Salpalinja Fortification

Salpa-asema is situated in Luumäki, right next to Highway 6. At this fascinating site, the visitor has the opportunity to explore the comprehensive fortification system dating from the days of the Continuation War (1941-44). The Salpalinja Fortifications are open in summer, and by prior arrangement.

Salpalinja forms Finland’s largest line of defence. The building of the fortifications was begun in 1940-41 by order of Marshall Mannerheim, then the Supreme Commander of the Finnish Army. The purpose of the fortification system was to protect Finland’s eastern frontier. During the construction period, the fortification system represented the largest building site in Finland: over 35000 men worked there, with 2000 women supplying the builders with provisions. Salpalinja stretched all the way to the northern frontier of Finland, and full advantage was taken of the contours of the terrain in the course of its construction. The fortified section which remains in Luumäki features a variety of tank traps, and dugouts used by the soldiers of the Finnish Army.

A dugout housing machine guns and soldiers formed the basic element of the fortification chain. Here, the visitor can examine a dugout which would have provided accommodation for 20 soldiers. The machine gun positions and living quarters have been preserved in this dugout. The dugouts were also equipped with “secret weapons” which were to be used to repel any hand grenade attack attempted by the enemy. There was also a system of mechanical air-conditioning, and provision had been made to deal with potential gas attacks. The planning of the Salpalinja fortifications also took account of the mistakes made during the Winter War: here, the lines of fire were no longer vertical but diagonal, which allowed for cross-fire.