Liittoutuneita

Liittoutuneita refers to a term used in the context of the Winter War (1939-1940) and the Continuation War (1941-1944) in Finland. It is the Finnish equivalent of the term "allied forces" used by other countries.

During the Winter War, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, prompting the latter to call for military aid from its Western allies. Although the Allied forces, primarily from United Kingdom and France, provided some support, their overall contribution to the war was relatively small. In contrast, Sweden and other Nordic countries offered relatively more comprehensive assistance, which were described by the Finns as "liittoutuneita".

In the context of the Continuation War, the term liittoutuneita referred to the combined forces of the Finnish Army and the German Wehrmacht. Germany had provided significant military aid to Finland in 1941, which allowed the country to counterattack against the Soviet Union. The combined forces, known as the "Finnish-German front," were one of the most prominent feature of the Continuation War.

The term liittoutuneita is occasionally used in historical contexts to describe the Finnish extraordinary coalition with Germany during the Continuation War. However, its usage has been said to be misleading, as it is sometimes interpreted as an implication of collaboration with the Germans beyond what was necessary or desirable. Nevertheless, it remains a neutral historical term to describe a specific period of military cooperation between Finland and Germany.