the war of Lapland is a conflict which proceeded between September 1944 and April 1945, at the end of the Second world war, between the Finland and the Germany for the control of the mines of Nickel of the area of Petsamo.

After the War of Winter, Finland had concluded, on October 1st 1940, an economic cooperation agreement and soldier with the Germany, which made it possible the troops of Reich to station on the Finnish territory. Noting the reversal of the military situation, during the summer 1943 the German high-command prepares with a peace separated between Finland and the the USSR. It moves its troops in north in order to protect the mines from nickel close to Petsamo. During the winter of 1943-1944, the Germans improved the roads between north of the Norway and the Finland and accumulated stocks of material. Also when in September 1944 Finland signs an armistice with the Soviet Union, they are ready to defend their positions.

In spite of bilateral attempts to arrive to a peaceful withdrawal of the German troops, engagements take place between the German and Finnish forces before even the signature of the peace treaty soviético-Finnish. The engagements intensify after the Soviet requirement to see all the expelled German troops of Finland. The Finns are thus placed in a situation similar to that of the Italians and Roumanians who, after being itself returned with the Allies, had to fight to release their territory of the German forces. The task of the Finnish forces is complicated by the Soviet requirement that most of the Finnish army is demobilized and this, before even the end of campaign against the Germans.

The direction of the operations is entrusted to the Finnish general Hjalmar Siilasvuo, the winner of the Bataille of Suomussalmi. As of November 1944, the major part of the Lapland is released. However the German forces of the general Lothar Rendulic applied the Politique burned ground at the time of their retirement. More than one third of the dwellings of the area was destroyed, and the capital Rovaniemi was completely destroyed. Approximately 100  000 people became refugees. After the war, the Rendulic general is condemned to 20 years in prison for War crimes.

The last German troops are expelled in April 1945. Although the officers make a large effort to limit the losses on each side, a thousand of Finn and as many Germans perished during this war.

The area of Petsamo was annexed by the Soviet Union, at the time of the treated of Paris of 1947.

Be-X-old: Ляпляндзкаявайна