054 FINLAND - Fortress of Suomenlinna (WHS)

Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori, is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands and which nows forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Sweden started building rge fortress in 1748, when Finland was still a part of the Swedish kingdom. Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710-1772) and his gigantic fortification work on the islands off the town of Helsinki brought the district a new and unexpected importance. The fortification of Helsinki and its islands began in January 1748, when Ehrensvärd, as a young lieutenant colonel, came to direct the operations. Fortifications were also built on the Russian side pf the new border during the 18th century and some of the Swedish ones were added to. Russia launched a campaign against Sweden and occupied Finland in 1808. The Russians easily took Helsinki in early 1808 and began bombarding the fortress. The Swedish period in Finnish history, which had lasted some seven centuries, came to an end.

After taking over the fortress, the Russians started an extensive building program, mostly extra barracks and extending the dockyard and reinforcement to the fortification lines. The long period of peace following the transfer of power was shattered by the Crimean War of 1853-56. The allies decided to engage Russia on two fronts and sent an Anglo-French fleet to the Baltic Sea. For two summers, the fleet shelled the towns and fortifications along the Finnish coast. The bombardment of Suomenlinna lasted 47 hours and the fortress was badly damaged. They were unable to knock out the Russian guns; after the bombardment the Anglo-French fleet sent no troops ashore and instead set sail for Kronstadt.

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Merja Jaakkola (direct swap) sent from Vantaa (Finland) on 15.10.2013