The Military Museum (Fin, Sotamuseo) is one of Finland’s leading military history museums, located on the island of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Helsinki. The museum presents the history of Finland’s armed forces from independence in 1917 to the modern era.
Its exhibitions focus on key conflicts including the Finnish Civil War, the Winter War, the Continuation War, and the Lapland War. Visitors can view uniforms, weapons, medals, military equipment, wartime photographs, and personal stories of Finnish soldiers. The museum is housed in a historic military building and provides insight into Finland’s defence during some of the most challenging periods in its history. A visit can easily be combined with exploring the fortress, coastal defences, tunnels, and the preserved submarine Vesikko, making it an essential destination for military history enthusiasts visiting Helsinki.
Military Museum during World War Two
The Military Museum’s Manege itself did not exist as a museum during World War II. However, the building and the surrounding fortress of Suomenlinna played an important military role during the war.
During the Winter War and the Continuation War, Suomenlinna served as a naval base, coastal defence position, training centre, and logistics hub for the Finnish military. The fortress protected approaches to Helsinki and housed military personnel, workshops, storage facilities, and coastal artillery batteries. Some areas were used for repairing vessels and supporting naval operations in the Gulf of Finland. The building that now houses the museum was used for military purposes, including storage and support functions connected to the Finnish armed forces. Throughout the war, soldiers and sailors stationed on the islands contributed to the defence of the capital against potential Soviet attacks.
Visit
The museum can be visited all year round. A ferry sails from the shore in Helsinki for a few euros. Please note that the timetable differs in the winter season from that of the summer season. Check the museum’s opening hours and the ferry’s sailing times before your visit.
The Finnish Submarine Vesikko lies at the shore nearby, don’t forget to visit this unique site.
