TUUSULAS ARTILLERY IN THE FINNISH WARS OF 1939-1944

The artillery regiments established in Hyrylä garrison, Tuusula, during the extraordinary refreshers in 1938-1939 and the beginning of Continuation War of 1941-1944 are often unofficially called with the moniker “the Tuusula artillery.”

At the eve of war, two batteries were established in the garrison:I / KTR 4 and III / KTR 4. These were the 1^st battery of Field Artillery Regiment 4 and the 3^rd battery of the same regiment, respectively. The conscripts and reservists manning the 1^st battery were mostly from the surrounding region of Keski-Uusimaa, or Kerava, Järvenpää, Mäntsälä, Tuusula and Hyvinkää. The Field Artillery Regiment 4 was a part of the 4^th Division, established in the military province of Uusimaa, which took part in heavy battles around the bay of Viipuri and the Karelian Isthmus.

When the Winter War ended, new units were housed to the Hyrylä garrison area. These were the 3^rd Heavy Artillery Battery and the NCO school of Artillery School, which operated in Hyrylä for only three months before the Continuation War began in the summer of 1941. The NCO school returned to the garrison in the Defence Forces re-structuring of 1948.

Two batteries of Field Artillery Regiment 1 (KTR1) left Hyrylä after mobilization to join the Continuation War. These were followed by Heavy Artillery Battery 22 (Raskas patteristo 22). Most of the crew for these units was called up from Tuusula, Järvenpää and Kerava, and some from the surrounding regions. Their main tasks were initially to train reservists and conscripts, and build fortifications, trenches and delay stations to the front lines and rear areas. The Tuusula Artillery took part in the retaking of Karelian Isthmus in the summer of 1941, fighting in Portinhoikka, Tali and Mainikkala fronts. Later on the Tuusula Artillery went to engage in battle in the Onega region and near Karhumäki. In 1943, the recently adopted modern Fire Correction Circle made it possible to organize artillery barrages and counter barrages efficiently, which was to be very vital in the coming defensive battles of 1944, when the Finnish armies were pushed beyond Viipuri by the massive invasion of the Soviets. In addition to the Tuusula Artillery, local artillery soldiers were also sent to serve in the “Aunus Artillery” stationed in Olonets and Onega regions.

In Tuusula, conscript training and refreshers for reservists heading to the front continued as usual during the war. After heavy equipment was sent to the front, the Infantry training center was established in the garrison and the nearby Tuomaala school in Ristinummi, which sent fresh conscripts and mobilized reservists to the front after a 3-4 month long training. Corporals and NCOs received additional training at Ristinummi, at the Tuusula folk high school.

Pictures from top to bottom:

Artillery engaged in battle near Kuuttilahti. Åke Winqvist collections / Museum Militaria, Hämeenlinna.

The battle of Kuuttilahti. Åke Winqvist collections / Museum Militaria, Hämeenlinna.

Redeployment to new stations, Åke Winqvist collections / Museum Militaria, Hämeenlinna.

KTR 1 artillery gun in action during the summer of 1941. Sa-kuva.fi

KTR 1 6^th battery positions near Karhumäki, July 1943. Sa-kuva.fi