To prepare for this annual event, the male will rub the velvet from their antlers. The first hostilities between the Finnish Army and the 20th Mountain Army in Lapland took place 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Pudasjärvi, at around 08:00 on 28 September 1944, when Finnish advance units first issued a surrender demand and then opened fire on a small German rear-guard contingent. The October weather guide for Lapland shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia), the Met Office & the Netherlands Meteorological Institute. By November, there’s usually a heavy blanket of snow that lasts until mid-March. This glass igloos do look amazing – maybe one day! Autumn actually, September and October, is usually a good time to see Northern Lights, because the skies often remain clear at night. I’ve been here, this brought back some great memories! Germany and Finland had been at war with the Soviet Union (USSR) since Operation Barbarossa began in June 1941, co-operating closely in the Continuation War and Operation Silver Fox with the German 20th Mountain Army (German: 20. This works out at around €118/£107/$143 a night each, not including flights. 1,300 German soldiers became prisoners of war and were handed over to the USSR according to the terms of the armistice. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [59], The Soviet Karelian Front, led by General Kirill Meretskov, initiated its Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive and started to push the XIX Mountain Corps towards Norway from Soviet territory along the Arctic coast on 7 October. [36], The risky landings for the Battle of Tornio, on the border with Sweden next to the Gulf of Bothnia, began on 30 September 1944 when three Finnish transport ships (SS Norma, SS Fritz S and SS Hesperus) departed from Oulu towards Tornio without any air or naval escorts. The latter part of August is often a great period for birding here but alas the weather intervened again bringing northerly winds and the coolest summer bank holiday on record. If you’re coming to Lapland for the day, wear warm clothes and only take hand luggage on the plane. [39] The fifth wave on 5 October suffered only light shrapnel damage despite being both shelled from shore and bombed from the sky. Snow falls in Lapland between October and May and it is common to find thick snow cover in November and December. [15][16] Even with the German withdrawal operation, the Finns estimated it would take three months for the Wehrmacht to fully evacuate. Hi Lucy, can I ask what month did you go to get these prices? On 4 October, bad weather prevented Finnish air cover from reaching Tornio, leaving the fourth landing wave vulnerable. [16][33][34] This took the Germans by surprise as the Finns had previously agreed to warn them should they be forced to take hostile action against them. [62] Likewise, the 26th Army had followed the withdrawing XVIII Mountain Corps around 50 km (31 mi) over the Finnish border in southern Lapland to Kuusamo and Suomussalmi, but left the area in November. The male selects 5-15 females from the herd during breeding season to create a harem. This … Thanks for the itinerary. I want snow and lots of it. We know people have their favourite holiday providers and hotel chains, so we've teamed up with some popular travel brands to create unique weather guides to help you choose your next holiday destination. [41] The Finnish Infantry Regiment 11 was reinforced with Infantry Regiments 50 and 53. This is the link to the property: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/associates/12693?s=67&c=.pi115.pk0_9&a4ptk=2856_0_9_12693&af=115. I believe that the attitude of the German Army in northern Finland towards the local population and authorities will enter our history as a unique example of a correct and cordial relationship [...] I deem it my duty to lead my people out of the war. In order to avoid bloodshed, the Finns allowed the net-layers to pass. The Finnish Navy's gunboats Hämeenmaa, Uusimaa and VMV-class patrol boats 15 and 16 arrived with the sixth wave just in time to witness German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor bombers attacking the shipping at Tornio with Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs without results. There’s a hostel in Rovaniemi but a dorm bunk costs €50 a night, so unless you’re travelling solo, apartment rentals are likely to be the cheapest option. The harsh winter is perfect for winter sports and activities of all kind which is why Lapland is popular with tourists seeking to experience the Arctic winter. Germany experienced around 1,000 deaths and 2,000 wounded. Winter in Sweden. In general, the withdrawal followed a pattern in which advancing Finnish units would encounter German rear guards and attempt to flank them on foot, but the destroyed road network prevented them from bringing up artillery and other heavy weapons. The number of Finnish troops dropped sharply as the Germans withdrew and the Finnish Army was demobilised; by December 1944 only 12,000 were left. As ordered by Generaloberst Rendulic, the Germans took 262 Finnish civilian hostages in an attempt to trade them for captured soldiers. The latter part of the war was therefore dubbed the "Children's Crusade" (Finnish: lasten ristiretki) in Finland. The delaying action by Kampfgruppe Esch and the destroyed road network thwarted the Finnish strategy. In the Arctic Lapland, we have 8 seasons. I really want this trip to be "cold". They can be difficult to see as you never know what the weather is like but I imagine December would have longer nights so a better chance. She founded On the Luce in 2011, has an MSc in Tourism, Heritage & Sustainability from the University of Glasgow and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. The Caribbean has a tropical climate so you’ll find hot and sunny weather all year round. The amount and duration of snowfall also varies by location, but the average number of days with snow is around 175 – 225 days per year between mid-October and mid-May. Holiday weather, updated 4 times a day to keep you upto date. You could save by cooking all your own food and avoiding alcohol. Winter in the north of Finland, Lapland, starts usually in October-November and continues until the late spring. Being a large group of eight helped make it more affordable as we could split costs, but even with a group of four it should’ve been possible to do a similar trip for £500. Two regiments, Infantry Regiment 15 and Border Jaeger Regiment, reinforced the III Corps. But can you please suggest how is the weather going to be during that time? There’s a bus service which connects all three and an airport shuttle, but we pre-booked a minibus taxi for eight to take us to our rental house, costing €23 each way. Yes unfortunately that’s going to be a bit more pricey! The daylight hours range from 2-6 hours a day during the winter months. Great report! The Wehrmacht had anticipated that turn of events and planned an organised withdrawal to German-occupied Norway, as part of Operation Birke (Birch). You can sleep under the stars (and the Northern Lights if you’re lucky) in a glass-roofed igloo*, spend a day on the ski slopes at Ounasvaara Ski Resort or take a private aurora hunting or husky tour. The snow cover is usually thickest in early April. Due to Lapland’s extended geographical coverage, the weather conditions can vary to a large extent between southern and northern parts of the region. In Lapland, the northernmost part of Finland, the climate is cold for most of the year, with a short and intense summer.Here, the winter (which in Nordic countries is the season when the temperature remains below freezing) lasts seven months, from October to April. Spring begins in early April in Åland and the southwestern archipelago and later in April elsewhere, except for northernmost Lapland, where it does not begin until early May. The percentage indicates the probability of having the weather mentioned. The Moscow Armistice, signed on 19 September 1944, demanded for Finland to break diplomatic ties with Germany and to expel or disarm any German soldiers remaining in Finland after 15 September 1944. The trip also includes a visit to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromsø. I’m actually not really that put off by the high price tag. In the drier season from November to April the islands are slightly cooler, there’s lower humidity and less rain. [10] Casualties among the labouring prisoners were high, in part because many of them had been captured in southern Europe and were still in summer uniform. The German withdrawal allowed the Finns to surround one of the delaying battalions, but Mountain Regiment 218 returned and managed to rescue the stranded battalion. Weather forecast for Pallas. Now it’s time for autumn-winter, mystical and calm shoulder season between autumn and winter in Lapland. We visited Lapland as a group of eight so it made sense to rent a house so we had a lounge to hang out in and could cook some of our meals. The III Corps consisted of the 3rd, 6th and 11th Divisions as well as the Armoured Division. [48] On 9 October, the demolition order was extended to include all governmental buildings with the exception of hospitals. [53], On 7 October, the Finnish Jaeger Brigade forced the German Mountain Regiment 218 to fight a delaying action off of their pre-set timetable at Ylimaa, some 65 km (40 mi) south of Rovaniemi. Permanent snow cover comes between mid-October and the end of November, significantly earlier than in southern Finland. [45] The Finns attacked Kemi on 7 October, attempting to encircle the Germans into a motti with a frontal attack by the 15th Brigade and an attack from the rear by Detachment Pennanen. Unfortunately you'll have to come over during dark and cold winter time to see the northern lights, oct/nov is a bit early for that. Rovaniemi would be a good base location for that considering your preferations. Answer 1 of 4: Hi... we are planning to do Lapland & Rovaniemi in October. So magical isn’t it ✨, I went through your article and it’s totally awesome. Hi it does get busy in December but for the main activities like the husky and reindeer sleds you can’t book so you should be fine to just go along, though might be good to go early in the day to avoid queuing. Hostels are so expensive in Scandinavia aren’t they! Lapland is located in northernmost Finland, deep inside the Arctic Circle. Additionally, four battalions formerly under German command were converted into separate detachments. Due to this, the Finnish soldiers were mostly conscripts, as veterans were transferred away from the front. Hi, there’s a line in the middle of Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi which marks the Arctic Circle so you can literally just cross it! Total activities cost: €114/£103/$138 per person – €29/£26/$35 a day each on average. Gebirgsarmee) stationed in Lapland. is it safe to visit Lapland in December ? We paid £100 return for easyJet flights from London Gatwick, booked three months in advance. Most of the 75,000 Finns served until the end of October 1944, but the number dropped to 12,000 soldiers in December 1944. raise the flag at the three-country cairn, raised the flag on the three-country cairn, Military history of Finland during World War II, https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004615027.html, “The Midwife” by Katja Kettu – Words Without Borders, YLE: Finnish actor scores big at Shanghai Film Festival, Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, Rape during the Soviet occupation of Poland, Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lapland_War&oldid=999673479, Arctic military operations of World War II, Articles containing Finnish-language text, Articles containing Swedish-language text, Articles containing Russian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [68] In addition to the demolished infrastructure, the Wehrmacht extensively laid mines and explosives in the area. [43] Reading your post I am definitely going take your advice and look into renting a house with my friends to make the trip more affordable! [24], As the Finns wanted to avoid devastation of their country, and the Germans wished to avoid hostilities, both sides strove for the evacuation to be performed as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately we missed out on seeing the Northern Lights because of the weather, but a tour would’ve cost €109 per person. It can get extremely cold with temperatures falling to as low as -30°C. I'm Lucy – a travel blogger 'On the Luce', helping you maximise your travel time and money, sharing tips for travel adventures with a touch of affordable luxury. Did you manage to see the northern lights whilst there and if so, how? The Wehrmacht completely withdrew from Finland by 27 April 1945 and a Finnish battle patrol raised the flag on the three-country cairn between Norway, Sweden and Finland to celebrate the end of the wars. In Lapland the tops of the high hills, or fells, generally receive their first coating of snow at the end of August or in September. It is … But can you please suggest how is the weather going to be during that time? [64] After holding Tankavaara, the Germans swiftly withdrew from north-eastern Lapland at Karigasniemi on 25 November 1944. [38], A second wave of four Finnish ships arrived on 2 October and a third wave—three ships strong and with Brewster F2A fighter escorts—landed its troops with only a single ship being lightly damaged by German Stuka dive bombers. [63], For most practical purposes, the war in Lapland concluded in early November 1944. [29], The lack of Finnish aggression did not go unnoticed by the Allied Control Commission monitoring adherence to the Moscow Armistice and the USSR threatened to occupy Finland if the terms of expelling or disarming the Germans were not met. Why come? It was a really magical holiday with some of the most beautiful scenery I’d ever seen, so was well worth it. Thanks for the tips – hope to get back and see more next time as this was just a taster, but the reindeer race looks amazing if I visit in February sometime. Please can you comment with the link to the AirBnB as the one on the post only goes to AirBnB itself, not the property rental. A permanent snow cover settles on northern and central Lapland on average after mid-October. [64], There was never an official peace agreement signed between Finland and Germany. The Germans repelled Finnish attempts to capture the last intact bridge over the Kemi river and then left the mostly scorched town to the Finns on 16 October 1944. In Lapland – Finland’s most northerly region – snowfall is common between October and April. Arrival of naval assets allowed the Finns to safely disembark heavy equipment to support the battle and around 12,500 soldiers in total arrived during the landings. These datas are probabilities for november from weather reports for over 10 years. Lapland experiences snowy conditions from October through May, while southern Finland is a bit more mild, experiencing four to five months of winter. The Germans told the Finns they had no interest in fighting them, but would not surrender. Note: these costs are based on my travel style – mid-range with a touch of affordable luxury – keeping costs down where I can to can splash out on special experiences. Lapland experiences snowy conditions from October through May, while southern Finland is a bit more mild, experiencing four to five months of winter. [13], After the devastating Soviet strategic Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive in southern Finland from June to July and a change in Finnish leadership in August 1944, Finland negotiated a separate peace agreement with the USSR. The days are very short from November to January, and in December, you almost never see the sun, also because … The fifth wave on 5 October suffered only light shrapnel damage despite being both shelled from shore and … [56] The first Finnish units to reach the vicinity of Rovaniemi on 14 October were components of the Jaeger Brigade advancing from Ranua. Normally when buy the best German white wine, it costs about 10 -11 Euros. [51], When Allied advances continued, German high command OKW and 20th Mountain Army leadership asserted that it would be perilous to maintain positions in Lapland and east of Lyngen municipality in northern Norway. Thus, Lieutenant General Siilasvuo ordered the III Corps to engage. Hi. [7][21], The announcement on 2 September 1944 of the ceasefire and the Moscow Armistice between Finland and the USSR triggered frantic efforts by the 20th Mountain Army, which immediately started Operation Birke. 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