A Command of Engineers was responsible for the construction of fortifications in Viapori, headed by an officer of the rank of a colonel or a lieutenant colonel. The Command of Engineers drew up plans for the construction and repairing of the fortifications and barracks in Viapori , both on order and on their own initiative.

 

The organisation of construction

 

After the Finnish War ended in 1809, the Russians began to draw up plans for the strengthening of Viapori’s defences. The Command of Engineers for Viapori, charged with extensive rights, was responsible for the construction and repair work, with the drawing premises and archive of the Command being located in the island of Susisaari. In the1810s, the Command of Engineers took stock of the fortifications in order to obtain a picture of their condition and operational value. New surveys were conducted in order to lay the foundation for further planning. However, the development of the defenses was reduced to carrying out reparations due to lack of appropriation. By contrast, the Command was active in constructing residential buildings and barracks.

 

The plans, calculations, work reports and drawings prepared by the Command of Engineers were first sent to the Finnish District of Engineers for review. Its headquarters was also stationed in Viapori, and was headed by an officer with the rank of a major general. Plans commented by the Dictrict of Engineers were then sent to the Engineering Department of the War Ministry in St. Petersburg. This Department was headed by an engineer-general, which was the highest engineering officer rank in armed forces of the Russian Empire.

 

In 1827, the duties of the Viapori Command of Engineers were divided between the Land and Maritime Construction Departments. The former department remained under the command of the War Ministry, the latter, under the Admiralty. After the Crimean War had ended in 1856, the Admiralty handed over its buildings to the War Ministry, which led to the merging of the departments.

 

Labour and contracting

 

The construction organisation was renewed the next time in 1862, when the Viapori Command of Engineers was replaced with the Engineering Administration. This administration, in turn, was placed under the command of the Finnish District of Engineers, with the St. Petersburg Chief Administration of Engineers acting as the highest military authority. Furthermore, separate engineering committees and commands were established whenever necessary, each tasked with separate planning duties and appropriations.

 

Units stationed in the fortress, including sappers, or engineers, and prisoners, were used as labour. The latter were Finns condemned for vagrancy, although they also included real criminals and murderers. In addition, Russian merchants in Helsinki, such as the Sinebrychoffs, Kiseleffs and Uschakoffs, were contracted for smaller construction projects for which they provided the material and labour.