Finnish 5th Division (Continuation War)

5. Division (Tavastian Division or Lynx Division) was a Finnish Army division in the Continuation War. The division was formed by Etelä-Häme (South Tavastia) military province from the men in Kanta-Häme (Tavastia proper) and Lounais-Häme (South-western Tavastia) civil guard districts.^[1]

Formation

After formation the division consisted of the following sub-units:^[2]

• Infantry Regiment 2 (JR2)
• Infantry Regiment 22 (JR22)
• Infantry Regiment 23 (JR23)
• Infantry Regiment 44 (JR44)
• Field Artillery Regiment 3 (KTR3)
• Heavy Artillery Battalion 24 (RaskPsto 24)
• Light Detachment 4 (KevOs 4)
• Engineer Battalion 21 (PionP 21)
• Signals Battalion 23 (VP23)
• Sissi Detachment (SissiOs./5.D)

5. Division was mostly equipped according to division generic organization, but because of material shortage it lacked the anti-aircraft machine gun company and some material quantities did not reach the intended amounts.

Commanders^[3]

5. Division commander major general K. A. Tapola

• jäger colonel Eino Koskimies 18 June 1941 – 11 July 1941
• jäger colonel Ruben Lagus 11 July 1941 – 25 July 1941
• colonel Ilmari Karhu 25 July 1941 – 16 June 1942
• major general Kustaa Tapola 16 June 1942 –

Losses

Based on the periodic reports made by units to Finnish General Headquarters the total losses suffered by the 5. Division in killed, wounded and missing during the Continuation War were 10 608 men.^[4]

Sources

• Kohvakka, Mikko; Palokangas, Marko (2004). Jatkosodan tiellä. Helsinki: Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu, Sotahistorian laitos. ISBN 951-25-1522-9.
• Palmunen, Einar (1964). Hämäläisdivisioona jatkosodassa. Karisto.
• Palmunen, Einar (1972). Hämäläisdivisioona etulinjasta kenttäsairaalaan. Karisto.
• Palmunen, Einar (1981). Ilvesdivisioona kuvissa. Karisto.
• Sotatieteen laitos (1988). Jatkosodan historia. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. ISBN 951-0-15326-5.

See also

• List of Finnish divisions in the Winter War
• List of Finnish divisions in the Continuation War