Makkola Museum Farm in Hattuvaara

Most of the buildings date from the early 19th century

Where Lauri Törni and future President of Finland Mauno Koivisto billeted in fall of 1944.

Makkola exudes history and gives rise to some extraordinary stories. An interesting narrative is about the legendary soldier Lauri Törni (aka Larry Thorne) and one of his subordinates, future President of Finland Mauno Koivisto, who billeted in the premises during the war.

Makkola is located in the outskirts of the village center. The first troops arrived there in July 1944 in preparation for a Red Army assault on Hattuvaara. The first engagement occurred on July 29 when border jaegers in the Orthodox chapel tower spotted an enemy force approaching the village.

They opened fire on the Russians, who quickly withdrew to the far bank of the Sikrenpuro brook. At 0200 hours in the following morning, the opening shots of the fierce battle of Hattuvaara were fired behind Sikrenpuro.

Lieutenant Törni's company was moved from Tolvajärvi to Ilomantsi for a two-week period in August 1944. During this time, it carried out hit-and-run attacks and took prisoners practically over the full width of Ilomantsi sector. The company was active primarily in the tree-choked wilderness along the roads that led toward the Russian border. For this reason, contemporary war diaries do not suggest that Törni actually visited Hattuvaara.

Only after the end of the war did Törni’s (now promoted to captain) unit return to Ilomantsi, arriving in Hattuvaara on October 6 and setting up billets on Makkola farm.

The unit conducted border patrols and observed the stabilization of the situation in the area for a period of one and half weeks until relocated to Mekrijärvi on October 16.

Makkola houses a display on Törni’s life. The museum has no fixed opening hours, but visitors may inquire about the matter at Combatant's House.