Cold War Modern Conflict Archaeology project "Porkkala 1944-1956" finds

[Jan]

Hello guys,

Started this thread to share some of the resarch and finds from the Cold War period Soviet military base in the region of Porkkala (Kirkkonummi, Siuntio and Degerby) near Helsinki in S. Finland. The project will run from 2022-2026.

The strategic location of the Porkkala peninsula at the narrowest and shallowest spot of the Gulf of Finland has affected the history of the area. This also applies for the period of time after the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War 1941-1944. For eleven years the Porkkala area came to be the part of the Soviet Union that the Soviets called Porkkala-Udd in the Leningrad district.

Two thirds of Kirkkonummi, one fourth of Siuntio and almost all of the small municipality of Degerby were parts of the leased area. In this way the Soviet Union had full control over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic states.
More than 7 200 inhabitants of Porkkala were evacuated. 1 170 of them lived in Degerby. Only about 200 inhabitants lived in the part of Degerby, which was not part of the leased area. Degerby was administratively joined with the municipality of Inkoo in 1946.

At least 30 000 Soviet inhabitants were placed in Porkkala, probably even more. About one third of the inhabitants were civilians: officer's families, teachers, paramedics etc.

Best,

Jan

[Jan]

A few pictures from the "on site" fieldwork during the past two days when we documented a fortified structure, possibly a "guard post" overlooking the railway line.

We will continue the research as soon as the snow melts.

Best,

Jan

[Jan]

A Soviet gun position and underground shelter that we documented earlier this year.

Best, Jan

[Watchdog]

Hello guys,

Started this thread to share some of the resarch and finds from the Cold War period Soviet military base in the region of Porkkala (Kirkkonummi, Siuntio and Degerby) near Helsinki in S. Finland. The project will run from 2022-2026.

The strategic location of the Porkkala peninsula at the narrowest and shallowest spot of the Gulf of Finland has affected the history of the area. This also applies for the period of time after the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War 1941-1944. For eleven years the Porkkala area came to be the part of the Soviet Union that the Soviets called Porkkala-Udd in the Leningrad district.

Two thirds of Kirkkonummi, one fourth of Siuntio and almost all of the small municipality of Degerby were parts of the leased area. In this way the Soviet Union had full control over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic states.
More than 7 200 inhabitants of Porkkala were evacuated. 1 170 of them lived in Degerby. Only about 200 inhabitants lived in the part of Degerby, which was not part of the leased area. Degerby was administratively joined with the municipality of Inkoo in 1946.

At least 30 000 Soviet inhabitants were placed in Porkkala, probably even more. About one third of the inhabitants were civilians: officer's families, teachers, paramedics etc.

Best,

Jan

I remember those "Red Star" cigarettes and the equally disgusting "Belamorkanal" brand. Whenever you went into a building where there were Soviets that was all you could ever smell apart from the occasion whiff of carbolic disinfectant

I still have a pack of those somewhere that were given to me by a Soviet Lt Col in Berlin. He could not comprehend that I did not smoke and seemed convinced I was not telling the truth! I will try to find them and post them here

Regards

Mark

[Jan]

Thanks Mark, I´ve heard about these Soviet "cigarettes" too (and especially the odour). If anyone has any info on what the text on the packages say please let us know.

Best,

Jan

[Jan]

A few pictures of artefacts and graffiti related to my research from the first day of fieldwork in 2023.

Best,

Jan

[Watchdog]

Looks like a promising "field".
It's a while since I studied Soviet uniforms seriously but isn't that a Soviet Northern Fleet shoulder board?
I'm looking forward to seeing what else turns up

Regards

Mark

[BlackCat1982]

Substantial haul of Soviet Ketten Jan, make nice boot scrapers!

[Jan]

Hi Mark,

You are correct it´s a "Baltic Fleet" shoulder board. The tank parts are probably from T-34s, T-54s and SU-100s.

Here´s an aerial photo of the tank training grounds in 1956.

Best,

Jan

[Jan]

Today we kicked off the 2023 field season. The day was a sucess as the site that dates to the 1944-1952 time period seems to be totally undisturbed.

Best, Jan