The LRE Foundation is pleased to announce a new and important step in strengthening its presence in Finland: the City of Kuhmo has officially joined our international network. After welcoming the Muisti Centre of War and Peace, followed by the Municipality of Miehikkälä together with the Salpa Line Museum, Kuhmo now becomes the third Finnish member of the Foundation. Its addition marks a significant step toward bringing Finland’s lesser-known but deeply meaningful Second World War history into the broader European narrative of remembrance.
Finland’s wartime history is distinct within Europe. During the Second World War, the country fought two separate conflicts against the Soviet Union: the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944). Finland’s geographical position on the Soviet border, as well as its military strategies and political decisions, played a substantial role in shaping events on the Eastern and Northern Front.
Kuhmo: A Landmark of the Winter War
Located near Finland’s eastern border, Kuhmo is one of the country’s most historically significant Winter War locations. Here, the fighting continued throughout the entire conflict, mirroring the Winter War itself in miniature: defensive battles, guerrilla attacks, fierce counterattacks, and devastating motti battles.
Today, Kuhmo preserves an extraordinary series of historical locations, memorials, and restored structures that help visitors understand the lived experience of soldiers and civilians during the conflict. From the battle sites of Kilpelänkangas, Saunajärvi, and Jyrkänkoski to the Kuhmo Winter War Museum, visitors can gain an in-depth understanding of the operations fought in the region.
A New Chapter of Cooperation
By becoming a member of the LRE Foundation, the City of Kuhmo joins a growing global network dedicated to preserving memory, promoting transnational cooperation, and making Europe’s WWII heritage accessible to a wider audience. Kuhmo’s landscapes, stories, and historical sites enrich the European map of remembrance, offering visitors a powerful perspective on resilience, strategy, and the lived experience of war in the Northern front.
We look forward to working with Kuhmo and our Finnish partners to develop new routes, educational projects, and activities that highlight Finland’s important place in Europe’s wartime history and collective memory.
“City of Kuhmo is pleased to join the LREF community in honour of the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of the Winter War (30 November 1939). Kuhmo has a rich history and numerous sites related to the Winter War, which can now be prominently showcased to international actors interested in Second World War history through the LRE network.” – Mr. Pekka Horttanainen, Business Manager, City of Kuhmo.
