Manege of the Military Museum

Manege was built in 1880-1881, when Finland was part of Russia. The first sketches of the building were made in 1875, but they were not useful. Three years later, the drawings of the architect Greyfon, who also designed the Rantakasarmi building (Coastal barracks) in Suomenlinna, were selected for the construction of the building. Originally, the Manege was a brick building with a clay floor and plastered walls. Concrete floor only in 1908. At both ends of the large hall of the Manege, at the entrance doors, hallways with heating stoves were planned. Later, the stoves were moved to the hall, in connection with which the exhaust pipes were additionally constructed there ^[1] .

The building of the Manege was used by the Russians mainly as an artillery depot, but gymnastic simulators were also installed there for the soldiers of the garrison. In the early 1890s, a building for an orchestra, a stage, as well as men's and women's changing rooms were built at the end of the building ^[1] . Manege used for various purposes, but the horses were never kept there, despite the name given to him.

After 1917, in connection with Finland’s independence, the islands of Suomenlinna were transferred to Russia by Finland. After independence, a civil war broke out in Finland, and during the battles and after the war, a camp for “red” prisoners of war was operating in Suomenlinna. In 1918-1919, Manege was also used as a warehouse and as a workshop. Prior to the transfer of the building to the use of the Military Museum in 1974, it served mainly as a warehouse of naval forces. Movies were also shown in the hall, and they played basketball during the Continuation War. ^[2]

In 1975, having received permission from the State Council of Finland to resume museum activities, the Military Museum chose the Manege building as an exhibition space in Suomenlinna. At first, the inhabitants of Suomenlinna were wary of this decision, as they were afraid that the Military Museum would occupy the territories intended for living. They also feared that, along with the expansion of the Manege building, which was closed in the 1960s, the Navy Museum would be re-organized on the island ^[3] . Still, it did not happen, and the overhaul of the Manege, as a result of which, for example, heating stoves were removed and the entire floor was re-made, was carried out in 1986-1987 ^[1] .

During the whole time the exhibitions in the Manezh were constantly updated. The current exhibition "From Autonomy to Atalanta", opened in 2012, tells about the military history of Finland and the history of the Defense Forces from 1809 to the present. Specialized exhibitions, such as the Vesikko exhibition in 2011, were also organized in the Manege building.

The exhibition "From Autonomy to Atalanta" is located in the hall of the Manege. The materials of the exhibition are divided into three thematic sections in such a way that, looking from the central entrance, on the left wall of the building one can get acquainted with the stands on the military history of Finland and on the history of the Defense Forces in chronological order. On the right wall there is a long glass showcase with military uniforms from the 19th century to modern times, and in the center of the hall one can get acquainted with heavy equipment, which is the main part of the exhibition.

Museum materials were updated over the years in accordance with the exhibitions presented, but, for example, the dugout and light English tank VICKERS-ARMSTRONG, which was used by the Finnish army in the Winter War and Continuation War, are permanent exhibits of the Manege. The current exhibits represent different types of troops: the air force - the German anti-aircraft gun 88 mm FLAK 37, the field artillery - the gun 76К / 02 and the Soviet-made torpedo T-46, the naval forces - the Somali pirates' boat, obtained during Operation Atalanta . The value of the supply service in war is represented by a horse-drawn field kitchen, an American FORD V8 truck, and Lotte uniforms (Lotta Svjard, a militant organization in Finland that existed from 1919 to 1944).

One of the special attractions of the exhibition is the torpedo tube of the Finnish S2 torpedo boat, which was twice on the wrecks. The first time he was installed on the ship of tsarist Russia "Vigilant", which hit a mine in November 1917. The torpedo tube was raised from the bottom of the sea and mounted on the Finnish torpedo boat S2. But this ship also sank during a severe storm not far from Reposaari island in October 1925. The torpedo tube was raised from the sea the following year and placed in the collection of the Military Museum in 1930.

• Enqvist, Ove; Härö, Mikko Varuskunnasta maailmanperinnöksi - Suomenlinnan itsenäisyysajan vaiheet. - 1998, Suomenlinna ry, Uudenkaupungin Sanomat Oy.

• The site of the Military Museum