After the Winter War the Finnish Army underwent a massive reorganization. The active duty army was tripled in size with thirteen rifle brigades on active duty garrisoning the western border and watching the Soviet garrison at Hango.

Initially, the active brigades consisted of an artillery and two infantry battalions, with minimal support units. In May 1941, the third infantry battalion of each brigade and all remaining support units were raised. Each brigade formed the basis for a division upon full mobilization.

The rifle division was greatly strengthened in the period between the Winter War and the Continuation War. 105 mm howitzers replaced the 75 mm and 76 mm field guns in each division and each division received an additional heavy artillery battalion. Each infantry battalion received an 81 mm. mortar platoon and each regiment a 120 mm mortar company. One rifle company in each infantry battalion was converted to a machinegun company, a heavy weapons company for each regiment was added as well as a separate divisional heavy weapons company. The division's light brigade was expanded to battalion size, now comprised of two jager and one jager machine-gun companies. Engineer and signal assets were expanded to form a battalion of each and the number of radios in each division doubled. Each division received a company each of anti-aircraft machine-guns, military police, and chemical warfare specialists. Finally, the standard infantry rifle was now the 7.62 mm Model 38 UkkoPekka. The total increase in divisional strength was about 2500 men.

Two jager (ski) brigades were formed, each with three jager and two light artillery battalions. The remaining jager battalion was attached to the cavalry brigade which also included two light artillery battalions. Some 80 captured Soviet tanks were rebuilt and used to equip an armor battalion which was administratively attached to the 1st Jager Brigade.

The artillery arm was greatly expanded with seven independent heavy artillery battalions (three with 203 nun and four with 150/152 mm. howitzers) and six independent light artillery battalions (105 nun and officially called fortress artillery battalions). Rounding out the support units were eight independent engineer battalions (one attached to each corps and three in general reserve) and five anti-aircraft battalions (again, one for each corps). The 2nd AA battalion, which was on active duty in May 1941, disappeared soon after this for unknown reasons.

Miscellaneous units included two independent infantry regiments (JR 14 and JR 61) and one independent battalion (ErP 1) all of which were under Navy control. Three Sissi battalions still existed though they have been factored into the Jager and Cavalry Brigades.

Home anti-aircraft defenses comprised four static battalions administratively grouped into a brigade.

The Border Guards were still administratively organized into a brigade with six area commands (now numbered vice named), but there were now 24 numbered border companies. These were formed into eight border battalions in-late 1941 and early 1942. In July 1944 the four surviving battalions were formed into a brigade (an actual combat unit this time).

A number of rifle brigades were formed later in the war as the Finns couldn't sustain a full mobilization. These consisted of four infantry and two artillery battalions (one light and one heavy).

The first of these to be formed were the 3rd and 12th Brigades. The 3rd was raised from remnants of the 12th Division (mostly JR 3) and the 12th from remnants of the 6th Division (mostly JR 12), both units being fleshed out with personnel from the training schools.

The 15th Brigade was formed by the amalgamation of the 15th Fortress Battalion, 3rd Sissi Battalion, 3rd Division's light brigade, I/JR 29 from the 11 th Division, and a draft of men from 17 Division.

The headquarters of the 19th Brigade was actually established in May of 1942, but had no troops until a newly raised JR 16 (originally deactivated when the 19th Division disbanded) along with I/JR 46 (newly rebuilt with old men) were assigned. The 20th Brigade was raised on the Svir front from the existing JR 22 and the newly rebuilt II/JR 46. The 21st Brigade was formed by drawing a battalion each from the 1st and 4th Divisions and the 12th Brigade and raising the fourth battalion from training personnel. 21st Brigade is a "free" unit because the battalions drawn from the divisions were replaced by the battalions of JR 101 that don't show up in the OB.

The armor battalion was to have expanded to a brigade of three armor battalions and an armored anti-aircraft battery, but manpower shortages prevented the third armor battalion from being raised. In the end the armored division comprised an armored brigade of one assault gun and two tank battalions, two armored jager brigades each with two armored jager battalions, two heavy howitzer battalions, and an armored anti-aircraft battalion.

More Finnish Army 1939-1944

The Winter War
The Continuation War
Weapons and Equipment