How did Finnish and Romanian forces support Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union?

During the invasion of the Soviet Union, both Finland and Romania provided significant military support to Germany, though their motivations and levels of involvement differed.

Finland

Finland’s participation, known as the War of Continuation (1941–1944), was driven by a desire to recover territories lost during the earlier Winter War. While Finland did not conclude a formal alliance with Germany, it allowed the transit of German troops through its territory prior to the invasion. When Germany attacked on June 22, 1941, Finland was prepared for war, with its submarines already operating in Soviet waters. Finnish forces launched a successful offensive that captured large areas of eastern Karelia.12

Romania

Under the military dictatorship of Ion Antonescu, Romania joined the German invasion in June 1941 with the goal of reclaiming Bessarabia and northern Bukovina and eliminating the Soviet threat. Antonescu committed substantial manpower and resources to the German war effort, hoping to also recover northern Transylvania. Romanian forces conducted a simultaneous offensive with German troops, helping to sweep down to the Black Sea mouths of the Bug and Dnieper rivers.34