Finnish Forces

Motti-Matti, legend of Winter War

Major Matti Aarnio (1901–1984) Aarnio volunteered to fight in the Finnish Civil War of 1918 and later participated in the Estonian War of Independence, Latvian War of Independence and Aunus expedition. During the Winter War, Aarnio was promoted to the rank of Major and he commanded the 4th Jaeger Battalion (JP 4) "Hiipijät" (The sneakers) in north side of Lake Ladoga. His battalion became known for battles against encircled Red Army troops in the battle of Lementti. During the battles Aarnio's responsibility was to destroy the mottis and he was given extra troops so that at one point he had almost eight battalions of cavalry, jaegers and regular infantry under his command. The tactics of Aarnio was to destroy the mottis at night time and in close range which proved successful. For these battles he later received the nickname "Motti-Matti". During the Continuation War, Aarnio first commanded the 2nd Battalion of 9th Infantry Regiment (II/JR 9) and led it with great success during the Reconquest of Ladoga Karelia. Later he commanded the 56th Infantry Regiment from December 1941 until the end Continuation War, after which he commanded the 2nd Jaeger Battalion in the Lapland War. In 1945 ValPo (State Police) wanted to arrest him for the Weapons Cache Case in which he didn't actually participate but was fully aware of, as military district commander. He got away from the agents and escaped to Sweden from where he traveled to US and then to Venezuela. Aarnio returned to Finland in 1952 after things had settled in the country and worked in insurance business until his retirement.