Länsipuolustuslinja

Länsipuolustuslinja, meaning "Western Defense Line" in Finnish, was a series of Finnish coastal fortifications built in the Hanko Peninsula area during the Winter War and the Continuation War. Its primary purpose was to defend the strategically important Hanko Peninsula and its naval base from Soviet land and sea attacks.

Construction of the Länsipuolustuslinja began in earnest during the Winter War (1939-1940). The Finns rapidly developed a network of trenches, bunkers, artillery positions, and minefields. Key elements included anti-tank ditches and fortifications designed to channel any Soviet advance into pre-determined killing zones. The line was manned by a mix of regular army troops and reservists.

During the Continuation War (1941-1944), the Länsipuolustuslinja remained a crucial defensive element, although the strategic focus of the war shifted. The fortifications were expanded and improved, incorporating lessons learned from earlier combat. Soviet forces never launched a major direct assault on the main Länsipuolustuslinja itself, but the threat it posed significantly influenced Soviet operational planning in the Baltic Sea region.

After the Continuation War, as part of the peace terms, the Hanko Peninsula was leased to the Soviet Union as a naval base. The Finnish defenses, including the Länsipuolustuslinja, were subsequently dismantled or fell into disuse. Today, remnants of the fortifications can still be found in the area, serving as a historical reminder of Finland's defensive efforts during the World Wars.