He reasoned that the best way he could defend Sweden was to move into Finland and meet the Russians there. When the Russians had reached a certain point inside Finland, the whole Northern Army Corps would move across the border and take up positions along the Kemi river, all without approval of the Swedish government.
But what was that "certain point inside Finland" Douglas was thinking about? This question makes a pretty big difference.
I think it is quite likely that it would be past the half way point of Finland's breadth, Finland being narrowest just south of the Gulf of Bothnia where the land border with Sweden begins. If that was the case, then we might as well assume that at the time Douglas moves his Corps over the border, southern Finland is already well in the process of being overrun.
Following my above conjecture, I do not think this overt act on part of Douglas would or could have saved Finland. The defense of the country would succeed or fail at the Isthmus and southern Karelia: in comparison, Kainuu and Lapland were a sideshow. Bringing the Swedish Northern Army Corps into Finland will not decide the war for Finland, even if it might make a difference about the role Sweden plays in WWII.
A possible course of events: the lead Red Army elements, pursuing the fleeing remnants of the Finnish Lapland Group, meet Swedish troops in southern Lapland. A tense standoff ensues, and the Soviet government demands in strict terms a withdrawal of the force, which the Swedish government does, after realizing they have troops in Finland and firing Douglas for his actions. Sweden returns to neutrality - for a small while at least.
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