Finnish P.O.W.'s in Viipuri. Summer 1944.

3402 Finnish soldiers became prisoners of war during the Continuation War of 1941-1944.  1388 of them died at camps or before reaching them. 1938 were returned to their homeland after the war. Many of them died soon after. Last prisoners were returned during the year of 1955. Fate of 76 prisoners is unknown.

Finnish POWs

Antti Vorho (1912-1991) Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #99.

Vorho's story is quite similar to the story of Mikko Pöllä. Ingrian, born in same village of Valkeasaari(Beloostrov) on the Russian side of the borderline at Karelian Isthmus. He too escaped Stalin's terrors in 1930's by swimming across the Rajajoki river to Finland, where he was recruited by Finnish Army at beginning of Winter War because he was bilingual and spoke Russian perfectly. After training he was sent to the front where he participated in 19 patrols to the enemy side at Kollaa, Ruskeala, Uomaa and Viipuri.

During the interim peace he received special training for skills needed by long range patrols.
In Continuation War Vorho participated in 31 patrols as part of long range patrol detachments and spent over 6 months behind enemy lines in total. His longest patrol lasted for 56 days from which 25 days was without receiving supply drops. In 1942 SSgt. Vorho was moved to communications training center where he served until the end of the war.

After the war Soviets were demanding Ingrians to be returned to Russia so Antti Vorho moved to Sweden where he worked as carpenter and changed his surname as Vallebro. He died in Lycksele on March 3, 1991.

Antti Vorho (knight #99)

Finnish soldiers during winter of 1941-1942.