Jämäs garrison
The Kuhmo Frontier Company garrison in Jämäs was completed shortly before the Winter War. Its facilities enabled the mobilization, command and supply of troops during the Winter War. During the Continuation War, the garrison was used by Detachment Marttina, which carried out long-range patrols under the orders of the Finnish Headquarters.
Jämäs garrison
The garrison was built in 1934–1938. The Kuhmo Frontier Company, i.e. the 2nd Company of the Kainuu Frontier Guard, moved to Jämäs on 15 April 1937. In 1939, a total of 69 frontier guards were registered at the barracks, according to the local register of population. Frontier guards were also stationed at guard posts near the eastern border.
During the additional reserve exercises, the garrison was the site of the Kuhmo Exercise Centre, where wartime troops were formed. In the Winter War, the area served as a supply centre for Finnish troops. The area was also home to the command posts of the Kuhmo sector troops during the Winter War. The troops were first led by Jaeger Lieutenant Colonel Frans Ilomäki (Group Ilomäki) and his staff, and from the end of January 1940, command was taken by Jaeger Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo (9th Division) and his staff. The Jämäs garrison had buildings for a kitchen, men’s quarters, clothing storage, laundry room and sauna, among others.
During the Continuation War, the garrison was used by the frontier troops and the Finnish Headquarters’ long-range patrol units (Detached Battalion 4).
Today, the old barracks is privately owned.
Headquarters’ long-range patrol units in Kuhmo during the Continuation War
During the Continuation War, the Finnish Headquarters’ long-range patrol units (later Detached Battalion 4) had their bases in the Kuhmo area in Jämäs and Paloniemi, about 8 kilometres (5 miles) west of Jämäs. A so-called deep-forest garrison was built in Paloniemi for the training of conscripts during the Interim Peace. The garrison was emptied after the outbreak of the Continuation War.
Detachment Marttina (later 3rd Company of Detached Battalion 4) was already in the Kuhmo area at the beginning of the Continuation War, conducting reconnaissance in the Rukajärvi, Uhtua (nowadays Kalevala) and Kestenga sectors. Detachment Marttina used the Frontier’s premises in Jämäs for lodging and as a base for operations.
The majority of Detachment Vehniäinen (later 1st Company of Detached Battalion 4) moved from Syväri to Paloniemi in Kuhmo on 11 November 1943. After the Red Army’s
major offensive began on the Karelian Isthmus in the summer of 1944, the whole 1st Company moved to Rautjärvi by 15 June 1944.
The Finnish long-range patrols tied up a considerable amount of enemy forces in securing the rear areas. Raid missions carried out to the enemy’s rear hampered the enemy’s operations. However, the main importance of the long-range patrols lay in the intelligence they provided, some of which directly influenced the decisions of the various levels of command.
Memorial of Detachment Marttina
The memorial of Detachment Marttina is located in Jämäs, in the yard of the former Frontier Guard barracks. The memorial was unveiled by the brothers-in-arms of Detachment Marttina on 1 January 1970. It was designed by artist Juhani Vepsäläinen. The memorial was made by voluntary work from local wartime anti-tank obstacle stones.
The site is very easily accessible, but it is privately owned. Address: Kurikkaniementie 11, 88900 Kuhmo, Finland.