Question of the Finnish army organization in 1942 - 1944

[BlackSix]

I'm currently working on the Battle of Leningrad career and I've a question.

From March 1, 1942 to February 16, 1944, there was an Isthmus Group (Kannaksen ryhmä), formed from the IV Army Corps.

 

Then, Soviet sources say that on June 15, 1944, an Operation Group "Karelian Isthmus" was organized to improve the management of the III and IV Army Corps. But I cannot find any confirmation of this in Finnish or English-language sources. 

 

Does anyone have any information on this?

[LLv44_Manof]

https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannaksen_ryhmä

Maybe this will help.

[BlackSix]

Thanks, but my post already had this link))

Edited August 22 by BlackSix

[LLv24_Veccu_VR]

HI, here AI generated answer to your question...

 

Short answer: yes—Finnish sources do confirm that on 15 June 1944 the Finns created a new operational command on the Karelian Isthmus to control the corps there. In Finnish documents it’s not called “Operation Group ‘Karelian Isthmus’”, but rather Kannaksen joukkojen komentaja (KaJoKE, “Commander of the Isthmus Forces”) or Kannaksen armeijaryhmä (“Army Group of the Isthmus”). It was placed under Lt Gen Lennart Oesch and—exactly as your Soviet source says—was set up to coordinate III AK and IV AK (and later additional formations).

What I can document from Finnish/English sources

• Creation, date, purpose & commander. On 15 June 1944, Mannerheim unified all Army forces fighting on the Isthmus under Lt Gen Lennart Oesch; this created a new area-level command echelon. The order also empowered Oesch to conduct delaying action and shift the defense to the VKT line; the next day the corps on the Isthmus received the withdrawal instructions. The headquarters that executed this was the Kannaksen joukkojen komentajan esikunta (KaJoKE), which initially operated from IV Corps’ CP, moved to Jääski on 21 June and to Savitaipale (Kantturaniemi) on 28 June. doria.fi

• Name variants used in Finnish sources. You’ll see “Kannaksen joukkojen komentaja (KaJoKE)” as the formal staff title; many narratives also speak of “Kannaksen armeija / armeijaryhmä” (“Army/Army Group of the Isthmus”). Contemporary Finnish media and later histories routinely note 15.6.1944 as Oesch’s appointment to command the Isthmus forces. doria.fiYle.fi

• What it commanded. The new command existed specifically to tighten control over III AK and IV AK on the Isthmus (later additional troops were subordinated as the battle evolved). doria.fi

• Background you mention (Isthmus Group). The earlier Kannaksen ryhmä (Isthmus Group) was a peacetime/positional-warfare headquarters created on 1 March 1942 and disbanded on 16 February 1944; thereafter the front was held directly by III AK and IV AK (rintamavastuu from 4 March 1944). Wikipediadoria.fisotapolku.fi

How this maps to your Soviet phrasing

• The Soviet/Russian “Operational Group ‘Karelian Isthmus’” is a translation-equivalent of the Finnish KaJoKE / Kannaksen armeijaryhmä formed 15 June 1944—same date, same rationale (to coordinate III and IV Corps), different terminology. Finnish sources simply don’t use the exact Soviet name.

If useful for your campaign text, a crisp, sourced line could be:

“On 15 June 1944, Mannerheim established the Isthmus Forces HQ (KaJoKE) under Lt Gen Lennart Oesch to unify the command of III and IV Corps on the Karelian Isthmus; the HQ moved from IV Corps’ CP to Jääski (21 Jun) and Savitaipale (28 Jun).” doria.fi

 

Edited August 26 by LLv24_Veccu_VR

[BlackSix]

@LLv24_Veccu_VR

Thank you so much!

I couldn't guess that HQ of the commander in chief of Isthmus troops and “Operation Group ‘Karelian Isthmus’” are the same thing.

Now I know what to look for))

 

https://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=1193