Page 420 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

420 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

Karelian Isthmus, particularly in the Bay of Vyborg area, had a combined element, since
the Finns received some support from Germany and Estonia. In addition to Squadron
nd
Kuhlmey, the German 122 “Greif” Division replaced the Finnish Cavalry Brigade that
th
was in reserve together with 200 Infantry Regiment of Estonian volunteers. At the same
time, the attachment of the Estonians to the German division was discontinued. The Ger-
20
man division had heavier weapons that were suitable for deterring landing operations.

Conclusion
All in all, we can say that it is difficult to detect joint and combined approaches from
Finnish operations during World War II. None of the above mentioned three cases is a
fully fledged joint or combined operation in the contemporary understanding. Yet we
can identify features of co-operation in each case. In the Second World War the Finns
did not properly coordinate their operations, and they often failed to integrate various
services under unified commands. The end result was that these different services practi-
cally “fought their own wars”.

nd
20 FHC’s order concerning the German 122 Division, 24 June 1944 and Lieutenant General Oesch’s orders (3)
to the corps commanders concerning the German troops and Estonian volunteers, 25–26 June and 1 July 1944.
KaJoKen operatiivisen osaston kirjeenvaihtoa 1944, Kannaksen Joukkojen Komentajan Esikunnan arkisto,
T 5761/5, KA; Jorma Multanen, Jalkaväkirykmentti 200: virolaisten vapaaehtoisten historiikki Suomessa ja
kotimaassa toisen maailmansodan aikana (Joensuu: Lions Club Luumäki, 1991), 63–64; Arto Mustajärvi,
Jalkaväkirykmentti 200: Pelinappula Saksan, Suomen ja Viron pelissä. Treatise, University of Joensuu 1994,
69–76; Koskimaa 1996, 116–120; Talvitie 2011, 32, 60, 64; Jatkosodan historia 5, 1992, 237–238.