Kustaa Anders Tapola (29 March 1895 – 2 April 1971) was a Finnish General of Infantry and Knight of the Mannerheim Cross.

In addition to commanding formations up to the size of an army corps, he held several notable staff positions, such as Army Chief-of-Staff, Chief of the General Headquarters Operations Section, Commandant of the War College, and Inspector of Military Schools and Infantry.

[1][2] In the summer of 1917, he was involved in founding White Guard units in Häme and Satakunta, and in late December 1917, enrolled in a two-week squad and platoon leader course organized by the in Vimpeli.

During this same time period, he himself studied first in the Officer Cadet School and then in the Finnish War College.

[1] During the Winter War, waged between Finland and the Soviet Union in late 1939 and early 1940, Tapola acted as the chief of staff of the Army of the Isthmus.

He was considered for the position of Chief of Defence multiple times, but his appointment was blocked for political reasons.

Tapola resigned in 1958 after an amended budget proposed that the funds allocated to the planning board be instead given to the Ministry of Defence.