Kuusela, Kari and Olli Wikberg. Wikingin Suomalaiset. Helsinki: Wiking-Divisioona Oy, 1996.

ISBN 951-97506-0-6
224 pages

Foreword; Rank Equivalents; photos; Bibliography.

From Finland comes this photo history "The Finns of Viking: Finnish Volunteers of the SS-Division Viking". Of the first five or six pages of introductory text, only a page or two is translated into English. The remainder of the book is comprised of hundreds of photos, and all are captioned in both Finnish and English.

In May and June 1941 Finnish volunteers were transported to Germany for induction into the Viking Division. Those with previous military training were for the most part scattered among the division's various units, while those without previous experience were moved to Vienna for training. There the Finnish volunteer battalion was raised and in December was dispatched to the Russian Front.

Members of the battalion were apparently well-armed with cameras and film: the book contains at least 400 of their snapshots taken in Finland, Germany, and the Soviet Union.

These are almost without exception informal shots of small groups of men and individuals, on duty and off. Although there are plenty of uniforms and weapons in sight, few of the photos are of battlefield positions and none seem to show actual combat-- no doubt because the photographers were soldiers, not correspondents, and they were too busy taking care of business while the lead was flying.

Although there are some pictures of wounded Finns and a few photos showing grimy men who have obviously been facing the strain of battle, for the most part these troops look clean and healthy and in good spirits. In many cases, the Finns display a fine sense of humor for the camera: one scene in particular shows a Finnish squad heavily armed and draped with belts of ammo but wearing nothing more than fearsome expressions, helmets, and underpants.

In 1943 the battalion returned to Finland to rejoin its own national army. Among the final photos are shots of the men grouped in their German uniforms, and then in their new Finnish ones.

Nicely done, and certain to appeal to those who enjoy photo scrapbooks of combat troops and unusual SS formations in particular.

Available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Wiking-Divisioona Oy.

Thanks to Wiking-Divisioona for providing this review copy.