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Sweden in World War II - across borders


Finnish soldiers in Sweden



Some Finnish soldiers deserted and went to Sweden. Until November 1942 some of them were denied entry to Sweden, but when it was considered to be a political reason for a soldier to escape he/she was accepted as a refugee. After November 1942 all deserters were received as refugees. [s60]


When Finland and the Soviet Union had reached an armistice agreement that began in the morning of 4 September 1944, it meant a big change in Finland. After fighting with support of German troops, they changed side and had to force the Germans out of Finland. [s19]

The peace treaty signed on 19 September 1944 also stated that the Finnish armed forces should be reduced to the number of units in 1938, before 5 December 1944. [s77]



In the beginning of 1945 there still were German forces in Finland, and there was a need to attack them. Since the armed forces had been reduced, there was a lack of personnel. Also, the weather conditions on the airfield in Kemi often were bad. [s77]

On 14 February Finland asked Sweden for permission to make emergency landings on Swedish bases. Also permission to fly back to Finland, and radio signals from Gällivare in Sweden for navigation. [s77]

The cooperation was to be kept as secret as possible. It was coordinated with the operations with U.S.A. planes in support of the Norwegians in the northern areas that the Germans had left, who had permissions to fly over some of the Finnish territory. [s77]

One Finnish Dornier Do 17 landed in Kalixfors on 7 March, was refuelled, and went back to Kemi in Finland. On 15 March a Junkers Ju 88 made an emergency landing in Kalixfors, and stopped with the nose down on the ground and damaged propellers and engine. A few days later the Finnish crew came back to Kemi in a C-47 in use in the U.S.A. operation. On 27 May almost the same Finnish crew flew the repaired plane back to Kemi. [s77]


2019-04-07. www.granfoss.se. Text/pictures: Arne Granfoss