During World War II, the Lapland War saw fighting between Finland and Nazi Germany – effectively from September to November 1944 – in Finland's northernmost region, Lapland. Though the Finns and the Germans had been fighting together against the Soviet Union since 1941 during the Continuation War (1941–1944), peace negotiations between the Finnish government and the Allies of World War II had been conducted intermittently during 1943–1944, but no agreement had been reached. The Moscow Armistice, signed on 19 September 1944, demanded that Finland break diplomatic ties with Germany and expel or disarm any German soldiers remaining in Finland.
A sign which the Germans left in Muonio, Lapland, written on it: 'As thanks for not demonstrating brotherhood in arms!'
A view in 2007 to the south-east from Sturmbock-Stellung, a fortified German position in Finland 100 km (62 mi) from Norway
Operations Birke and Nordlicht, the German withdrawal from Finland from 6 September 1944 to 30 January 1945
Gebirgsjäger of the XVIII Mountain Corps attacking behind Panzer cover in 1942 when Finland and Germany were still at war with the USSR together
Finland participated in the Second World War initially in a defensive war against the Soviet Union, followed by another, this time offensive, war against the Soviet Union acting in concert with Nazi Germany and then finally fighting alongside the Allies against Germany.
Sympathy service on December 20, 1939 in New York: left to right: former President Herbert Hoover, Hendrik Willem van Loon and New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia
First phase of the Winter war
Finnish Armoured Division - Sturmkanone 40 or StuG IIIG (Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G, "Sturmi"). Photograph was taken on 4 June 1944 during Marshal Mannerheim's birthday parade at Enso, Finland.
The village of Ivalo was destroyed by the Germans during their retreat as part of their scorched earth policy.
