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{{short description|Branch of the Finnish Defence Forces}}
{{More footnotes|date=August 2009}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Finnish Army
|native_name={{nativename|fi|nolink=on|Maavoimat}}<br/>{{nativename|sv|nolink=on|Armén}}
|image=Suomen Maavoimien tunnus.svg
|image_size=200px
|caption=Emblem of the Finnish Army since 2008
|country={{Flag|Finland}}
|start_date=2008 (independent branch of [[Finnish Defence Forces]])<ref name="maavhistory">[https://puolustusvoimat.fi/web/historia/maavoimat Maavoimien historia ja perinteet] History of the Finnish Army. Finnish Defence Forces. Retrieved 2022-01-12. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>
|command_structure= [[File:Suomen Puolustusvoimien tornileijona.svg|15px|Coat of Arms of the Finnish Defence Forces]] [[Finnish Defence Forces]]
|type=[[Army]]
|role=[[Land warfare]]
|size={{ubl|3,610 staff|770 civilians|18,400 conscripts|18,400 reservists in refresher training|760 deployed in crisis management|180,000 wartime strength<ref name="maavaboutus">[https://maavoimat.fi/en/web/maavoimat/about-us] About us. Finnish Army. Retrieved 2022-01-12. {{in lang|en}}</ref>}}
|patron=
|website={{Official URL}}
|motto=
| march = [[Hakkapeliittain Marssi|March of the Finnish cavalry in the Thirty Years' War]]<ref name="maavhistory"/>
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles={{bulletedlist|[[Finnish Civil War]]|[[Heimosodat]]|[[Winter War]]|[[Continuation War]]|[[Lapland War]]|[[UNIFIL]]|[[Kosovo Force|KFOR]]|[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]|[[War in Iraq (2014-2017)|War in Iraq]]|[[EUTM Mali]]}}
|anniversaries= 24 February <ref name="maavhistory"/>
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|commander1=[[Pasi Välimäki]]
|commander1_label=Commander
| identification_symbol = [[File:Military_Flag_of_Finland.svg|150px|The Finnish Army uses the tailed state flag as its colour. The tailed state flag is used by all units and branches which don't have flag of their own.]]
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
| identification_symbol_2 = [[File:Finnish_air_force_roundel.svg|80px|Finnish Army roundel]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Roundel
}}

The '''Finnish Army''' ({{Langx|fi|Maavoimat}} {{IPA|fi|ˈmɑːˌʋoi̯mɑt|}}, {{Langx|sv|Armén}}) is the [[army|land forces]] branch of the [[Finnish Defence Forces]]. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: [[infantry]] (which includes armoured units), [[field artillery]], [[anti-aircraft]] artillery, [[Combat engineering|engineers]], [[Military communications|signals]], and [[materiel]] troops. The commander of the [[Finland|Finnish]] Army as of 1 January 2022 is [[Lieutenant General]] [[Pasi Välimäki]].<ref name="SA1">{{cite news |last=Tuononen |first=Jere |title=Maavoimien komentaja vaihtui Mikkelissä – uusi komentaja: hävittäjähankinnat parantavat myös Maavoimien suorituskykyä |url=https://ruotuvaki.fi/-/maavoimien-komentaja-vaihtui-mikkelissa-uusi-komentaja-havittajahankinnat-parantavat-myos-maavoimien-suorituskykya |access-date=7 January 2022 |work=Ruotuväki |date=30 December 2021}}</ref>

==Role==
The duties of the Finnish Army are threefold. They are:<ref name="maavoimien tehtävät">[http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZHLbqswFEW_5X5AYhsIjyEPYyCJzcOhlAkiLWlinippEvj6Rqp07-hmVOXs4dY6SzoH5OCerrycPsrzqe_KBmQgVwsiqboXQGSw9daCPtvAVNuEyJZk8AIyqBSJmAZ_rudYaBFM6v7GRXTd4lpKPn1IHYtRh0wc3ygVOaU8Dbf1bYNGA6VuhE136JXO_HPflT-yEfi4h-inV2W8xpQoiIS2Av3E2Rl8p8lkpz7kWaz99PA_Y0LwCnLtH08Q1e88DyUSuxCuFcB_8RqPXeoTXasnurTnuezf_VcA8tO-XV7f2iVc6gbSVQOtdFlVdAlK4GX_2t-c0b9iMynqI8-k5jBbU1QfMe83fX1s2unQlLPQvdFO3BiymX4y40wjR4mw8V6KaiEIj5L9TO64CNlxHZojntkisDCa7EsmE6sbm7BZlDvDjdwhbtJYd1dfalBorZiCg6Sx0qg-qrQr3r5oZvLcg8XeO0EtOr8nIjsA6vVtBYb2MuDYm7O_qcxvawzmUw!!/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=92bd3a004c2b9103a429aec35e57b1fc Maavoimien tehtävät] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305195133/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZHLbqswFEW_5X5AYhsIjyEPYyCJzcOhlAkiLWlinippEvj6Rqp07-hmVOXs4dY6SzoH5OCerrycPsrzqe_KBmQgVwsiqboXQGSw9daCPtvAVNuEyJZk8AIyqBSJmAZ_rudYaBFM6v7GRXTd4lpKPn1IHYtRh0wc3ygVOaU8Dbf1bYNGA6VuhE136JXO_HPflT-yEfi4h-inV2W8xpQoiIS2Av3E2Rl8p8lkpz7kWaz99PA_Y0LwCnLtH08Q1e88DyUSuxCuFcB_8RqPXeoTXasnurTnuezf_VcA8tO-XV7f2iVc6gbSVQOtdFlVdAlK4GX_2t-c0b9iMynqI8-k5jBbU1QfMe83fX1s2unQlLPQvdFO3BiymX4y40wjR4mw8V6KaiEIj5L9TO64CNlxHZojntkisDCa7EsmE6sbm7BZlDvDjdwhbtJYd1dfalBorZiCg6Sx0qg-qrQr3r5oZvLcg8XeO0EtOr8nIjsA6vVtBYb2MuDYm7O_qcxvawzmUw!!/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=92bd3a004c2b9103a429aec35e57b1fc |date=2016-03-05}}. Finnish Defence Forces. 2015-01-13. Retrieved on 2015-06-19. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>
#Defence of the land area of the realm
#Support of civilian authorities
#International military crisis management operations

In addition to these tasks, the army is responsible for conscription and personnel management of the reserve.<ref name="maavoimien tehtävät" />

Because Finland is not under direct military threat, the current army is, as it has been since the end of [[Second World War]], in peacetime training formation. This means that its brigades ({{langx|fi|joukko-osasto|links=no}}) are not meant to be operational combat units but training formations. According to the "troop production" doctrine ({{langx|fi|joukkotuotanto|links=no}}), peacetime units will train each batch of conscripts they receive for a specific wartime unit. After the end of training, the conscripts are demobilised into the reserve. During regular refresher exercises and in case of a crisis, the reserve unit will be activated and deployed in the formation it trained in during conscription.<ref>[http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/erikoissivustot/pvsh11/suomeksi/uutiset/joukkotuotanto+tuottaa+valmiita+sodan+ajan+kokoonpanoja Joukkotuotanto tuottaa valmiita sodan ajan kokoonpanoja] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133735/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/erikoissivustot/pvsh11/suomeksi/uutiset/joukkotuotanto+tuottaa+valmiita+sodan+ajan+kokoonpanoja |date=2015-09-24}}. Finnish Defence Forces. 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2015-06-19. {{in lang|fi}}</ref> Thus, the peacetime structure of the army does not give any meaningful information about its mobilised structure or about the areas where units would be used.

==History==
{{see also|Military of the Grand Duchy of Finland}}
Between 1809 and 1917 [[Finland]] was an autonomous state ruled by the [[Russian Empire]] as the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]. Between 1881 and 1901 the Grand Duchy had its own army. Several other military units had also been formed while Finland belonged to [[Sweden]].

The Grand Duchy inherited its [[allotment system]] ({{langx|sv|indelningsverket|links=no}}; {{langx|fi|ruotujakolaitos|links=no}}) from the [[Swedish Army|Swedish]] military organization. However, for several decades, Russian rulers did not require military service from Finland; operations and defence were mostly taken care by Russian troops based in the Grand Duchy. As a result, officer benefits of the allotment system became practically pensions, as payment was based on passive availability, not on actual service.

During the Napoleonic Wars three 1200-man regiments were formed in Finland and Topographic Corps in [[Hamina]]. In 1821 the Topographic Corps was transformed into the cadet officers school. In 1829 one of the training battalions was transformed into the [[Imperial Russian Guard|Young Guard]] Battalion, the [[Finnish Guards' Rifle Battalion|Finnish Guards]]. 

[[File:Finnish_Guard_1830.jpg|thumb|right|Finnish Guards in 1830.]]

During the [[Crimean War]], 1854, Finland set up nine sharpshooter battalions based on a rota system. Conscription was introduced in Finland in 1878. The Finnish Guard took part in fighting to suppress the 1830 [[November Uprising]] in Poland and participated in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)]], after which it gained the status of Old Guard of the Russian Emperor.

The Finnish Army was gradually broken up during the "[[Russification of Finland|oppression years]]" just after the turn of the century. As Finnish conscripts refused to serve in the Russian Imperial Army, conscription ended in Finland and it was replaced with a tax paid from the Finnish Senate to the Imperial treasury.

At the end of the 19th century the Russian empire was weakening, and this was reflected in a reduced capacity of the Russian troops to keep public order. Voluntary defence organizations disguised as fire brigades were formed by the Finnish people, especially during the strikes during and after the Russo-Japanese War.

There were socialist Red Guards and conservative, anti-socialist Protection Guards (or White Guards). Also, during the First World War activists secretly travelled to Germany to receive military training and to be trained as [[Jäger Movement|Jäger]] troops ({{langx|fi|jääkärit|links=no}}'','' {{langx|sv|jägare|links=no}}).

After [[Independence of Finland|independence]] and the beginning of the [[Finnish Civil War]] the White government declared the [[White Guard (Finland)|White Guards]] as government troops, and the war was fought between the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]], assisted by Communist Russians, and White Guards added with the Jägers and assisted by the German Empire.

After the war in 1919, the Protection Guards became a separate organization. Therefore, strictly speaking, there is no continuity between the White Guards, which [[White Guard (Finland)#The White Guards after the Civil War|became a voluntary organization]], and the Finnish Army, which was a cadre army based on conscription. However, [[Jäger Movement|Jägers]] gained important positions in the army, and German tactics and military principles were adopted.

The ground forces were organized according to a regional system after the report undertaken by Lieutenant Colonel [[Aksel Airo]] in 1930. The wartime field army mobilization and regional administration tasks were now taken over by the Civil Guard, forming the local structure according to which the wartime field army would be established.<ref>[[#Arimo| Arimo (1987)]] p. 87</ref> From 1934 the peacetime ground forces would be organized under the command of an [[Army Corps]] headquartered in [[Viipuri]] under which there was three divisions [1.D - 3.D] and one cavalry brigade. These forces would form the cadre body of wartime protective forces.<ref>[[#Arimo| Arimo (1987)]] pp. 117-118</ref>

===Peacetime structure before the Winter War===
{{tree list}} 
*Army Corps Headquarters ({{langx|fi|Armeijakunnan Esikunta|links=no}}, AKE)<ref>[[#Arimo| Arimo (1987)]] p. 117-118</ref>
**1. Division, [[Helsinki]]
***Finnish White Guard Regiment, [[Helsinki]]
***Pori Regiment, [[Turku]]
***Uusimaa Regiment, [[Helsinki]]
***Field Artillery Regiment 1, [[Hämeenlinna]]
***Field Artillery Regiment 4, [[Helsinki]]
***Separate Armoured Company, [[Hämeenlinna]]
***Helsinki Assignment Company, [[Helsinki]]
***Helsinki Car Company, [[Helsinki]]
***Helsinki Commandant's Office, [[Helsinki]]
***Canine Kennel, [[Hämeenlinna]]
**2. Division, [[Viipuri]]
***Karelian Guards Regiment, [[Viipuri]]
***Tampere Regiment, [[Lahti]]
***Central Finland Regiment, [[Kouvola]]
***Bicycle Battalion 1, [[Terijoki]]
***Bicycle Battalion 2, [[Valkjärvi]]
***Field Artillery Regiment 2, [[Viipuri]]
***Anti-Air Regiment, [[Viipuri]]
***Signals Battalion, [[Viipuri]]
***Separate Pioneer Company, [[Kellomäki]]
***Supplies Battalion, [[Viipuri]]
***Viipuri Commandant's Office, [[Viipuri]]
**3. Division, [[Mikkeli]]
*** Savo Jaeger Regiment, [[Käkisalmi]]
*** Viipuri Regiment, [[Jaakkima]]
*** Pohja Regiment, [[Kuopio]]
*** Bicycle Battalion 3, [[Mikkeli]]
*** Vuoksi Jaeger Battalion, [[Sakkola]]
*** Pioneer Battalion, [[Koria]]
*** Field Artillery Regiment 3, [[Riihimäki]]
**Cavalry Brigade, [[Lappeenranta]]
*** Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment, [[Lappeenranta]]
*** Häme Cavalry Regiment, [[Lappeenranta]]
*** Cavalry NCO School, [[Lappeenranta]]
*** Signals Squadron, [[Lappeenranta]]
*** Mounted Battery, [[Mikkeli]]
*** Cavalry School, [[Ypäjä]]
{{tree list/end}}
===Winter War===
{{main|Winter War}}
[[File:Winter war.jpg|thumbnail|right|Finnish troops at a machine gun post during the [[Winter War]].]]
The Finnish Army consisted of 9 field divisions, 4 brigades and a number of small independent battalions and companies at the beginning of the [[Winter War]], which began on 30 November 1939 when the [[Soviet Union]] invaded Finland. During the war, the army was organised into three corps.<ref>See [http://www.winterwar.com/forces/FinArmy.htm The Finnish Army in the Winter War] at winterwar.com</ref> The II and III Corps were organised into the [[Army of the Isthmus]] which was located on the [[Karelian Isthmus]], the likely location for the main Soviet attack. The [[Finnish IV Corps (Winter War)|IV Corps]] defended the area north of [[Lake Ladoga]]. The defence of the rest of the border up to [[Pechenga (urban-type settlement), Murmansk Oblast|Petsamo]] by the Arctic Ocean was given to the [[North Finland Group]] which consisted of a handful of independent battalions.

In order to organize replacements for the units, a Field Replacement Brigade ({{langx|fi|Kenttätäydennysprikaati|links=no}}, KT-Pr) of nine battalions was formed. But due to the severity of the Soviet attack the battalions had to be used as combat troops. In addition, three Replacement Divisions or Home Replacement Divisions (1.Koti.TD – 3.Koti.TD) were formed from the available reservists. As the situation became more alarming, the 1st and 3rd Replacement Divisions were reformed into the [[Finnish 21st Division (Winter War)|21st]] and [[Finnish 23rd Division (Winter War)|23rd Divisions]] and sent to the front on 19 December. The 2nd Replacement Division was deployed as individual regiments to Northern Finland.

The Winter War ended on 13 March 1940. Finland ceded 9% of its territory via the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]], but successfully resisted Soviet conquest.<ref name="Zeiler">[[#Zeiler|Zeiler and DuBois (2012)]] p. 210</ref><ref name="Clemmesen">[[#Clemmesen|Clemmesen and Faulkner (2013)]] p. 76</ref>

===Order of battle===
===Army of the Isthmus===
{{tree list}} 
*[[Army of the Isthmus]] ({{langx|fi|Kannaksen Armeija|links=no}}, KannA) (Commander: [[Lieutenant General]] [[Hugo Viktor Österman|Hugo Österman]]) located on the [[Karelian Isthmus]].
** [[Finnish II Corps (Winter War)|II Corps]] (II AK) (Commander: Lieutenant General [[Harald Öhquist]])
*** [[Finnish 4th Division (Winter War)|4th Division]]
*** [[Finnish 5th Division (Winter War)|5th Division]]
*** [[Finnish 11th Division (Winter War)|11th Division]]
** [[Finnish III Corps (Winter War)|III Corps]] (III AK) (Commander: [[Major General]] [[Axel Heinrichs|Erik Heinrichs]])
*** [[Finnish 8th Division (Winter War)|8th Division]]
*** [[Finnish 10th Division (Winter War)|10th Division]]
** Reserve
*** [[Finnish 1st Division (Winter War)|1st Division]]
{{tree list/end}}
Four delaying groups, named for their location, were stationed immediately by the border on the isthmus.

====Independent formations====
{{tree list}} 
* [[Finnish IV Corps (Winter War)|IV Corps]] (IV AK) (Commander: Major General [[Juho Heiskanen]] and then Major General [[J. Woldemar Hägglund|Woldemar Hägglund]] from 4 December 1939) located in the [[Ladoga Karelia]].
** [[Finnish 12th Division (Winter War)|12th Division]]
** [[Finnish 13th Division (Winter War)|13th Division]]
* [[North Finland Group]] ({{langx|fi|Pohjois-Suomen Ryhmä|links=no}}) (Commander: Major General [[Wiljo Einar Tuompo|Wiljo Tuompo]])
** [[Lapland Group]] ({{langx|fi|Lapin Ryhmä|links=no}}) in [[Salla]] and [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]]
** [[North Karelian Group]] ({{langx|fi|Pohjois-Karjalan Ryhmä|links=no}}) in North Karelia
{{tree list/end}}
====Reserves of C-in-C====
* [[Finnish 6th Division (Winter War)|6th Division]] (Southern Finland)
* [[Finnish 9th Division (Winter War)|9th Division]] (Northern Finland)
* Field Replacement Brigade (KT-Pr)

===Interim Peace===
The Finnish Army Headquarters was formed by the order of the General Headquarters on the 19th March 1940 by renaming the [[Army of the Isthmus]]. The new echelon overseeing the ground forces was short lived, since it was disbanded by August 1940. The peacetime forces now consisted of five Army Corps under which there were among others, fifteen infantry brigades. The brigades could be reinforced with reservists, forming the cadre body of an wartime division. Overall, the amount of wartime divisions was increased to sixteen.<ref>[[#Raunio| Raunio (2018)]] p. 37</ref>

===Continuation War===
{{main|Continuation War}}
{{see also|Finnish volunteers in the Waffen-SS}}
{{Expand section|date=August 2008}}
[[File:Mannerheim_jakaa_ansiomerkkej%C3%A4.jpg|thumb|[[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|Mannerheim]] awarding [[Mannerheim Cross]]es to soldiers and aviators. He is congratulating cadet [[Yrjö Keinonen]], who later became [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|Finnish Chief of Defence]]. The man next to him (to the right) is flying ace [[Jorma Karhunen]].]]
[[File:Finnish military vehicles roundel (1941-1945).svg|thumb|100px|[[Finnish Armoured Division|Finnish military vehicles]] roundel during [[WWII]].]]

The Army of Karelia was formed on 29 June 1941 soon after the start of the [[Continuation War]]. There were seven Finnish corps in the field during the war: the I, II, [[III Corps (Continuation War)|III]], IV, V, VI and VII. During the war, the Finnish Army was responsible for the front from the [[Gulf of Finland]] to [[Kainuu]]. The front in Northern Finland was the responsibility of the German [[Army Norway (Wehrmacht)|AOK Norwegen]]. During summer and autumn 1941, the Finnish Army re-conquered the areas lost to the Soviet Union in the Winter War and pushed deep into Soviet territory in [[East Karelia]]. In winter 1942, the Finnish political leadership ended offensive action and the front stagnated for over two years.

The relatively inactive period of stationary war ended abruptly in June 1944, as the [[Soviet Union]] started its [[Fourth Strategic Offensive]]. As a result, the Finnish Army lost large areas of the [[Karelian Isthmus]], most importantly [[Vyborg|Viipuri]], a major city, and was forced to retreat from East Karelia. However, in the decisive [[Battle of Tali-Ihantala]], the Soviet advance was halted. The Soviet Union concentrated its forces on the battles in Central Europe, and Finland made a separate peace in September 1944.

===Lapland War===
{{see also|Lapland War}}
{{Expand section|date=August 2008}}
The Lapland War ({{langx|fi|Lapin sota|links=no}}) between Finland and Germany was fought from September 1944 to April 1945, in Finland's [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] Province. While the Finns saw this as a separate conflict much like the Continuation War, German forces considered their actions to be part of the Second World War. A peculiarity of the war was that the Finnish Army was forced to demobilise its forces while simultaneously fighting the German Army, in an effort to force it out of Finland. The German forces retreated to Norway, and Finland was, therefore, able to uphold its armistice agreement with the Soviet Union.

=== Cold War ===
During the Cold War, Finland was neutral but maintained close ties to the Soviet Union. The Finnish Army was in a difficult situation as it bordered the Soviet Union.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Finland {{!}} Coldwarsites |url=https://coldwarsites.net/country/finland/ |access-date=2022-03-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Porkkala Naval Base|Porkkala]] was leased to the Soviet Union for 50 years, per the terms of the [[Moscow Armistice]]. The Soviets completed construction of a naval base at Porkkala in 1945. Porkkala was handed back to Finland in 1956, for [[Kaliningrad]] had become a better place for the [[Soviet Navy]].<ref name=":0" />

The peacetime structure of the Finnish ground forces remained mostly the same; consisting of three independent divisions as well as the [[Armoured Brigade (Finland)|Armoured Brigade]], however without an Army Corps echelon. As such there was no Army Headquarters unlike the Navy and Air Force.<ref>[[#Raunio| Raunio (2018)]] p. 64-65</ref> From 1st July 1966, the Finnish ground forces were reorganized into seven independent military provinces ({{langx|fi|Sotilaslääni|links=no|label=none}}) which oversaw the regional system consisting of military districts ({{langx|fi|Sotilaspiiri|links=no|label=none}}) and the standing cadre brigades, regiments and battalions of the ground forces. The military provinces were as follows: Southern Finland, Northern Finland, Southeastern Finland, Southwestern Finland, Savo-Karelian, Inner Finland and Ostrobothnian Military Provinces. This structure were to remain the same all the way to the end of the Cold War.<ref>[[#Raunio| Raunio (2018)]] p. 66-67</ref> 

=== Post Cold War ===

As part of rationalization of the military funding, the Finnish Defence Forces oversaw organizational reforms in the end of the 1980's. As part of long-term planning new organization was approved from the beginning of 1993. As part of this reform a position of Ground Forces Chief was added to the [[Defence Command (Finland)|Defence Command]] along with a Army Office ({{langx|fi|Pääesikunnan maavoimatoimisto|links=no|label=none}}), which was responsible for ground forces' development and training. The regional defence responsibility was given to new three National Defence Areas ({{langx|fi|Maanpuolustusalue|links=no|label=none}}) which were the Northern, Western and Eastern National Defence Areas. The amount of Military Provinces ({{langx|fi|Sotilaslääni|links=no|label=none}}) were increased to twelve and all Military Districts ({{langx|fi|Sotilaspiiri|links=no|label=none}}) were disbanded with their tasks given to the Military Provinces. As part of the development of wartime forces, each National Defence Area reorganized one of their brigades as a readines brigade (M05), which were equipped according to their area of responsibility. The brigades were [[Kainuu Brigade]] in the Northern Area, [[Pori Brigade]] in the Western Area and [[Karelia Brigade]] in the Eastern Area. In addition [[Utti Jaeger Regiment]] was formed in 1997 and subordinated directly to the Defence Command.<ref>[[#Raunio| Raunio (2018)]] p. 89</ref> 

=== As an independent branch ===
The structure of the Finnish Defence Forces was again refined in 2008. The Army Office was disbanded and the Finnish Army was finally created with an independent branch with their own commander and headquarters in [[Mikkeli]]. The National Defence Areas were  disbanded and their tasks were now given to the Finnish Army Headquarters which now was responsible for both peacetime and wartime tasks related to the ground forces. The Finnish Army was now split to seven military provinces of which four were operational military provinces. The reform related to military provinces was short-lived since the non-operational provinces were disbanded by 2010 and replaced with regional offices.<ref>[[#Raunio| Raunio (2018)]] p. 89-91</ref> 

==Organisation==
[[File:Finnish Army Organization 2024.png|thumb|right|500px|Peacetime organisation of the Finnish Army in 2024 (click to enlarge)]]
{{Location map+ | Finland
| width = 500
| caption = Locations of Finnish Army units
| relief = 1
| places =
  {{Location map~ | Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Armoured Brigade (Finnish Army)|Armoured Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position = top
    | background = white
    | mark = DeepPink pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 61 | lat_min = 03 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 22  | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Pori Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | mark = Yellow pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 61  | lat_min = 50 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 22 | lon_min = 28 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Pori Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 61  | lat_min = 03 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 22 | lon_min = 21 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~|Finland
     | label= <small>{{nowrap|[[Army Academy (Finland)|Army Academy]]}}</small>
     | position = right
     | background = white
     | mark = Green pog.svg
     | marksize = 8
     | lat_deg = 61 | lat_min = 04 | lat_dir = N
     | lon_deg =  28 | lon_min = 11 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 {{Location map~|Finland
     | label= <small>{{nowrap|[[Army Academy (Finland)|Army Academy]]}}</small>
     | position = right
     | background = white
     | mark = Green pog.svg
     | marksize = 8
     | lat_deg = 60 | lat_min = 34 | lat_dir = N
     | lon_deg =  27 | lon_min = 11 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Karelia Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | mark = Pink pog.svg
    | marksize = 8    | lat_deg = 60  | lat_min = 56 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26 | lon_min = 47 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Kainuu Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position =
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 64  | lat_min = 13 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 27 | lon_min = 44 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Jaeger Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position =
    | background = white
    | mark = Green pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 67  | lat_min = 25 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26 | lon_min = 35 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Utti Jaeger Regiment]]}}</small>
    | position = right
    | background = white
    | mark = Cyan pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 60 | lat_min = 52 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 26 | lon_min = 55 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Guard Jaeger Regiment]]}}</small>
    | position =left
    | background = white
    | mark = Red pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 60 | lat_min = 09 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 25 | lon_min = 03 | lon_dir = E
  }}
 
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Jaeger Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position =
    | background = white
    | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 66  | lat_min = 30 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 25 | lon_min = 44 | lon_dir = E
  }}
  
  {{Location map~| Finland
    | label = <small>{{nowrap|[[Armoured Brigade (Finnish Army)|Armoured Brigade]]}}</small>
    | position = left
    | background = white
    | mark = Steel pog.svg
    | marksize = 8
    | lat_deg = 60  | lat_min = 44 | lat_dir = N
    | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 46 | lon_dir = E
  }}
}}

The army is organised into eight Peacetime brigades. Two of these brigades, the [[Army Academy (Finland)|Army Academy]] and the [[Utti Jaeger Regiment]] do not have subordinate regional offices. The six other brigades have one or more subordinate regional offices and a deputy commander.<ref>Kolstela, R.[http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZHLcoJAEEW_JR8QZ4b3LBFH3u9BhQ0lRPEBioAQ-fpQlapkFVcp--761u3T1Q0SMOmy7Y_FtjteL9sSbEAipCojSJoBEXZNew5114Ir0fKQwrBgDTaQS8PTo9bH8xic4IBswluUksEmpWWf_IezMKcex4Sj44VjoDvU8DpycGCO0WrpE9nbf25a6W2alTyjqfC5D9G3L7DEJI7KIdVTOKiHiwjTSGTVSHiadwPx24d_lAxBDBLxN68iR5ry1GPUYAmhyQH6j9d4zhJeyOJfyBJfx1L-918GSI5ZNRvyagZnEkaSgBEvsQInMZAB6yyu8KLVC6LP93WA7oekw_NPm8aM9TEessbI5cA1w_d9VH6wGbd38aVuktotdKVzcs-L1dgolv3Q-kplyX3hnxuB-vxQ3or77QLz1qywjPh-ENZmA1fNu19oUe8cBy3t6LR5X7L3koemHGe7uXRugpAnj8K4pvTmuqkbyrh9A452rXagrvqaBNq4-dFO_gJ0YTZB/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=e03fed004fb1212583c6f7fa0e27a8ed Maavoimien organisaatio 2015] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119051117/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZHLcoJAEEW_JR8QZ4b3LBFH3u9BhQ0lRPEBioAQ-fpQlapkFVcp--761u3T1Q0SMOmy7Y_FtjteL9sSbEAipCojSJoBEXZNew5114Ir0fKQwrBgDTaQS8PTo9bH8xic4IBswluUksEmpWWf_IezMKcex4Sj44VjoDvU8DpycGCO0WrpE9nbf25a6W2alTyjqfC5D9G3L7DEJI7KIdVTOKiHiwjTSGTVSHiadwPx24d_lAxBDBLxN68iR5ry1GPUYAmhyQH6j9d4zhJeyOJfyBJfx1L-918GSI5ZNRvyagZnEkaSgBEvsQInMZAB6yyu8KLVC6LP93WA7oekw_NPm8aM9TEessbI5cA1w_d9VH6wGbd38aVuktotdKVzcs-L1dgolv3Q-kplyX3hnxuB-vxQ3or77QLz1qywjPh-ENZmA1fNu19oUe8cBy3t6LR5X7L3koemHGe7uXRugpAnj8K4pvTmuqkbyrh9A452rXagrvqaBNq4-dFO_gJ0YTZB/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=e03fed004fb1212583c6f7fa0e27a8ed |date=2016-01-19}}. Finnish Defence Forces. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2015-06-19. {{in lang|fi}}</ref><ref name="Kolstela 2015">[http://files.kotisivukone.com/suomensotilassosiologinenseura.kotisivukone.com/esitys_paikallispuolustus_sotilassosiologian_vuosikokous_23042015.pdf PAIKALLISPUOLUSTUS JA YHTEISKUNTA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619173949/http://files.kotisivukone.com/suomensotilassosiologinenseura.kotisivukone.com/esitys_paikallispuolustus_sotilassosiologian_vuosikokous_23042015.pdf |date=2015-06-19}}. Presentation in the yearly meeting of the Finnish Military Sociological Association. 2015-04-23. {{in lang|fi}}</ref> During a crisis, the regional offices form provincial local battalions and the brigade headquarters form the regional command level.<ref name="Kolstela 2015"/> During normal operation, the regional offices are responsible for conscription, organising voluntary national defence work and planning crisis-time activities.

The brigades are:
* [[Armoured Brigade (Finnish Army)|Armoured Brigade]], [[Parola (Hattula)|Parola]] and [[Riihimäki]]
* [[Army Academy (Finland)|Army Academy]], [[Lappeenranta]] and [[Hamina]] 
* [[Guard Jaeger Regiment]], [[Helsinki]]
* [[Jaeger Brigade]], [[Sodankylä]] and [[Rovaniemi]]
* [[Kainuu Brigade]], [[Kajaani]]
* [[Karelia Brigade]], [[Valkeala]]
* [[Pori Brigade]], [[Säkylä]] and [[Niinisalo]]
* [[Utti Jaeger Regiment]], [[Utti]]

Army logistics is part of the joint Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command.<ref>[http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZTJsqJAEEW_pT8Aa4IClmCViDIok8qGcKBtJsUhZPj6R8eL6E3Hc2WQd3kj82TeRYIYDLrsX9l5_8yul30JtiCmCSV8yR1DRIoUzaDpu9Laxzq2VAQ2YAvFxM-72uyL3sthg507h8E9bGxm9E9-xnZBO5vtuiAw8bPXLT-3sS17NnyoKJqtuTbrykorfg2z4r80A1NlvoBIdZe2Dk3XgpFsrdDUgO99iL79f9saq6k4bMtCNQhlYoT0bb_ryd8-_KE0CHYgln9Iw1Q0BIIPpvGO5Q5ZjMZyyedZ-joKDE5cqDBTgpoynYdM9jUEpfHuWo7I8sl4LErHY6kjZqh_lrUAcXaoJs2xmsDJ8BIIQphQRJCsSiLYxDvasqvdMO4li3WbZulJ8NNqo5-Pj8U25oFpJAf19qSXHSUHKK-Ssnb2D7K2We7yWCjz2U0LWqs8xztHgrqEmX4vblp4jMyeCYKYe4neee3plCqO-jr4csGNdkVonVx8drN4URQl8S2kn7IWw99FlHEs1ILWyffmAUXneUpKf9r3yqN5aXx13f7pgTO_Vimoq1fNvXm__U-p9gUyKggN/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=c3493e804698c23b8325b3786bf3619b Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124246/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/portal/puolustusvoimat.fi/!ut/p/c5/vZTJsqJAEEW_pT8Aa4IClmCViDIok8qGcKBtJsUhZPj6R8eL6E3Hc2WQd3kj82TeRYIYDLrsX9l5_8yul30JtiCmCSV8yR1DRIoUzaDpu9Laxzq2VAQ2YAvFxM-72uyL3sthg507h8E9bGxm9E9-xnZBO5vtuiAw8bPXLT-3sS17NnyoKJqtuTbrykorfg2z4r80A1NlvoBIdZe2Dk3XgpFsrdDUgO99iL79f9saq6k4bMtCNQhlYoT0bb_ryd8-_KE0CHYgln9Iw1Q0BIIPpvGO5Q5ZjMZyyedZ-joKDE5cqDBTgpoynYdM9jUEpfHuWo7I8sl4LErHY6kjZqh_lrUAcXaoJs2xmsDJ8BIIQphQRJCsSiLYxDvasqvdMO4li3WbZulJ8NNqo5-Pj8U25oFpJAf19qSXHSUHKK-Ssnb2D7K2We7yWCjz2U0LWqs8xztHgrqEmX4vblp4jMyeCYKYe4neee3plCqO-jr4csGNdkVonVx8drN4URQl8S2kn7IWw99FlHEs1ILWyffmAUXneUpKf9r3yqN5aXx13f7pgTO_Vimoq1fNvXm__U-p9gUyKggN/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?pcid=c3493e804698c23b8325b3786bf3619b |date=2015-09-24 }}. Finnish Defence Forces 2014-12-19. Retrieved on 2015-06-19.</ref>

During war time the army is organised operative forces which consists of approximately 61 000 men and territorial forces which consist of 176 000 men.

The following list is the wartime organisation of the Finnish Army from 1.1.2008

Operative forces:
*3 [[Prikaati 2005|readiness brigades]]
*2 [[Jaeger Brigade|jaeger brigades]]
*2 [[Battlegroup (army)|mechanised battlegroups]]
*1 helicopter battalion
*1 [[Utti Jaeger Regiment|special jaeger battalion]]
*1 anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft unit
Territorial forces:
*6 [[Jalkaväkiprikaati-80|infantry brigades]]
*14 independent battalions / battlegroups
*28 [[Territorial Forces (Finland)]] (company sized)

==Equipment==
{{Main|List of equipment of the Finnish Army|list of former equipment of the Finnish Army}}

Major weapon systems used by the army include:
* 239 [[main battle tank]]s
* 212 [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s
* 394 [[armoured personnel carrier]]s (APCs) (tracked)
* 707 APCs (wheeled)
* 1,679 [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s
* 740 [[towed artillery]] pieces
* 82 (40) [[self-propelled artillery]] pieces
* 75 [[Multiple rocket launcher|multiple launch rocket system]]s
* 27 [[helicopter]]s
* 66 [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s
* +1068 [[anti-aircraft artillery]]
* 346 [[surface-to-air missile]]s systems

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:Lippujuhlan päivän 2017 paraati 084 Patria AMV XA-361 AMOS Ps 545-3.JPG|[[Patria AMV]] with [[AMOS]] mortar system at the national parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces
File:Lippujuhlan päivän 2022 paraati 059 NASAMS.JPG|[[NASAMS]] (ITO 12) surface-to-air missile launcher carried on [[Sisu E13TP]] all-terrain 8×8 truck
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Ski warfare]]
* [[List of Finnish corps in the Winter War]]
* [[List of Finnish divisions in the Winter War]]
* [[M05 military camouflage pattern]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |author-last=Raunio |author-first=Ari |title=Suomen Puolustusvoimien ensimmäinen vuosisata|ref=Raunio|url=https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/178076/Puolustusvoimat%20100%20vuotta.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y|year=2018|pages= 13-93|publisher=Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu}}
* {{cite journal |author-last=Arimo |author-first=Reino |title=Puolustusvoimien siirtyminen aluejärjestelmään 1930-luvulla|journal= Tiede ja Ase|volume=45|ref=Arimo|url=https://journal.fi/ta/article/view/47691|year=1987|pages= 85-119|publisher=Suomen Sotatieteellinen seura}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Zeiler |editor1-first=Thomas W. |editor2-last=DuBois |editor2-first=Daniel M. |title=A Companion to World War II|series=Wiley Blackwell Companions to World History |volume=11 | year=2012 |ref=Zeiler |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|isbn=978-1-4051-9681-9}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Clemmesen |editor1-first=Michael H. |editor2-last=Faulkner |editor2-first=Marcus |title=Northern European Overture to War, 1939–1941: From Memel to Barbarossa|ref=Clemmesen| year=2013 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-24908-0}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Finnish Defence Forces}}
{{Allied Land Command}}
{{Armies in Europe}}
{{Finnish formations WW2}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Finnish Army| ]]
[[Category:Military of Finland|Army]]