Rare colour photos of Finland during World War 2 show the reality of war in a way that black and white cannot. Most people learn about the conflict through textbooks or family stories. Grim monochrome depictions often make the era feel distant to younger generations. These stories and photos can become removed from the vivid reality of war. Many forget that those shown in black and white were real people who fought and suffered. This is why colour photographs are important.
Colour photography was a rarity at the beginning of the war. Kodachrome only entered use in the mid-1930s. Rare examples of colour shots exist and they are spectacular. The photo archives of the Finnish Defence Forces span the years 1939 to 1945. With over 160,000 photos and videos available online, it is an excellent place to see both black and white and colour photos. These depict everything from soldiers during downtime to the devastating effects of war in Finland.
The collection contains over 800 colour photos. A selection of the most interesting ones is presented here with English translations of the original captions. The full collection is available at SA-Kuva. This vast archive is a valuable addition to history and is worth a look.
War and destruction
The fire of Poventsa and urban warfare. Poventsa. July 2, 1941.The fire of Poventsa. July 2, 1942.Events during a commemorative day for war heroes in Joensuu. War hero funeral. May 19, 1940.
Military operations
Road signage at the crossroads of the western shore of Kotikoski. Alakurtti (Salla). September 26, 1941.From the German navy parade (Einsatzstab Fähre Ost) from Lahdenpohja. Lahdenpohja, Laatokka. August 13, 1942.Propaganda posters in Vyborg. September 30, 1941.43rd light anti-aircraft divison. Gun (Bofors) in position near the township of Nokia. April 25, 1944.76.2 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun firing. Helsinki, Taivaskallio. October 23, 1942.650 – Hiihto-osasto matkalla. Ski patrol on the move. Petsamo, Kukkesjaur. April 14, 1942.Soldiers approaching new positions.
Soldiers and figures
Captain Karhunen, recipient of the Mannerheim Cross. Karhunen has downed 31 enemy aircraft. Suulajärvi. August 26, 1943.In picture: Olavi Paavolainen. August, 1942.The men of the Häme Cavalry Regiment(HRR) on horseback and skiing. Velikaja Niva. March 15, 1942.Second Lieutenant smoking his pipe. April, 1942.In picture: Olavi Paavolainen. August, 1942.
Daily life and downtime
”Showering” after sauna in the waves of Kellokoski. Petsamo, Luttojoki. July 12, 1942.Er.Os.P:n tarvikkeiden lastauspaikka Kallokosken alla. Sotilaita tauolla.Soldier resting. July, 1942.Sortavala seminary entertainment. Syväri, power plant sector in May 1943.Soldiers in a firing shelter. 1941.Caught fish.
Aviation and technology
Curtiss-Hawk (CU-580) aircraft over Lotinapelto. Photographed from a FK aircraft, Air Force Regiment 1. October 16, 1943.SB-2 bomber on air field, engines running.Weather observations, pilot ball.*
(*Note: pilot balls were used for observing meteorological conditions and checking wind currents)
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15 Comments
I expected a sauna, but I didn’t expect a giant pink inflatable ball.
Finlandia-Kuva (Finlandia-Photo photo agency) ordered at late thirties Zeiss Contax photo equipment (camera bodies and Zeiss lenses) for 1940 Olympic Games. Olympic Games were suspended and cameras and lenses were seizured during The Winter War by Finnish Army. Those Contaxes were the main equipment of the Information Companies of Finnish Army. The colour film was mostly from Agfa.
Vyborg is a Russian name that’s only been in use since the Soviet Union annexed the Swedish/Finnish city at the end of the Second World War. Using it for these pictures is anachronistic.
Where do you get this from? I believe it has been called Viborg (swe) and/or Viipuri (fin) since forever. The first clues are on a swedish runestone from around 1100 a.d, upon where is written, that a person called “Uiburk” is buried there.
AGFA color film was recieved from germans in 1940 It hd to be developed in Germany ad many times development and exposure problems occured. These Finnish color photor from 1940band further are, however REAL coror shots, not colorized B&W that in my mind dont look realistic, as the colors in them are too beautiful and sweet.
The dates of the two Poventsa pictures (July 2, 1941) are WRONG.
The war declaration of the continuing war was given at the end of June 1941, and fighting activities on the Finnish border area started during the first weeks of July 1941.
It was impossible for the Finns to be in Poventsa (which lies behind lake Ääninen far away in Russian Karelia) in July 1941.
Pictures are from the year 1942, when during the previous winter the Finns had pushed their way up north to Karhumäki and to the furthest end of lake Ääninen as far as Poventsa.
There are many mistakes especially in dates in these SA pictures. In the original documents the texts are hand written, and many times they are very worn out. The fair clean copyists have made mistakes when interpreting the hand written dates and texts, since they have not known the historical facts of the places and events in pictures.
Here the fact is that those two pictures from Poventsa are from July 1942.
I recommend to mark the date July 2, 1941 [ July 2, 1942 ]
This way the marking shows that you follow the the given information of the archive, but the date in parenthesis tells about a new information.
My dad was fighting in the Finnish Winter war . He was President Mannerheim Skipper, part of the war. Luckily he survived. His name was Lauri Kaaria. Mymothers family men ,Agrilanderit was fighting too against the Russians. Many of them are buried in Vimppely.
I expected a sauna, but I didn’t expect a giant pink inflatable ball.
Great photos I was just wondering what kind of camera/lens they used to take these?
Finlandia-Kuva (Finlandia-Photo photo agency) ordered at late thirties Zeiss Contax photo equipment (camera bodies and Zeiss lenses) for 1940 Olympic Games. Olympic Games were suspended and cameras and lenses were seizured during The Winter War by Finnish Army. Those Contaxes were the main equipment of the Information Companies of Finnish Army. The colour film was mostly from Agfa.
Propaganda posters are soooooo subtle
Not a single photo where soldiers are taking Heroin or Pervitin pills?
made me cry with pride.my dad was on the front line
Vyborg is a Russian name that’s only been in use since the Soviet Union annexed the Swedish/Finnish city at the end of the Second World War. Using it for these pictures is anachronistic.
Where do you get this from? I believe it has been called Viborg (swe) and/or Viipuri (fin) since forever. The first clues are on a swedish runestone from around 1100 a.d, upon where is written, that a person called “Uiburk” is buried there.
You speak shit !!
Wonder why that giant ball was such a shocking colour pink?
To see it clear through clouds
Have done that observing myself and sometimes we lost sight after 30 seconds when clouds were low
It’s amazing how colour photos really do make old events seem more realistic.
AGFA color film was recieved from germans in 1940 It hd to be developed in Germany ad many times development and exposure problems occured. These Finnish color photor from 1940band further are, however REAL coror shots, not colorized B&W that in my mind dont look realistic, as the colors in them are too beautiful and sweet.
The dates of the two Poventsa pictures (July 2, 1941) are WRONG.
The war declaration of the continuing war was given at the end of June 1941, and fighting activities on the Finnish border area started during the first weeks of July 1941.
It was impossible for the Finns to be in Poventsa (which lies behind lake Ääninen far away in Russian Karelia) in July 1941.
Pictures are from the year 1942, when during the previous winter the Finns had pushed their way up north to Karhumäki and to the furthest end of lake Ääninen as far as Poventsa.
There are many mistakes especially in dates in these SA pictures. In the original documents the texts are hand written, and many times they are very worn out. The fair clean copyists have made mistakes when interpreting the hand written dates and texts, since they have not known the historical facts of the places and events in pictures.
Here the fact is that those two pictures from Poventsa are from July 1942.
I recommend to mark the date
July 2, 1941 [ July 2, 1942 ]
This way the marking shows that you follow the the given information of the archive, but the date in parenthesis tells about a new information.
My dad was fighting in the Finnish Winter war . He was President Mannerheim Skipper, part of the war.
Luckily he survived.
His name was Lauri Kaaria.
Mymothers family men ,Agrilanderit was fighting too against the Russians.
Many of them are buried in Vimppely.
By Anita Kaatia,Agrilander,Brown
England