Finnish Forces

Lieutenant commander Olavi Arho

SA-kuva (Finnish Army photo archives)

Lieutenant commander Olavi Arho (1908-1950) photographed at the Finnish military HQ at Mikkeli, 1 March 1943. He joined the Finnish Navy after graduating from high school in 1927, becoming commissioned officer four years later. Among his many wartime assignements was command of minelayer Ruotsinsalmi, which extensively laid down minefields across Gulf of Finland, resulting in grave losses for the Soviets, especially during their evacuation of Tallinn and Hanko Peninsula in late 1941. His vessel also served as an escort minesweeper for convoys. He was known to get the job done even when under fire from enemy bombers or coastal artillery. He also performed numerous anti-submarine missions and sunk Soviet submarine Shch-317 with depth charges on 14.7.1942. He was wounded by enemy shell fragments 4 July 1944, while commanding a gun boat squadron in the Battle of Vyborg Bay. After end of hostilities with Soviets in september 1944, he was tasked with protecting the merchant shipping between Finland and Sweden and also actively took part in mine clearence operations, before being transferred to Coast Guard in 1945. He was promoted to Commander 4 July 1949, some nine months before he died of tuberculosis, at the age of 41. Cross of Liberty 4th class 18.2.1940 Cross of Liberty 3rd class 24.7.1941 Lifesaving Medal 3.10.1941 German Iron Cross 2nd class 10.9.1941 Cross of Liberty 2nd class 5.2.1942 German Minesweeper War Badge 25.10.1942 Mannerheim Cross 2nd class 8.2.1943