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WAR MONUMENTS IN KILPISJÄRVI
II WW last cannonshots

FOTO: The memorial tablet is found installed in the rock face to the left side of the picture.
Muotkatakka scenic parking place has a small monument commemorating the site where last cannonshots against the retreating German forces were shot in the Lapland War in 27.4.1945.

For those that do not remember, Finland was one of the axis states in the II WW, in alliance with Germany. We had our reason to have this alliance, namely to get some backing against Russia, which was in alliance with the UK and US. However it must be noted that the Finns did deport only 8 Jews to the death camps. When the axis-states fell - Finland had to drive the German forces away. They retreated towards north and then to Norway. German forces did burn everything behind them. This retreat and burning of structures left behind is called Lapland War (1944-45). The Units involved were Finnish Infantry Regiment 1 and German Alpine Infantry Regiment 143.

FOTO: Last Battle of the II World War commemoration plaque is attached to Saana rocky side near Kilpisjärvi Excursion Centre.


When Colonel Oinonen skied over Kilpisjärvi and lifted up the Finnish flag on Three Border Point - Lapland War had ended.

FOTO: 27.4.2005 at the Three Border Point a 60th year commemoration since the ending of the war. The same soldier that lifted up the flag back then, did it once again 60 years later. © Hilkka Vanhapiha

WAR MEMORIALS

Kilpisjärvi explosion in 1916

FOTO: This little plaque is at the roadside, almost next to the 1945 last battle plaque.


During the I WW (1914-1918) large amounts of war materials were transported thru Kilpisjärvi to vicinity of Tornio. All this material was meant for the Russian front. At the most between 1915-1916 1400 horses were in duty to haul military materials thru Kilpisjärvi road. One of the boardinghouses along the path was Siilastupa in Kilpisjärvi. In the meanwhile, 2000 young Finnish men were in Germany to be trained in military compounds for the emerging War of Finnish Independency which took place in 1918.

6.6.1916 Finnish infantrymen blew up the ammunation storage in Kilpisjärvi, after which they retreated to Sweden. This action was to cut short one supply of goods from the Russians.

The memorial plaque depicts flames of the explosion.

Järämä fortification
If you are interested in war history, a definite site to visit would be Järämä fortification, 20 kilometers towards Kilpisjärvi from Kaaresuvanto.

LINK SUGGESTIONS:
- LAPLAND WAR
- Kilpisjärvi history
- Kilpisjärvi link bank

SOURCES: Finnish Forest Agency

BOTTOM FOTO: During the II WW - a German bomber plane fell from the skies in Kilpisjärvi.