Conscription was issued in Finland in 1878. In 1829 one of the training battalions was transformed into Young Guard Battalion, the Finnish Guard.ĭuring the Crimean War, 1854, Finland set up nine sharpshooter battalions based on rote system. In 1821 the Topographic corps was transformed into cadet officers school. As a result, officer benefits of the allotment system became practically pensions, as payment was based on passive availability, not on actual service.ĭuring Napoleonic Wars three 1200 men regiments were formed in Finland and Topographic corps in Hamina.

However, for several decades, Russian rulers did not require military service from Finland - operations and defence were mostly taken care by Russian troops based in the Grand Duchy.

The Grand Duchy inherited its allotment system ( ruotujakolaitos) from the Swedish military organization. Before that several other military units had also been formed while Finland belonged to Sweden.

Between 18 the Grand Duchy had its own army. See also: Military of the Grand Duchy of Finlandīetween 18 Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland.

Finnish winter war uniform