The world's largest female paramilitary organization was forced to disband in 1944
The Lotta Svärd, a massive Finnish voluntary organization of over 200,000 women, was forced to disband in 1944 as a condition of a peace treaty with the Soviet Union.
By 1944, the Lotta Svärd had become the largest female paramilitary organization in the world, with one out of every eight Finnish women serving in its ranks. These women took on essential roles during World War II, including nursing, air raid signaling, and providing food services to the front lines, allowing men to focus on combat.
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