In German language written sign says: - "As thanks for not demonstrating brotherhood in arms". To be able to sign peace with the Soviet Union Finland had to remove the German presence in Finland. The Soviet Union actually didn't give options. The rule basically had, by using any means to banish the German existence in Finland. The only option the Soviets gave - they were ready to give"assistance" in expelling the Germans. Finland chose to work alone, not asking the Soviet "assistance", but started a war against Germany.
The Lapland War is probably the most traumatic event ever between Germany and Finland. Finland was desperately seeking an exit of the WWII. After repelling the Soviet Summer offensive of 1944 it was thought generally in Finland that it was a sufficient episode and would enable signing a peace with the Soviets - but, no. The Soviet demand also included to force the German troops in Finland to be expelled.
A grievous joke still has in Finland: "If you are in Lapland, do not ever give matches or a lighter for a German". During the Lapland War in 1944-1945 the Germans suited the scorched earth tactics burning the Finnish Lapland while retreating to north and to Norway.
During the initial phase of the Lapland War the Finns and the Germans arranged negotiations which included the daily German retreat line 'till the end of that exact day. Because it was an autumn and a winter time, the Finns also waged snowball war against the Germans and no shooting occurred. But later on the things got more serious.
Rovaniemi - the Finns arrive the destroyed and burned "capital" of the Finnish Lapland.
The verbal intervention by the Soviet side enforced the Finns to demobilize or destroy the German forces. The Soviet Union didn't like the phoney war. A formal declaration of war was never declared by either of the sides, but during the Finnish landings at Tornio really started the conflict - over 1 000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives. The Lapland War continued in the terms of the real warfare and ended after the Finns raised the Finnish flag on the Norwegian and Swedish border (in picture).
Raising the Finnish flag on the border of Norway, Sweden and Finland is in Finland experienced as the end of the Finnish participation of the WWII and the Finnish exit of the WWII in April 27th of 1945.
I'm not sure of the German perspective of the Lapland War, but it was until 1954 when the Finnish government noted that the Lapland War between Finland and Germany had ended and over 100 000 Finnish refugees from Sweden and from the other parts of Finland were able to settle again in their burned homeland.
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