The Minister of Defence (Finnish: puolustusministeri, Swedish: försvarsminister) is a member of the Finnish Council of State. As the head of the Ministry of Defence, the minister is responsible for the administration of national defence. The ministry is headquartered in Helsinki. The current Minister of Defence is Antti Häkkänen.
From June to November 1918 the post was called Chief of the War Department, and from then until 1922 the post was called the Minister of War.
The President of the Republic is the commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces. The commander of the military forces is the Chief of Defence.
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Ministry offices
Finnish Ministry of Defence Offices consists of two wings:
South Makasiinikatu 8 since - Built by CL Engel as barracks for the Finnish Guard in 1922 and destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt by retaining the original walls from 1954 to 1956 and used as Defense Headquarters since 1956
Fabiansgatan 2 - newer wing was built in 1961 by Finnish architects Viljo Revell and Heikki Castrén.
Previous ministry offices
Eteläesplanadi 10 - 1918-1921 (the Ministry of Justice has also been located here)
Korkeavuorenkatu 21 (Ohrana House) - relocated in 1921 and here until beginning of World War II; has also served as Finnish Border Guard Headquarters
Snellmaninkatu 4-6 - moved here 1941 to 1956 and now home to Finnish Financial Supervision Authority
List of ministers of defence
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