortars of the 12th battalion were left to reinforce those of the 13th battalion.

In four days, 7 December, the Soviet troops succeeded to take the front positions of the Finnish troops making it hard for the 12th battalion to keep its positions in Änänkäinen region. The same day the Finns destroyed a big Soviet patrol and learned, that the Soviet infantry regiment 529 will cover the southern side of the attacking Soviet division 54, which was to go to Kuhmo. The reinforced 529th regiment consisted of 6,000 soldiers added by 40 cannons and 20 tanks. The idea had been to occupy Lieksa in the independence day of Finland and then go to Nurmes 10 December and then towards Kajaani. The main target was Oulu on the West coast of Finland to cut the country into two halves.

On 8 December 13 separate battalion was allowed to withdraw from Änäkäinen to Nurmijärvi through Puuruu positions.[23] Delaying by almost a week the Soviet troops in front of Änäkäinen provided time for building the new positions in Puuruu.[23]

Places

Municipality	Name	WGS 84	Description
Ilomantsi			Built-up cultural environments of national importance [24] (map reference)
Joensuu	Joensuun bunkkerimuseo – The Joensuu Bunker Museum [25]
Joensuu, Eno	The defence line of Harpatinvaara "Harpatinvaaran puolustusasema"		Stoney anti-tank barriers and partly decayed wooden installations
Lieksa	anti-tank cliffs, anti-tank gun, "Viisikon Salpalinjan etuasema"		kareliaexpert.lieksa (a) kareliaexpert.fi.
Lieksa	Änäkäinen-Puuruu battle line Salpa Line objects "Änäkäisen Salpalinjan etuasema", built in 2005 according to the war-time instructions.[26]		kareliaexpert.lieksa (a) kareliaexpert.fi.
Nurmes	The platoon base "Iloniemi"		kareliaexpert.nurmes (a) kareliaexpert.fi
Polvijärvi	The naval gun (Canet 152/45 C) position "Huhmarisvaaran linnoitustykistöasemat"		in Huhmarinen village

Other

Near the Puuruu lake there is a memorial plate attached on the granite stone with the text "TÄÄLLÄ TAISTELTIIN 9-25.12.1939" ("The fights went on here from 9 to 25 December 1939") to commemorate the Lieksa battles.[25]

Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia

Municipality		Name	WGS 84	Description
Kuhmo	Saunajärvi
Kuusamo	The 5-kilometres long Salpa Line route beginning from Lahtela on the Lämsänkylä road "Lahtela−Vanttajan polku"		info (a) kuusamo.fi
Suomussalmi		field fortress in "Haukiperän linnoitteet"		tourist.office (a) suomussalmi.fi, memorial stone for the 14th separate battalltion, which stopped an attack in the Winter War, 7 December 1940 in Jyrkänkoski
Suomussalmi		field fortress in "Purasjokilinjan kohteet"		tourist.office (a) suomussalmi.fi

Lapland

Kemijärvi	The Joutsijärvi Concrete Bunkers "Joutsijärven teräsbetonikorsut"	WGS84	matkailu.toimisto (a) kemijarvi.fi
Kuusamo	The 5-kilometres long Salpa Line route beginning from Lahtela on the Lämsänkylä road "Lahtela−Vanttajan polku"		info (a) kuusamo.fi
Salla	The machine gun nest in Ruuhijärvi village "Ruuhijärven konekivääripesäke"		Built-up cultural environments of national importance [27] (map reference)
Salla	one-kilometre long stoney anti-tank barrier in Aholanvaara "Sallan kirkonkylän kohteet"		tourist.info (a) salla.fi
Savukoski	The 1.2-kilometres long wooden hiking route "Sarvilammen luontopolku"		anti-tank barriers and the remains of the nests, matkailu (a) savukoski.fi
Suomussalmi	field fortress in "Haukiperän linnoitteet"		tourist.office (a) suomussalmi.fi, memorial stone for the 14th separate battalion, which stopped an attack in the Winter War, 7 December 1940 in Jyrkänkoski
Suomussalmi	field fortress in "Purasjokilinjan kohteet"		tourist.office (a) suomussalmi.fi

• 
  Salpalinja anti-tank obstacles in village Aholanvaara, Salla

(Source: Salpakeskus, The Salpa Centre)

References

1. Reino Arimo, Suomen linnoittamisen historia 1918—1944 (The History of Finnish Fortification 1918—1944), Otava, 1981, ISBN 951-1-06263-8
2. Northern Fortress: Existence of [the] Salpa Line was a matter during the Soviet-Finnish peace negotiations [in] autumn 1944.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
7. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
8. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
9. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
10. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
11. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
12. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
13. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
14. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
15. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
16. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
17. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
18. "Finland's National Board of Antiquities is the nation's specialist, service provider, developer and authority in material cultural heritage and the cultural environment field. It collects, manages and presents the national heritage of cultural history and records in addition to producing and providing knowledge". Nba.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
19. "Linnat ja linnoitukset : Photographic images" (JPG). Tuomovirtanen.kuvat.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
20. Archived 10 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
21. "System Partners Oy". Tammenlehva.fi.test.mediatraffic.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
22. "Viisikon Linja". Pkreservi.fi. 9 December 1939. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
25. "Photographic image of plaque" (JPG). Farm4.static.flickr.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
26. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
27. "RKY ι Museovirasto". Rky.fi. Retrieved 21 June 2015.

External links

• Salpa-line museum
• Salpa Line on the Northern Fortress
• Salpa Center