Border Company ![]()
In 1919, the Kuhmoniemi Border Company was established in Kuhmo. Initially, the company headquarters was located in Koivula in the parish village. In 1934, the first buildings were constructed in Jämäs towards Kajaani. Most of the buildings were completed in 1937, and the Border Guard moved into new, modern facilities. According to the 1939 census, 69 border guards were registered at the Jämäs barracks. In addition, there were border guards stationed at field outposts near the eastern border.
Kenttävartioasemia oli ennen talvisodan alkamista mm. Vartiuksen Juortanan talossa, Korkanan Mäkelässä, Hukkajärven Kannaksella, Viiksimon Välitalossa, Kiekinkoskella, Lammasperän Riihijärvellä, Jonkerissa, Saunajärven Jumissa, Kuusijärven Hiilikossa, Kusianvaaralla ja Löytövaaralla.
Civil Guard
The Kuhmoniemi section of the Civil Guard was established in Kuhmo in November 1917. Village sections operated in the outlying areas. The Civil Guard Hall, Korpilinna, was inaugurated on September 13, 1927. In 1937, the Civil Guard had 336 members. The leaders of the Kuhmo Civil Guard were Valdemar Ylönen and the district chief Oskari Peltola.
A Civil Guard member was equipped and trained for national defense duties. Men kept their personal gear at home, including weapons and suitable clothing. Training included shooting practice, weapon knowledge, combat skills, drill exercises, leadership, sports, and competitions.
Lotta Svärd
The Kuhmoniemi Lotta Svärd section was founded on February 17, 1921. In 1938, Lotta Svärd had 234 members. Activities began in the local association of the parish village, and over the years, village associations were established in outlying areas. The Kuhmo Lotta Svärd village associations included Nieminen, Ylä-Vieksi, Ala-Vieksi, Jonkeri, Kuusijärvi, Rasti, Timoniemi, Ala-Katerma, Katerma, Hietaperä, Kämärä, Lammasperä, and Lentiira. There were also girls’ sections. The organization had divisions for medical care, catering, equipment, fundraising, and clerical work.
Additional Excercises
Large refresher exercises were organized in Kuhmo in the summer of 1937, mainly on the Jämäs training grounds. Border guards, Civil Guard members, and Lottas from across Kainuu took part. On October 8, 1939, Lieutenant Colonel Frans Ilomäki arrived in Kuhmo to command the refresher exercise battalion. The officers and troops arrived on October 9, 1939. The men were from Kuhmo and Sotkamo. They were equipped as military units and divided into formations. At the Kuhmo Border Company’s command post in the Jämäs barracks, Separate Battalion 14 (Er.P14), Detachment Kaasila, and support units were established. The instructors were officers and NCOs from the Kainuu Border Guard and district chiefs of the Civil Guard. Later, the commander of the troops was Captain Matti Murole, head of the machine gun company.
The battalion consisted of three rifle companies, a machine gun company, a mortar section, a signal section, an air surveillance section, and later a reinforcement company.
The first company was commanded by Lieutenant Oskari Peltola, the second by Lieutenant Jussi Kekkonen, and the third by Lieutenant Ville Halonen. The reinforcement company was led by Reserve Lieutenant Kyösti Kaasila, and the machine gun company by Captain Matti Murole. The light mortar platoon was commanded by Reserve Lieutenant Eino Tuomainen, the engineer section by Reserve Second Lieutenant Niilo Tammenmaa, and communications by Jaeger Captain Tauno Karanko. The transport company was led by Reserve Second Lieutenant Vilho Salmi. The air surveillance center was commanded by Reserve Second Lieutenant Niilo Koskinen, and the military hospital by Medical Captain Ilmari Nurminen.
Platoon leaders were:
1st Company
Reserve Second Lieutenants Kauko Hankio, Kai Hortling, Kusti Korhonen, and Eino Pussinen.
2nd Company
Reserve Lieutenant Pauli Ipatti and Reserve Second Lieutenants Jorma Suomalainen, Viljo Haataja, and Jorma Kauko.
3rd Company
Reserve Second Lieutenants Frans Heikkinen, A. Korhonen, and Kalle Immonen.
Reinforcement Company
Reserve Lieutenant Yrjö Rainio and Reserve Second Lieutenants Kauko Leskinen and Veikko Karhu.
Machine Gun Company
Reserve Second Lieutenants Jaakko Kuusisto, Eetu Kemppainen, and Niilo Koskinen.
The 1st Company consisted of men from Kuhmo and Sotkamo, the 2nd Company of men from Kuhmo and the Border Guard Company, and the 3rd Company of reservists from Sotkamo. The Machine Gun Company included men from Kuhmo and Sotkamo.
The battalion was accommodated in tents in the parish village and to the west. Training included marches, orienteering, movement in terrain, night operations, and defense against air and armored threats. In November 1939, joint exercises and marches were organized.
At the end of the refresher exercises, about 1,738 men were under arms in Kuhmo. There was a shortage of equipment, such as heavier and lighter weaponry. Additional reinforcements were desired. Training was adequate.
Border Surveillance, Fortification Work, and War Preparations
In the summer of 1939, the eastern border was unfortified. In the autumn of 1939, border surveillance was intensified: observation towers were manned, patrols increased, and guard posts reinforced with conscripts and reservists. The reinforcement company was sent to border surveillance duties and fortification work along vulnerable roads.
Fortification work was led by Lieutenant Jussi Kekkonen and Captain Matti Murole. In late October, machine gun positions and trenches began to be built on the Saunajärvi–Alasenjärvi Isthmus (Kuusijoki). Field fortifications were also constructed at Kalliojoki, Kiekinkoski in Lammasperä, Vääräjoki, Rasti, Jyrkänkoski, Jämäs, and along the Sumsanjoki line.
Border guards were placed under the command of Detachment Kaasila and Jussi Kekkonen. Local conscripts and underage Civil Guard members assisted in border surveillance. From the reinforcement company, Veikko Karhu’s platoon was deployed toward the Saunajärvi road and Yrjö Rainio’s platoon toward the Hukkajärvi road. Jorma Kauko’s platoon from the 2nd Company was stationed in Lentiira. By late October 1939, the 2nd Company was also guarding the border.
Air surveillance posts were manned. An Air Surveillance Area Center (IVAK) was established at the Jämäs barracks. Telephone exchanges were taken over by the troops, and the network was expanded for military command needs.
The Lottas were led by the sheriff’s wife, pharmacist Anja Korteniemi. They sewed underwear, mattresses, and pillows, knitted, mended, and washed socks, and prepared food and coffee.
A military hospital was established in the Kuhmo district hospital, headed by district physician Ilmari Nurminen.
[1] – Kuhmo, formerly Kuhmoniemi. The name Kuhmo officially came into use on January 1, 1937, though it was already used colloquially earlier.
