Separate Battalion 6

Erillinen pataljoona 6 1943 - 1944

Ost-Bataillon 664

The history of the later Finnish Separate Battalion 6 started already in February 1942 when German
Armee-Gruppe Nord formed a detachment called Finnische Sicherungsgruppe 187 which consisted of
27., 28., 29. and 30. Hundertschaft (strength about 170 men each). Its tasks were to secure railways
and bridges and fight against Soviet Partisans which had become a growing problem for the Germans.
Unit had German equipment but used captured Soviet weapons. Training lasted three months after
which unit operated on rear areas near Leningrad and Novgorod.

Detachment was solely composed of more or less (soldiers received larger food portions) volunteer
Ingrian Finns living in Soviet Union around Leningrad. Most Ingrian men fought already in the Red
Army and the remaining "work conscripts" were either young boys (15 to 17 years old) or over-aged
older men. All officers and the majority of NCO's were Germans but the number of Ingrian Lance
Corporals and NCOs became bigger during the war. Later in 1942 detachment was officially re-named
as Ost-Bataillon 664 (finnische) with four companies.

Battalion was reliable and became very important to Germans in securing and anti-Partisan duties.
Eventually 107 men were awarded with a German decoration "Tapferkeits- und
Verdienst-Auszeichnung für die Ostvölker" and 17 men received the German badge for wounded ones.
Late in 1942 Finns and Germans agreed that all Ingrian Finns who lived in USSR could move to Finland.
Officially volunteer operation started after that and thousands of Ingrians moved to Finland during
1943 and June 1944. Also OB 664 (finn.) was to be moved and joined Finnish armed forces although
Armee-Gruppe Nord opposed the plan. They wouldn't like to leave their trusted battalion to go.

Separate Battalion B

On 23.11.1943 Finnish Lt.Col. K. Breitholtz was ordered to take the command of an Ingrian Separate
Battalion B (Erillinen pataljoona B, Er.P B) which was officially founded on 25.11. At the beginning of
December OB 664 relieved its weapons away and was moved to Tallinn, Estonia by trains. From
Tallinn a total of 617 Ingrians were shipped to Hanko, Finland by 13.12. and accommodated into
German "Waldlager" which acted as a quarantine camp. There all soldiers were inspected, supplied
and re-equipped with Finnish gear.

Average age was 23 years but more than half of men were still less than 20 years old. Educational
level was low and almost all men had only four years basic school education mostly in Russian
speaking classes. About 25% of men didn't speak Finnish well. All Lance Corporals and NCOs received
their earlier ranks also in Finland. Since 18.12.1943 battalion was officially under Finnish command
and the four months conversion training period was started. Between 7. - 9.1.1944 battalion was
moved to Kiviniemi garrison on Karelian Isthmus by trains and subordinated to 10th Division.

At Kiviniemi Separate Battalion B was organized between 10. - 17.1.1944 and by 27.1. it was fully
formed and equipped although it received more men all the time. On 31.1. battalion strength was 25
officers, 54 NCOs and 601 privates (= 680 men) in addition to three riding and 72 towing horses. All
officers and about half of the NCOs were Finns but many of them had Ingrian background. Battalion
had eight Maxim MGs, 24 LMGs, 97 "Suomi" SMGs, six 20 mm L-39 anti-tank rifles and three medium
mortars.

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Separate Battalion 6

On 1.2.1944 battalion was re-named as Separate Battalion 6 (Erillinen pataljoona 6, Er.P 6). Battalion's
NCO School [Aliupseerikoulu] led by Ingrian Finn Capt. E. Sokka started on 6.2. The first course
consisted of 105 NCO trainees. On 23.2. battalion was subordinated to 15th Division and moved to
Leinikylä two days later.

On 31.3.1944 battalion was organized as follows:

Strength:

- 29.3.1944: 27 Officers + 64 NCOs + 700 men (= 791 men)

- 1.8.1944: 28 Officers + 82 NCOs + 600 men (= 710 men)

personnel car (22.2.44-), 3x truck (22.2.44-), ?x bicycle, 74x horse

Pataljoonankomentaja (Battalion Commander) Lt.Col. K. Breitholtz, 25.6.44- Maj. H. Katas

Esikunta (Staff) +

Esikuntakomppania (Staff Company) ?, 31.3.44- Lt. Y. Luukkonen

----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)

----- Jääkärijoukkue (Jäger Platoon)

----- Pioneerijoukkue (Engineer Platoon)

----- Viestijoukkue (Signals Platoon)

----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)

1. Komppania (1st Company) Lt. Y. Lääperi, 31.3.44- Capt. T. Ryöti

----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)

----- I - IV Joukkue (I - IV Platoon)

----- Panssarintorjuntajoukkue (Anti-Tank Platoon) (3x 20 mm Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle)

----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)

2. Komppania (2nd Company) Lt. J. Nokkala

----- (similar to 1st Coy)

Konekiväärikomppania (MG Company) Lt. Virolainen, 31.3.44- Lt. Koivistoinen

----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)

----- I - II Konekiväärijoukkue (I - II MG Platoon) (4+4x 7.62 mm Maxim MG)

----- Toimitusjoukkue (Delivery Platoon)

Kranaatinheitinjoukkue (Mortar Platoon) ?, 31.3.44- Capt. Marttinen, ?.44- Lt. J. Tuisku

----- Komentoryhmä (Command Squad)

----- Tulenjohtue (Fire Control)

----- 1. - 3. Kranaatinheitintyhmä (1st - 3rd Mortar Squad)) (1+1+1x 81 or 82 mm mortar)

----- Toimitusryhmä (Delivery Squad)

Aliupseerikoulu (NCO School) Capt. E. Sokka

After the four months training period ended battalion took the military oath for Finland on 26.4.1944.
Battalion was now ready for combat. The last 72 Ingrians took the oath on 4.6.1944 just prior to
Soviet attack on Karelian Isthmus on 9.6.

Separate Battalion 6 in Combat

Reinforced 1st Company was subordinated to 19th Brigade for getting front experience already on
2.5.1944 and on the whole battalion on 25.5. After the Soviet attack had started battalion was moved
to secure the right flank of 15th Division at Korpikylä in Kivennapa on 12.6. Next day battalion
repulsed Soviet attack for the first time after 15 minutes fighting with the help of its supporting
artillery.

Early in the morning on 14.6. Soviets started bombing battalion's positions heavily and overwhelming
Soviet infantry attacked simultaneously from three places. Battalion was ordered to withdraw fighting
to VT line (Vammelsuu - Taipale line) where battalion started immediately strengthening its new
positions. Patrols were also sent to keep the contact to Soviets. Battalion was subordinated to 18th
Division.

On 17.6.1944 VT line was abandoned because Soviets had broken through the line at Kuuterselkä.
Battalion was subordinated to 2nd Division and it withdrew delaying to Vuosalmi direction. On 18.6.
Soviets supported by five tanks attacked through the securing line of the battalion. 1st Company
repulsed Soviet infantry and withdrew through the lines of the 2nd Company. Next day battalion was
moved to Äyräpää from where battalion crossed the River Vuoksi without losses and was
subordinated to Combat Detachment Oljemark.

Battalion hold the new defensive line at River Vuoksi but since 22.6. The trust on Er.P 6 had weakened
because of the noticed unreliability of Tribal Battalion 3 (HeimoP 3) although both battalions had
fought well. Battalion Commander was changed on 25.6. On 27.6.1944 Er.P 6 was subordinated to 3rd
Division for defending Kuparsaari sector. During June battalion losses had been 13 men KIA, 54 WIA
and 24 MIA.

The beginning of July was rather quiet on battalions sector despite of occasional artillery fire and
minor patrol strikes. On 19.7.1944 Er.P 6 was again subordinated to 18th Division. On 21.7. Soviet
tried to cross the River Vuoksi with bigger forces. This attempt was although repulsed with the
co-operation of mortars and field artillery. After that Soviets didn't make any such attempts anymore.

On 1.8.1944 Er.P 6 was replaced by Separate Battalion 28 and it was moved to construct rear
defensive line. In this task battalion stayed for the rest of the Continuation War until 5.9.1944. After
that battalion was moved behind the new border and was in training but helped also local farmers
south-east from Lappeenranta. Er.P 6 was disbanded on 1.10. and was officially suspended on
10.10.1944.

Aftermath - The Sad Destiny of Ingrian Finns

According to Moscow peace terms all former Soviet citizens (both soldiers and civilians) who had
moved to Finland during the war should be relieved back to USSR. It didn't matter if many people had
changed their citizenship. For some reason Soviets "forgot" Er.P 6 and most men could live in Finland
free until late spring 1945 when the request for relieving soldiers of Er.P 6 was given. Because most
Ingrian civilians were returned to USSR many soldiers also returned voluntarily with their families but
about 200 men escaped to Sweden and other countries. The last former soldier of Er.P 6 was caught
and relieved to USSR as late as in January 1955.

Ingrians were given a promise that they can move back to their homes. That promise was not kept
and tens of thousands Ingrians were spread east from Moscow far away from their homes. Several
men were separated from the others already at Viipuri railway station and probably executed soon
because no-one heard of them later. For some reason many Ingrians were released but imprisoned a
couple of years later. Almost all survived men got 10 to 25 years long sentences in forced labour
camps. Even all the under-aged ones who should have had 50% shorter sentences suffered much
longer than 5 years. The result was that only the strongest ones survived. After Stalin's death most
men still alive were released by 1955 but remained without civil rights for decades.

At the beginning of 1990's Finland accepted all Ingrians as "return movers". After since thousands of
Ingrian Finns have moved to Finland. Many who were in Finland during the war or served in Finnish
armed forces have returned. Also those non-Finnish citizens who live abroads receive now a small
pension (called "front pension") because of their war-time services for Finland.

Sources: MUTPE1, JATHI

© 23.6.2004 Harri Anttonen