Karelia Brigade

Karelian Brigade
Insignia of the Karelia Brigade
Country	Finland
Branch	Finnish Army
Type	Combined arms
Role	Readiness brigade
Size	Wartime size unknown, peacetime size 600 career personnel, 2,400 conscripts
Garrison/HQ	Vekaranjärvi, Finland
Commanders
Brigadier General	Jari Kallio
Insignia
Headdress	Green beret with lion's head pin

Karelia Brigade (Karjalan Prikaati) is one of the three Finnish Army readiness brigades. It is located at Valkeala. With some three thousand soldiers it is the second largest brigade in Finland. Karelia Brigade is currently commanded by Brigadier General Pasi Välimäki. Jari Kallio served as commander until december, 2016.

Karelia Brigade was founded on January 1, 1957 when the 5th Brigade was renamed. 5th Brigade itself was the successor of the Infantry Regiment 8, which became famous by Väinö Linna's novel The Unknown Soldier. Karelia Brigade maintains the traditions of the Karelia Guard Regiment, which used to lie in Vyborg. The anniversary day of the Karelia Brigade is May 6, as on that day in 1618 the king of Sweden, Gustav II Adolf, gave the order to renew the Finnish military and when the Karelia Regiment was founded.