Operation Stella Polaris was the cover name for an operation in which Finnishsignals intelligence records, equipment and personnel were transported to Sweden in late September 1944 after the end of combat on the Finnish-Soviet front in the Second World War.[1] The purpose was to enable the signals intelligence activities against the advancing Russians to continue in Sweden and to prevent the equipment falling into the hands of the Soviet Union. A Soviet invasion was considered likely and plans were made to support guerrilla warfare in Finland after a possible occupation. The operation had its base in the small fishing village of Nämpnäs in Närpes, Ostrobothnia region, from where the archives were shipped to Swedish ports. The leaders of the operation were Colonel Aladár Paasonen, chief of Finnish military intelligence, and Colonel Reino Hallamaa, head of the Finnish signals intelligence section.[2]
On 20September 1944 a large part of the Finnish signals intelligence unit was moved to Sweden.[2] From the Swedish side Major Carl Petersén, head of the Defence Staff's intelligence section C-byrån, was responsible for the operation. Approximately 750 people were transported across the Gulf of Bothnia: by three ships from Närpes to Härnösand; and one ship from Uusikaupunki to Gävle. The ships also carried boxes of archives and signals intelligence equipment.[3]
After the Soviet Union was ceded parts of Karelia and Salla from Finland on 19September 1944, in accord with the Moscow Armistice, the majority of the Finnish personnel and their families returned home, except those hired by Sweden's National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA). They crossed the border at the Torne River in secret. Sweden offered to take over the equipment and some of the documents. The FRA thus had access to technical equipment and seven boxes of files, which became important in the newly established activities of the FRA.[4]
Operation Stella Polaris led to Sweden gaining access to a large amount of high quality intelligence. It also learnt signals intelligence techniques from the Finnish personnel, some of whom the Swedes hired. For Finland, the operation resulted in domestic political entanglements as a result of the Finnish People's Democratic League's strong influence in government. These included action against several of those involved in the operation for so-called "anti-Soviet" activities, resulting in prison sentences.[5]
Processing in Swedenedit
From October 1944 the intelligence material was moved to the basement of the Hotel Aston in Stockholm. There, the Finnish operations leader Reino Hallamaa microfilmed the material, which he sold to several countries' intelligence agencies. Later the material was removed by the FRA. Large parts of the material were then stored by Carl C:son Bonde at Hörningsholm Castle, and twenty-nine boxes by Svante Påhlson [sv] at Rottneros Manor from 20March 1945. Seven boxes of material had previously been submitted to the FRA. In the early 1960s, the secret documents from Operation Stella Polaris were burned at Lövsta garbage dump in Stockholm on the instruction of the then Director-General of FRA, Gustaf Tham, and the now-retired general Carl Ehrensvärd.[6]
The Finns involved in Operation Stella Polaris were persecuted and arrested after their return to Finland by the Communist-dominated State Police. It was not until the early 1950s that the Finnish Chancellor of Justice declared those who participated in Operation Stella Polaris would not be subject to war crimes proceedings.
Later eventsedit
In the village of Nämpnäs there is a memorial to the operation. 15–20 Finnish signal technicians who travelled to Sweden in Operation Stella Polaris were immediately made Swedish citizens and remained as FRA employees in Sweden. The Finnish military intelligence chief Aladár Paasonen, who together with Reino Hallamaa had the main responsibility for the operation, worked with the American forces in Germany in the mid- '50s [7] and later lived until the 1970s in the United States. Reino Hallamaa moved to Spain, where he started a construction company.
^Aid, Matthew (September 2002). "Stella Polaris and the secret code battle in postwar Europe". Journal of Intelligence and National Security. 17 (3): 17–86. doi:10.1080/02684520412331306550. S2CID 153619850.
^ abWest, Nigel (2012). Historical Dictionary of Signals Intelligence. The Scarcrow Press, Inc. pp. 208–210. ISBN978-0810871878.
^Bremmer, Fatima (28 August 2015). "Min pappa var en hemlig finsk spion" [My dad was a secret Finnish spy]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 February 2016.
^Arwidsson, Thorulf (30 April 2009). "Spaningsarkiv öppnade för FRA". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 May 2009.
^Rosell, Marianne; Ljungqvist, Arne; Åhgren, Åsa, eds. (1992). [Defence Radio Establishment 50 years: 1942–1992] (PDF) (in Swedish). Bromma: Försvarets radioanstalt (FRA). p. 27. SELIBR 1499703. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
^McKay, C. G.; Beckman, Bengt (2003). Swedish signal intelligence, 1900–1945. Cass series—studies in intelligence. London: Frank Cass. pp. 211–212. ISBN0-7146-5211-3.
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Operation Stella Polaris was the cover name for an operation in which Finnish signals intelligence records equipment and personnel were transported to Sweden in late September 1944 after the end of combat on the Finnish Soviet front in the Second World War 1 The purpose was to enable the signals intelligence activities against the advancing Russians to continue in Sweden and to prevent the equipment falling into the hands of the Soviet Union A Soviet invasion was considered likely and plans were made to support guerrilla warfare in Finland after a possible occupation The operation had its base in the small fishing village of Nampnas in Narpes Ostrobothnia region from where the archives were shipped to Swedish ports The leaders of the operation were Colonel Aladar Paasonen chief of Finnish military intelligence and Colonel Reino Hallamaa head of the Finnish signals intelligence section 2 Contents 1 Transportation to Sweden 2 Processing in Sweden 3 Later events 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksTransportation to Sweden editOn 20 September 1944 a large part of the Finnish signals intelligence unit was moved to Sweden 2 From the Swedish side Major Carl Petersen head of the Defence Staff s intelligence section C byran was responsible for the operation Approximately 750 people were transported across the Gulf of Bothnia by three ships from Narpes to Harnosand and one ship from Uusikaupunki to Gavle The ships also carried boxes of archives and signals intelligence equipment 3 After the Soviet Union was ceded parts of Karelia and Salla from Finland on 19 September 1944 in accord with the Moscow Armistice the majority of the Finnish personnel and their families returned home except those hired by Sweden s National Defence Radio Establishment FRA They crossed the border at the Torne River in secret Sweden offered to take over the equipment and some of the documents The FRA thus had access to technical equipment and seven boxes of files which became important in the newly established activities of the FRA 4 Operation Stella Polaris led to Sweden gaining access to a large amount of high quality intelligence It also learnt signals intelligence techniques from the Finnish personnel some of whom the Swedes hired For Finland the operation resulted in domestic political entanglements as a result of the Finnish People s Democratic League s strong influence in government These included action against several of those involved in the operation for so called anti Soviet activities resulting in prison sentences 5 Processing in Sweden editFrom October 1944 the intelligence material was moved to the basement of the Hotel Aston in Stockholm There the Finnish operations leader Reino Hallamaa microfilmed the material which he sold to several countries intelligence agencies Later the material was removed by the FRA Large parts of the material were then stored by Carl C son Bonde at Horningsholm Castle and twenty nine boxes by Svante Pahlson sv at Rottneros Manor from 20 March 1945 Seven boxes of material had previously been submitted to the FRA In the early 1960s the secret documents from Operation Stella Polaris were burned at Lovsta garbage dump in Stockholm on the instruction of the then Director General of FRA Gustaf Tham and the now retired general Carl Ehrensvard 6 The Finns involved in Operation Stella Polaris were persecuted and arrested after their return to Finland by the Communist dominated State Police It was not until the early 1950s that the Finnish Chancellor of Justice declared those who participated in Operation Stella Polaris would not be subject to war crimes proceedings Later events editIn the village of Nampnas there is a memorial to the operation 15 20 Finnish signal technicians who travelled to Sweden in Operation Stella Polaris were immediately made Swedish citizens and remained as FRA employees in Sweden The Finnish military intelligence chief Aladar Paasonen who together with Reino Hallamaa had the main responsibility for the operation worked with the American forces in Germany in the mid 50s 7 and later lived until the 1970s in the United States Reino Hallamaa moved to Spain where he started a construction company See also editOperation Gladio Weapons Cache Case ViestikoelaitosReferences edit Aid Matthew September 2002 Stella Polaris and the secret code battle in postwar Europe Journal of Intelligence and National Security 17 3 17 86 doi 10 1080 02684520412331306550 S2CID 153619850 a b West Nigel 2012 Historical Dictionary of Signals Intelligence The Scarcrow Press Inc pp 208 210 ISBN 978 0810871878 Bremmer Fatima 28 August 2015 Min pappa var en hemlig finsk spion My dad was a secret Finnish spy Expressen in Swedish Retrieved 24 February 2016 Arwidsson Thorulf 30 April 2009 Spaningsarkiv oppnade for FRA Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish Retrieved 1 May 2009 Rosell Marianne Ljungqvist Arne Ahgren Asa eds 1992 Forsvarets radioanstalt 50 ar 1942 1992 Defence Radio Establishment 50 years 1942 1992 PDF in Swedish Bromma Forsvarets radioanstalt FRA p 27 SELIBR 1499703 Archived from the original PDF on 11 March 2016 Retrieved 24 February 2016 McKay C G Beckman Bengt 2003 Swedish signal intelligence 1900 1945 Cass series studies in intelligence London Frank Cass pp 211 212 ISBN 0 7146 5211 3 Personal knowledge Neil P AlbaughFurther reading editParikka Altenstedt Johanna 2010 Operation Stella Polaris signalspanare pa flykt in Swedish 2nd ed Hjarup Albino ISBN 978 91 974762 0 1 SELIBR 11777258 External links editOperation Stella Polaris by P3 Dokumentar in Swedish Portals nbsp World War II nbsp Finland nbsp Sweden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation Stella Polaris amp oldid 1180552307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
