Finnische Freiwilligen Bataillon der Waffen-SS

During WW1 the Finns provided a battalion of volunteers to help the Germans. This early battalion, which was the basis of the Finnish Defense Force was designated as the Royal Prussian Jager-Battalion No. 27 and participated between 1915 and 1918.

In March 1941, Finland agreed to a German request that a volunteer unit be formed within the Waffen-SS to give its troops modern military training techniques. The only stipulation by the Finnish Government was as follows:
1. No oath of loyalty to Adolph Hitler was to be sworn, oath to the Supreme Commander "Hitler" of the German Armed Forces was substituted.
2. Finns were to be deployed against the Soviet troops.
3. No Finnish volunteers would be required to serve more than 12 months (re-enlistment was left up to the person).
4. The Finnish Government reserved the right to withdraw the Finnish volunteers from the front after two years of service.

The recruitment of volunteers was held a secret in Finland. About 1200 volunteers were recruited in Helsinki under the cover up recruiting operation as Engineer Bureau "Ratas" (wheel). Finnish volunteers were shipped to Germany in small groups between early May and June of 1941. On 23 May 1941, a contingent of 326 men went to Heuberg, Germany for training. After completion they were distributed among all units of the Wiking Division. By 19 June 1941, 834 Finns became part of the newly established "SS Freiw. Btl. Nordost" (SS Volunteer Battalion Nordost) where it underwent formation and training in Vienna. On 15 October "Nordost" was transformed into the "Finnische Freiwilligen Bataillon der Waffen-SS" (Finnish Volunteer Battalion). From 15 June to 2 December 1941, the Finnish Battalion was trained at Gross-Born training grounds. This Finnish Battalion was organized into three infantry companies and one motorized company and placed under the Command of SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Hans Collani.

These volunteers wore Finnish made national shields on their left forearm. In 1943, the Germans made an official shield that was issued to the battalion. A sleeve cuff title with the inscription "Finnisches Frw. Bataillon der Waffen-SS" was made but never issued.

In January 1942, the Finnish Battalion was incorporated into the III SS Rgt. "Nordland," which joined the Wiking Division near the Mius River in southern Russia. By late summer 1942, the Finnish Battalion along with the Wiking Division was sent to the Caucasus Region in order to take the oilfields. On 16 September 1942 a replacement of 200 Finnish volunteers that were trained in Vienna arrived and was distributed among the existing companies of the battalion. The Finnish Battalion fought various battles in the Kurks-Kharkov sector and remained there until the end of May 1943. On 1 June, the Finnish volunteers returned to their homeland on leave. The Waffen-SS wanted it returned to the Eastern Front after the end of the furlough, but Field Marshal Mannerheim prevented this and insisted they rejoin the Finnish Army. By 11 July all remaining Finnish personnel was released from the Waffen-SS. Between August 1943 and September 1944, several hundred Finns left their country to rejoin the Waffen-SS. In the course of the war some 3000 Finns (2000 in the battalion) served in the Waffen-SS. Meanwhile Finland continued fighting the Russian forces and requested more military aid from Germany as of June 1944. Finland promptly received Luftwaffe units, an infantry division, an assault gun brigade and large quantities of anti-tank weapons. By the end of June the Finns had been forced back to the post-1940 frontier. By the end of August 1944, the Finnish government concluded a peace treaty with Russia and expelled all German forces from Finnish soil thus ending the German-Finnish alliance.

Finnish Volunteer Legion Feldpost

SS-Finnish Postal History

Postal History: In 1941, mail weighing up to 250gms was free of charge for Finnish volunteers serving with the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. For packages weighing from 250gms to 1000gms, a 20Rpf or 4 Finnmarks (Fmk) was applied. By 1943, free franking for mail weighing up 40gms when posted in Finland. Finnish volunteers were issued Airmail labels "Luftfeldpost." From mid-April 1942 till September 1943, airmail service was free, which only required one label. Packages mailed in Finland paid domestic fees with a maximum charge of 8Fmk for packages weighing from 1000gms.

SS Volunteers while interned in Finland could send mail via Finnish field post. Covers have been mailed using the following address: INSINOORITOIMISTO RATAS OY, Helsinki, Temppelihatu 4.

Outgoing mail sent to and from Finland was censored by the German or Finnish military authorities. A circular pink control mark with the inscription FELDPOST and the letter "F" (Finland) was applied in Helsinki for military mail sent to Finnish volunteers. Also small red transit boxed marking 8mm in size with the letter "F" were applied. In addition besides the SS-FELDPOST markings, mail sent by SS-Finnish volunteers sometimes bore the following transit markings in front of the cover:

1. "OY-INSINOORITOIMISTO RATAS," 60mm x 3.5mm, blue or violet, date of issue 7/41- 4/42.*
2. "AB-INGENIORBYRAN RATAS," 59mm x 3mm, Swedish text, violet, date of issue 2/42.*
3. "SS-VAPAAEHTOISTEN TOIMISTO," 68mm x 3.5mm, violet, date of issue 6/42.
4. "SS-VAPAAEHTOIS TOIMISTO," 64mm x 3.5mm, violet, date of issue 6/42-2/43.
*NOTE: These markings indicate "ENGINEER BUREAU WHEEL." The other markings indicate "WAFFEN-SS."
All Waffen-SS mail was examined and inspected in Berlin and Vienna; SS Feldpostprufstelle with red circular markings was applied as well as the circular As transit marking. In, addition SS sealing tapes was applied. No special postage stamps were issued.

Feldpost Finnish volunteers were given tactical Kenn 850 FPN 46838. In February 1942, the following Feldpost numbers were assigned to the SS Finnish Btl:

Battalion Staff--------------- 46785A

1st. Co. ---------------------- 46785B

2nd. Co. ---------------------- 46785C

3rd. Co. ---------------------- 46785D

4th. Motorized Co. -------- 46785E

Finnish Volunteer Legion Feldpost