Katajanokka in Helsinki in Helsingin seutukunta, Nyland, Finland — Northern Europe (a Nordic Country)
Miinanraivaajien Muistomerkki
⎯⎯⎯
Minesweepers Memorial
Photographed by Sam Skeen, March 9, 2025
1. Miinanraivaajien Muistomerkki / Minesweepers Memorial text
1944-1952
Suomen merialueilla oli yli 60.000 miinaa. Raivaukseen osallistui 2000 miestä ja 200 alusta. Raivauksessa kaatui 28 ja vammautui 35 miestä.
1944-1952
60 000 minor fanns totalt på Finlands vattenområden. I minsvepningen deltog 2000 man och 200 fartyg. 28 minröjare omkom och 35 sårades.
1944-1952
There were more than 60 000 sea mines in the Finnish seas. 2000 men and 200 vessels took part in demining. 28 deminers were killed and 35 disabled during the process.
1944-1952
In Finnlands Gewässern gab es 60.000 Minen. An der Minenräumung beteiligten sich 2.000 Männer und 200 schiffe 28 Männer kamen dabei um und 35 wurden verletzt.
(Russian text not transcribed)
Erected 2004.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 60° 10.154′ N, 24° 58.061′ E. Memorial is in Helsinki, Uusimaa (Nyland), in Helsingin seutukunta. It is in Katajanokka.
this page online
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, the Nordic Countries, the Schengen Area, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Senate Square (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Kirkkopuisto (approx. 2.6 kilometers away).
Also see . . .
1. Memorial Hunter – Helsinki Minesweepers’ Memorial – A Forgotten ‘War’ (Finland at War). Excerpt:
It is estimated that some 60,000 mines were deployed around the coasts of Finland, planted by Finns, Germans and Soviets, these came in all shapes and sizes, and at varying depths. During the wars of 1939-1944, mines claimed numerous vessels and thousands of lives, but the reaping didn’t stop there. After the wars, a large-scale demining operation took place, without which, the post-war recovery of Finland would have arguably taken longer.(Submitted on June 24, 2025.)
By 1952, theoperation was deemed a success, and several thousand mines had been safely disposed of. But to the around 2,000 men who had taken part, they paid a heavy price, 28 were killed and a further 35 were disabled. Their role was largely unacknowledged, they were not granted Veteran status until 2000, but as several memorials were erected and media outlets published their stories, the recognition they lacked is being reversed.Photographed by Sam Skeen, March 9, 20252. Miinanraivaajien Muistomerkki / Minesweepers Memorial
2. Miinanraivaajien Muistomerkki (Helsingin Miinanraivaajakilta RY, in Finnish). (Submitted on June 24, 2025.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2025, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 24, 2025, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on June 23, 2025, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
