Karelian Isthmus

:See Karelia (disambiguation) for other meanings of the name Karelia.

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The Karelian Isthmus is the narrow stretch of land between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia. The city of Vyborg and the town of Priozersk are situated on the northwestern end of the isthmus. In the southeast it reaches to Saint Petersburg. Since World War II, when the fronts moved back and forth over the isthmus, it belongs to the Leningrad Oblast of Russia.

Related Topics:
Gulf of Finland - Lake Ladoga - Russia - City - Vyborg - Town - Priozersk - Saint Petersburg - World War II - Leningrad Oblast

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In the first millennium, Finnic people wandered to the Karelian Isthmus.

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In 11th century, Sweden and Novgorod started to compete tax holding rights. Sweden gained them in area near Viipuri and Novgorod in other parts of isthmus.

Related Topics:
Sweden - Novgorod

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During 17th century Sweden gained the whole isthmus and also Ingria. In this time many Karelians escaped to Tver's Karelia.

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From 1721-1812 the isthmus belonged to the Russian Empire, won in the Great Northern War that started with the Russian conquest of Ingria where the new imperial capital, Saint Petersburg, was founded (1703) in the southern end of the isthmus, in place of old Swedish town Nyenskans. Then in 1812, the northwestern half was transferred, as a part of Old Finland, to the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland, created in 1809 and in a personal union with Russia.

Related Topics:
1721 - 1812 - Russian Empire - Great Northern War - Capital - 1703 - Old Finland - Grand Duchy - Finland - 1809 - Personal union

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Due to the rich soil, rich fishing waters and the proximity to Saint Petersburg, the Karelian Isthmus became the wealthiest part of Finland once the industrial revolution had gained momentum in the 19th century. When Finland declared its independence in 1917, the isthmus remained Finnish.

Related Topics:
Industrial revolution - 19th century - 1917

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In November 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland in what became known as the Winter War. Soviet forces were able to penetrate the well-defended Mannerheim Line across the isthmus in early 1940. Finland ceded the Karelian isthmus to the Soviet Union in the Peace of Moscow.

Related Topics:
1939 - Soviet Union - Winter War - Mannerheim Line - 1940 - Peace of Moscow

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One year later, in 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa which led to the Great Patriotic War for the Russians and the Continuation War for the Finns. Finland initially regained the lost territory (co-belligerent with Nazi Germany), reaching the Russian side of the border of 1939 and seen by the Russians as indirectly contributing to the Siege of Leningrad.

Related Topics:
1941 - Operation Barbarossa - Great Patriotic War - Continuation War - Co-belligerent - Nazi Germany - Siege of Leningrad

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On 9 June, 1944, strong Soviet forces opened a counter-offensive

Related Topics:
9 June - 1944 - Battle of Tali-Ihantala - 25 June - 9 July - River Vuoksi - Peace of Paris - 1947 - Leningrad Oblast

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After the wars most of the old Finnish names were renamed to Russian ones.

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