Jewish Finnish soldiers infront of their field synagogue at Svir river. Winter War of 1939-40 gave the Jews in Finland a final feeling of being part of the Finnish nation. And during Continuation War even though Finland was fighting side by side with the nazi Germans the Jewish Finns fought as willingly as any other Finns in the war. Over 350 Finnish Jews in total served in Finnish army during WWII, 23 of them were killed in action.

Field synagogue

Olavi Alakulppi (1915 – 1990) was a known Finnish cross country skier and a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross.
Alakulppi served in all three wars of Finland: Winter War(1939-40), Continuation War(1941-44), Lapland War(1944-45).
He advanced from sergeant to captain during the war. As well as he received two the Mannerheim Cross(2nd Clss) and two Cross of Liberty, He also received the Iron Cross (2nd Class)of the German army during the war. After WW2 Alakulppi moved to U.S.A. with his wife and son and joined the United States Army serving 1947-1968 in numerous tasks including the Korean war. In US Army he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Olavi Alakulppi died in August 19, 1990 and is buried to the Arlington National Cemetery.

Olavi Alakulppi

Russian armoured car and Finnish casualties.