Perspectives on Finnish history: The operations of the paratroopers in Kouvola 1939-1945

Sakari Viinikainen is a Kouvola education counselor, local historian and non-fiction writer.

Espionage, beacons and airborne operations in Kymenlaakso 1939–1945

The airborne troops were usually scouts dropped into Finland by parachute, who could also have destruction missions. Kymenlaakso was at the center of airborne operations. The reason for this was the proximity of the war front and many militarily significant intelligence targets, such as transport connections leading to the front, ports, airports, garrisons and the Salpalinja.

Finns were also involved in espionage and intelligence operations for the Soviet Union. Before the wars, the most effective “mole” was Lieutenant Vilho Pentikäinen, who served in the General Staff, who was caught in the act in 1933, but managed to escape to the Soviet Union. The Kouvola garrison also had its own “Pentikainen”. He was a military officer, Niilo Nikko, who also moved behind the border when the country began to burn underfoot.

During the Winter War, bombings were controlled in Kouvola with light signals, and during the Continuation War, Väinö Niilo-Rämä, who had been dropped as a paratrooper, hid with his radio in Voikkaa without being caught. A special event was the bombing of the Kouvola railway yard on the night of 22 February 1942. Mannerheim’s train should have been in Kouvola at that time, but its departure from Mikkeli had been delayed.