Swedish Volunteer Corps



The Swedish Volunteer Corps (Svenska frivilligkåren) during the Winter War numbered 9,640 officers and men. Sweden was officially non-belligerent during the war, so the Corps was used by Finland. The Swedish volunteers were in the front lines in the northern Salla area starting from February 28, 1940. Their losses included 33 dead, 10 missing, 50 wounded, and 130 disabled by frostbite. There were also 25 aircraft that served in the Swedish Voluntary Air Force, F19. Swedish volunteers also defended Turku in an anti-aircraft battery.

By the end of the war, the Volunteer Corps was composed of 8,260 Swedes, plus 725 Norwegians, and 600 Danes. They demonstrated a strong Nordic unity that was symbolized in their "four brother hands" insignia which represented Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

The Volunteer Corps preceded the Swedish Volunteer Battalion and the Swedish Volunteer Company in World War II.

Commanders

 * 1940: General Ernst Linder

Organization
Swedish Volunteer Corps - Svenska Frivilligkåren


 * I. stridsgruppen (Lieutenant-Colonel Magnus Dyrssen, Captain Carl C:son Bonde, Lieutenant-Colonel Carl-Oscar Agell)
 * 1. skyttekompaniet
 * 2. skyttekompaniet
 * 3. skyttekompaniet
 * 4. jägarkompaniet
 * 5. tunga kompaniet
 * 1. batteriet
 * 1. plogplutonen
 * 1. signalplutonen
 * II. stridsgruppen (Lieutenant-Colonel Viking Tamm)
 * 1. skyttekompaniet
 * 2. skyttekompaniet
 * 3. skyttekompaniet
 * 4. jägarkompaniet
 * 5. tunga kompaniet
 * 2. batteriet
 * 2. plogplutonen
 * 2. signalplutonen
 * III. stridsgruppen (Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Ekström)
 * 1. skyttekompaniet
 * 2. skyttekompaniet
 * 3. skyttekompaniet
 * 4. jägarkompaniet
 * 5. tunga kompaniet
 * 3. batteriet
 * 3. plogplutonen
 * 3. signalplutonen
 * Other units:
 * 1. pansarvärnsplutonen
 * 2. pansarvärnsplutonen
 * Luftvärnskompaniet
 * Ingenjörkompaniet
 * 16. självständiga jägarkompaniet
 * (17. självständiga jägarkompaniet)
 * Intendenturkompaniet
 * Vägkompaniet
 * 1. bilkompaniet
 * 2. bilkompaniet
 * Anspannskompaniet
 * 1. sjukvårdsplutonen
 * 2. sjukvårdsplutonen
 * Hästambulans
 * Ambulans
 * F 19

Weapons

 * 7.5 cm Guns M/02
 * 40mm Anti Aircraft Guns M/36
 * 7.5 cm Anti Aircraft guns
 * 20mm Automatic Cannons
 * 3.7 cm Anti Tank guns M/38
 * 8 cm Mortars M/29
 * 13mm Anti Tank Rifles

Vehicles

 * 83 motorcycles
 * 83 cars
 * 350 trucks
 * 13 tractors

Casualties
33 men of the Swedish Volunteer Corps were killed. These were: