Finnish StuG Crew

Image size: 1600 x 1132 pixel. 779 KB
Date: Friday, 7 July 1944
Place: Viipuri (Vyborg), east of Ihantala, Finland
Photographer: Oswald Hedenström

Finnish Sturmgeschütz III Ausf.G "Bubi" and its crew near Vyborg, sitting in the summer sunshine in a brief moment of happiness, 7 July 1944. From left to right: Staff Sergeant Börje Brotell (Commander, former member of Waffen-SS), Private Armas Launikko (Loader, 19 year old from Turku), Lance Corporal Olli Soimala (Gunner, credited with 11 tank kills), and Lance Corporal Sulo Kauppi (Driver, car mechanic from Tampere). The StuG is loaded with wooden logs for extra protection against enemy guns. Stu-40 Ps.531-10 "Bubi" destroyed 11 Russian tanks during June-July 1944. After the war it serviced until 1960's and after that was placed to Niinisalo shooting grounds a shooting target. It almost got destroyed there, but were saved in 1980's. Today it is placed in front of the Army barracks in Häme Armoured Battalion. This picture was taken by Finnish war photographer Oswald Hedenström.

Source :
http://www.andreaslarka.net/sturmi.html
https://live.warthunder.com/post/393804/en/
http://sa-kuva.fi/neo?tem=webneo_image_large&lang=ENG&imgid=7aa7d22560254d13e00992506e9e168e&docid=7aa7d352216b0553;&ddocid=7aa7d352216b0553&archive=

Award Ceremony of Romanian Medal for Carl Gustaf Mannerheim

Image size: 1600 x 1113 pixel. 685 KB
Date: Saturday, 20 December 1941
Place: Helsinki, Finland
Photographer: K. Sjöblom

Romanian Ambassador Constintinides (second from left) handed the commander-in-chief of Finland's defence forces, Carl Gustaf Emil Freiherr Mannerheim, the Ordinul Mihai Viteazul (Order of Michael the Brave), December 1941. It is is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second World War. The Order, which may be bestowed either on an individual or on a whole unit, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), a late 16th-century Prince of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. The award for Mannerheim dated as 1 November 1941, and it contained three medals at once: Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3, 2 and 1 (Royal Decree no. 3026). Mannerheim is also a Ritterkreuzträger (recipient of German Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses), which he received on 18 August 1941, and Eichenlaubträger (recipient of German Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves), which he received on 8 August 1944.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/52357/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustaf_Emil_Mannerheim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Michael_the_Brave
https://www.sotasampo.fi/fi/photographs/page/sakuva_102062
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/34700/Mannerheim-Carl-Gustav-Emil-Freiherr.htm?c=aw

Soviet BT-5 Tanks Knocked Out During the Winter War

Image size: 1600 x 1092 pixel. 705 KB
Date: Monday, 1 January 1940
Place: Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Photographer: Unknown

Knocked out Soviet BT-5 fast tanks (Bystrokhodny tank) are inspected by Finnish troops. The BT-5 was a derivative of the American Walter Christie designs, and was in production from 1933-1934. It mounted a high velocity 45mm gun and a ball mount machine gun. While the BT-5 outclassed its Japanese opponents in the Manchurian border clashes in August 1939, the Finns relied on highly mobile ski troops armed with British Boys 13.9mm (.55 inch) antitank rifles (called the 14mm pst kiv/37 in Finnish service) and captured Soviet weapons could maneuver around the tanks, which were unable to leave the few passable roads. The outnumbered Finns broke up the larger Soviet formations, seeding confusion and fear. These smaller groups (called "Motti" by the Finns) would then be cut off from assistance and annihilated. the Finns focused on the logistics columns, field kitchens and supplies, immobilizing the combat formations. During the Battle of Suomussalmi, the Finnish 9th Division of 6,000 men cut off the Soviet 163rd Infantry Division of 25,000 men and destroyed it. The Soviet 44th Ukrainian Motorized Infantry Division was sent to reinforce the 163rd, but on the Raate Road the Finns set up an ambush, cutting off units of the 44th and destroying them in turn. 

Source:

SA-KUVA 

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0051