Sotilassoittokunnat

Sotilassoittokunnat, also known as military districts, were administrative divisions used in Finland during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were established as part of the military reforms initiated by the Russian Empire, which had gained control over Finland following the Finnish War of 1808-1809. The purpose of these districts was to organize the Finnish military and to facilitate the recruitment of soldiers for the Imperial Russian Army.

Each sotilassoittokunta was headed by a military governor, who was responsible for the administration of the district and the recruitment of soldiers. The districts were divided into smaller units called sotilassoittokuntien sotilassoittokunnat, which were further divided into companies and platoons. The soldiers were primarily recruited from the local population, and they were required to serve for a certain period of time, usually two years.

The sotilassoittokunnat were abolished in 1918, following the Finnish Civil War and the subsequent independence of Finland. The military was reorganized, and a new system of military districts was established, which is still in use today. The sotilassoittokunnat are an important part of Finnish military history, as they played a significant role in the development of the Finnish military and the recruitment of soldiers for the Imperial Russian Army.