The Pro-German resistance movement in Finland was set up during the latter stages of the Second World War after the Moscow Armistice by Nazi Germany and the extreme right in Finland, who prepared for armed struggle against the expected Soviet occupation. Germany funded the activities and provided the necessary training. The project was separate from the plans drawn up by Finnish chief of staff officers in the summer of 1944 for the transition to guerrilla warfare. When there was no occupation, propaganda and smuggling hundreds of people out of Finland became the principal activity of the organization. After the defeat of Germany, the movement did not disintegrate but operated in Finland for several more years. Some members of the movement were caught, and 11 were convicted of treason in 1946.
Background
During Finland's participation on the Eastern Front, two German intelligence organizations operated in Finland: the SS intelligence service SD and the military intelligence service Abwehr under German chief of staff. The Finnish organization of the SD was led by Sturmbannführer (Major) Alarich Bross, the latter led by Fregattenkapitän (Commander) Alexander Cellarius. In February 1944, the organizations were merged under the SD, and in August, Bross, who had good relations with Finland's extreme right circles, was appointed head of Finnish intelligence.
SD's resistance movement set up
Bross was immediately tasked with forming a resistance movement in Finland that would serve German interests. The plan for the organization was presented to a select group of Finns in August 1944 at a meeting convened by Bross, which was attended by, among others, Colonel Ragnar Nordström, Lieutenant Colonels Carl Lindh and Johan Christian Fabritius, Counselor Petter Forsström and Dr. Erkki Osmonsalo. Aarne Runolinna, working as Bross's assistant, had prepared the structure draft of the organisation. At the meeting, a resistance movement in accordance with the SD's plans was established under veteran organisation "Front Soldier League". Carl Lindh was elected to lead the movement.
Other German-led resistance plans
AKS chairman Helanen's plan
At the same time as the SD founded its own resistance organization, Dr. Vilho Helanen, chairman of the Academic Karelia Society, developed his own plan for a resistance movement in the event that the Soviet Union occupied Finland or a communist- led government came to power. Helanen's plan was based on the support of the Germans from Estonia. He presented his plan in Tallinn on September 7, 1944, to the local SD, and possibly Cellarius was also involved.
According to the plan, the leadership of the organization would be in Tallinn, and the liaison committee in Finland would handle communications, transportation and safehouses with the support of the Germans. Landing areas for German aircraft and landing areas for ships would be established in advance. The actual armed activity would be carried out by a regional resistance movement, for which the weapons would be obtained from the Germans and in connection with the possible disarmament of the Finnish army. After a possible occupation, a partisan war would be waged by first hitting the occupier’s communication and maintenance connections. The resistance would bind as many occupying forces as possible until they retreat to isolation in large cities. The ultimate goal was to conquer the whole of Finland and also East Karelia.
However, the plan was conditional on German troops remaining in Estonia and northern Finland, which made it impossible to implement. The withdrawal from northern Finland had already begun, and there was only a week left for the Estonian evacuation order. Helanen joined the SD resistance movement, where he was named the organization's second leader. He returned to Finland in a German motor torpedo boat with the task of attracting politicians behind the movement.
Other German projects
The SD resistance project was not the only one of the Germans. On 5 September 1944, the 20th Mountain Army Commander, Lothar Rendulic, proposed the establishment of a resistance operation at the German chief of staff. The situation was favorable due to the division of opinions caused by the ceasefire.