Winter War Museum Raatteen Portti, Kainuu, Finland

4.5 (50 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #3 in Kainuu Military Museums • History Museums

Do Not Miss This Museum!

This museum is definitely worth the visit!! I strongly recommend you review some of the history of the Winter War (1939-40) and the Russian invasion with two full Divisions against a few hundred Finn soldiers, Border Guards, and Reserves who managed to stop the Russians cold! The museum has a battle display showing the action of the Ratte Road fight and uniforms and weapons of the combatants. It has excellent and very professional displays and is awe inspiring to think about what happened here the winter of 1939. The display of the tribute outside the museum is also sobering. It has 17 acres of stones on the ground representing the number of soldiers on both sides who died in this battle of Suomussalmi and Raatte Road. The history of this Winter War tends to be lost in the subsequent world conflict of World War II, but the bravery of the participants on both sides of this battle must never be forgotten.
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Address

Raatteentie 2, Suomussalmi 89800 Finland

Mobile

+358 40 0892192

Website

http://www.raatteenportti.fi/inenglish/9

Current local date and time now

Friday, May 10, 2024, 13:06

User Ratings

4.5 based on (50 reviews)

Excellent
54%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%

Reviews

  • 5kattullus 5:00 PM Sep 13, 2018
    Epic Victory against enormous odds!
    The Soviet's surprise attack in November 1939 aimed i.a. to quickly reach Oulu by the Baltic Sea, cutting Finland in two. They got no further than here - leaving two destroyed army divisons. Fine museum with interesting artefacts and also information, until rather recently suppressed, on atrocities committed by Soviet long range patrols against Finnish women and children in remote border villages. Moving war memorial with stones symbolizing the fallen soldiers in the famous Suomussalmi and Raate battles. Many fine war memorials, information boards, dugouts, etc. along the roads of battle.
  • 4bcs488 5:00 PM Oct 7, 2022
    If interested in the Winter War, this is a good place to visit.
    I was here with a group that came to Finland to visit Winter War sites and this is a 'must see' stop. First we had lunch in the restaurant which was good. Then we went through the museum which is laid out pretty well with some interesting artifacts. There are a number of large artifacts outside as well. Then there is the memorial monument of which a great number of stones are a large part. Being with a tour group did not make for the best atmosphere to contemplate the meaning of this rather expansive monument, I think it is best appreciated when a person can spend time alone and walk about and have silent contemplation. That is my impression anyway.

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