The Flickr Samitoivonpka Image Generatr

An amphibious landing has been repelled on the Bay of Vyborg, and the Finnish unit that launched the counterattack is now marching to new positions.
Lieutenant Tasa, the unit commander, has paused by the roadside to watch his men advance after the battle.

On June 30, 1944, Soviet forces launched an assault on the islands of Teikari and Melansaari. The Finnish troops defending the area initially succeeded in repelling the attacks, though they suffered heavy losses.
On July 4, the Red Army shifted its offensive to the Uuras sector, defended by the Finnish Cavalry Brigade. The Soviets managed to capture only the island of Suonionsaari.

SA-photo # 159456, photographer: V.Leitso
Western shore of the Bay of Vyborg, July 4, 1944

Historically Significant Photographs from the VI Army Corps Photo Competition:
Scenes from the Svir Front during the Soviet Spring Offensive.
Shemenski Sector, near Pogost: On Guard Duty.
Digging defensive positions is impossible due to the sheer amount of water—flooding even the surface of the land.
The VI Army Corps Photo Competition, held in 1942, was an internal contest organized by Finland’s 6th Army Corps (VI AK) during the Continuation War. These competitions were part of the military’s cultural and communications efforts, aimed at documenting frontline life, boosting troop morale, and producing visual material for propaganda and historical archives.
SA-photo #93347
Photographer: Private Ari Koistinen
Svir Front, Shemenski Sector – April 16, 1942

Fierce battles rage even on the forest front. Finnish soldiers carry a wounded enemy across a stream deep in the wilderness.
SA-photo # 158580, photographer: Lauri Lamminmäki (1917–1987).
West of the Onta River, June 29, 1944.

A Finnish soldier pauses, casting a solemn gaze over the twilight-wrapped Karelian landscape left behind — a silent farewell to all he’s fought for.
SA-photo #160449 | Lt. Kim Borg
Hämekoski, September 17, 1944

The Ill-Fated Fokker C.X FK-109
In 1942, the reconnaissance aircraft FK-109 soars over the vast wilderness of East Karelia. Aboard as an observer is Paavo Kahla (1918–1944), when suddenly, events take a dramatic turn.
The aircraft is piloted by Second Lieutenant Pentti Mannermaa (1919–1942), flying at an altitude of perhaps only 150 meters when enemy forces abruptly open fire. A bullet strikes the pilot, fatally wounding him.
Without hesitation, Paavo Kahla springs into action. Moving along the outside of the aircraft, he makes his way into the cockpit to take control. While climbing along the wing, his parachute accidentally deploys. However, with remarkable composure, he manages to cut it loose with his knife just in time to prevent being torn away. Against all odds, Kahla executes an almost miraculous landing, saving himself and ensuring the fallen pilot is returned to Finnish lines.
Kahla himself would later fall in battle in October 1944, becoming the last Knight of the Mannerheim Cross to be killed in action.
The ill-fated Fokker met its own demise on August 17, 1944, during a long-range patrol resupply flight over Lake Säämäjärvi in East Karelia. Both crew members, pilot Lieutenant Erkki Salo and observer Reino Koski, survived the crash landing and successfully made their way back to Finnish territory. However, FK-109 was left in enemy hands.
SA-image #79498, Viiksjärvi, March 25, 1942.

The medical evacuation aircraft has landed near Haapasaari.
At least one wounded second lieutenant was retrieved on this flight and transported to Helsinki for further treatment.
The aircraft in the picture was acquired for the Finnish Air Force with funds collected by the Danish Red Cross. It is a Fokker F.VII (designation FE-2), the only one of its kind in Finland.
By the time it arrived in Finland, the aircraft, manufactured in 1927, had already flown nearly 4,500 hours. In the service of the Finnish Air Force, it was flown for only about 100 hours.
In addition to supply and medical evacuation missions, the FE-2 was also used in military operations.
SA-photo #78779, photographer: Lieutenant Jari Ilanko
Kotka and the archipelago off Kotka, 26.03.1942.

Approximately 1,200 Finns volunteered for the German Waffen-SS troops in May–June 1941.
About 400 of them had experience from the Winter War and were directly assigned to various units of the SS Wiking Division.
Among the soldiers, 256 were killed, 14 went missing, and 686 were wounded.
The men in the picture are at least from Etelä-Pohjanmaa, but unfortunately, there are no identifications for the image yet.
Photo source: Kauhajoki Veterans’ Heritage House.

The Winter War has ended with harsh peace terms.

Field artillery retreating between Hiitola and Käkisalmi.
SA photo # 7564, photographer unknown
Hiitola, Käkisalmi 15.03.1940.

Winter War
In the background of the image, the Blenheim BL-131.
The long-nosed Blenheim IV bombers, including BL-131, were handed over at Bristol Filton on January 17, 1940, and their departure for Finland took place the following day, January 18, 1940.
One of the stopover locations during the transfer flight was at least Stavanger, Norway.
The pilot in the photo appears to be Second Lieutenant Lumela from Squadron 46.

SA-photo # 5940, photographer unknown
Tikkakoski, March 8, 1940.

From the mortar team’s firing position: Gunner and assistant gunner.
In the picture: a Finnish 81 mm mortar from 1935 (81 Krh/35).
SA-images # 75226, photographer: Second Lieutenant K. Borg.
Syväri power plant sector, 03.03.1942.

Winter War. March 1st...
It was nice to lie in a shell hole in front of the Esala house, enjoying the sunshine.

SA-photo #11344, Photographer: Koskinen
01.03.1940.

Winter War.
Vyborg is burning.
Based on maps and virtual models, photo taken on Luostarinkatu. Perhaps Luostarinkatu 20.
SA photo # 6186, photographer unknown.
Vyborg 08.03.1940.

Guard behind Syväri at the field guard line.
Armed with a Suomi submachine gun, stick grenades, and "Emma".
SA Photo #74208, photographer: Lieutenant R. Ruponen
Karelian Isthmus, February 20, 1942.

General Eduard Dietl inspects a Finnish company, dressed in snow camouflage, that has distinguished itself in battle.
Dietl, the commander of the Mountain Troops, was a skilled and professional frontline officer. In the summer of 1941, he led the Mountain Army Corps Norway, which advanced toward Murmansk. In mid-January 1942, he was appointed commander of the German forces operating in Northern Finland.
Eduard Dietl died in an air crash near Salzburg, Austria, on June 23, 1944. The day before, he had briefed Hitler on Finland’s difficult military situation.
SA-photo # 81399, photographer: Esko Töyri
Direction of Kiestinki, April 11, 1942

JR23 heavy battles in the Terenttilä and Mustaoja areas in February 1940.
"5th February 1940: The enemy’s rapid-fire artillery shelled our trenches all day. Corporal Paavo Flinkkilä was killed at his post at 14:00. The company marched back to rest at the Kovero-ojan bunkers at 22:00.
10th February 1940: Intense fighting near Terenttilä and Mustaoja. The company moved to the Mäntykangas bunkers, where it had been earlier around New Year's time.
11th February 1940: In the evening, the company moved to the front line. Platoon I was assigned to handle the Mustaoja field guard. Platoons IV and III occupied Stronghold No. 1 (Mustaoja). Platoon II’s stronghold was No. 2 (the seam to the left of Mustaoja). The enemy pressured us throughout the day.
12th February 1940: The enemy launched an assault against Platoons II and IV sectors. The forward trenches had been captured by the enemy a few days earlier. The enemy held those positions and attempted to push closer to our trenches. Our trenches were shallow, which made them vulnerable to the enemy’s light machine gun, heavy machine gun, and rifle fire, all of which were devastating.
14th February 1940: A fierce but honorable day for the company. The entire company had to repel a strong enemy attack. This time, the enemy assault targeted all strongholds. The artillery bombardment, which began at 11:00, was the most intense the Taipale sector had seen."
(Excerpts from the war diary)
Photo: Stronghold in Terenttilä. Source: Finna, ID: 793019

In the summer of 1941, a wedding was held on the fortress island of Rysäkari for Second Lieutenant Yrjö Ratia (22 December 1917 – 23 June 2007), the son of a sea captain, and Lotta Aino Lahti (1917–1997).
The ceremony began solemnly with a field service, followed by a wedding coffee reception set up on the fortress grounds, and later, a wedding banquet.
Just two days after the wedding, on 22 July, two enemy SB bombers attacked the Miessaari fortress. During the attack, three reservists from Rysäkari who were stationed there were wounded. Among them, Corporal Kalle Hjalmar Heistman (15 February 1904 – 22 July 1941) was severely injured and later succumbed to his wounds at a military hospital (1.KS).
Cropped image.
SA-photo #25855, photographer: Second Lieutenant Sjöblom

”The married couple Anna-Liisa (née Christiansson) and Tuomo Vainio, likely photographed on Pajalahdentie in Lauttasaari.
Vainio is wearing a German Army uniform, as he served in the Finnish Waffen-SS Volunteer Battalion and was part of the Nordland Regiment. His rank was Rottenführer, equivalent to a Finnish corporal or lance corporal.
On his chest, next to the Iron Cross 2nd Class, he wears the Winter War Commemorative Medal, as well as an Infantry Assault Badge and a Wound Badge, either in silver or gold.”
Vainio was wounded on January 19, 1943, in Yekaterinovka by sniper fire to the hand and abdomen. He did not participate in the Continuation War in the Finnish Army afterward. The Wound Badge was most likely silver (2nd class), as this was awarded to those who were wounded three to four times or who lost a limb or an eye.
Photo source: Finna (Helsinki City Museum), photographer: Väinö Kannisto
Helsinki, May 28, 1944.

Master Sergeant Arvo Mörö and Paavo Suoranta, two renowned long-range reconnaissance patrolmen. For their merits, both were awarded the Mannerheim Cross, numbers 87 and 88.

When presenting the Mannerheim Cross to reconnaissance patrolman Paavo Suoranta, Marshal Mannerheim asked what deeds had earned him the honor. Suoranta responded succinctly, "Repun kannosta".

This phrase later inspired the creation of the special forces’ ceremonial toast, the "Devil’s Head" ("Pirunpää"), which is taken standing, with the words: "Repun kannosta". The toast is drunk either in celebration (with cognac, Jaloviina, first) or in mourning (with vodka first). The vodka must not be Russian. When mourning, the glasses are placed upside down on the table, allowing the remnants of lingonberry juice, the "fallen comrade's blood" to drip onto the white tablecloth, symbolizing the deceased's presence.

SA Photo #114681, Photographer: A. Viitasalo
Mikkeli, Rauhaniemi, November 17, 1942

Lieutenant Colonel Rinkinen, commander of ”Sissi” Battalion 2 (commando), on the front lines near Krivi on January 13, 1942.
Krivi is located approximately 40 kilometers east of the Maaselkä Isthmus, a strategically significant area. The region was part of the Finnish forces’ operational objectives, as its control allowed for the management of supply lines and the stabilization of the northern front. Between January 5 and 10, 1942, four Siberian battalions were destroyed in the area. The destruction battle was carried out by Infantry Regiment 5 under the command of Colonel Antero Paasonen.

SA Photograph # 70906, photographer: E. Cronström
The terrain of the Krivi positions, January 13, 1942.

Kosti Keski-Nummi – A Humble War Hero and Teacher
Kosti "Koso" Keski-Nummi (January 6, 1923, Nummijärvi, Kauhajoki – August 18, 2018, Hämeenlinna) from Kauhajoki, Finland, had his first taste of aviation as a schoolboy when he participated in a public flight event organized by the renowned Niilo Karhumäki. The experience ignited a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot.
In the spring of 1943, Keski-Nummi was assigned to the prestigious Fighter Squadron 24, specifically its third flight unit, later known as the "Knight Flight." He flew until the end of the war, initially piloting Brewster fighters, during which he completed 20 combat missions. In the spring of 1944, the unit transitioned to Messerschmitt Bf 109 G fighters, and in these powerful aircraft, Keski-Nummi took part in repelling the Soviet Union’s major offensive.
He often flew as the wingman of his flight commander, Hans “Hasse” Wind, a two-time Knight of the Mannerheim Cross. Keski-Nummi achieved his fifth and final aerial victory on June 26, 1944, but two days later, he was ambushed by enemy fighters. Wounded, he made a forced landing at Nuijamaa but returned to combat just a few weeks later. Over the course of the war, he flew a total of 59 combat missions.
Photo source: Kauhajoki Veterans’ Heritage House. Photographer unknown.