29 October 1944

Finnish Jaegers launch an attack at German positions in Tankavaara.

SKDL (Finnish People's Democratic League) is founded.

Finnish daily losses: 52


http://i.imgur.com/nMN8GEcm.jpg

Two German operated Somuas (?) destroyed near Tornio.



***

30 October 1944

Finnish forces capture Muonio.

Finnish daily losses: 31


http://i.imgur.com/8StV9Kzm.jpg

Finnish soldier sitting by a burning building in Muonio.



***

31 October 1944

SKP (Communist Party of Finland) is registered.

Fighting in Tankavaara ends as Germans begin to withdraw north according to plan.

President Mannerheim proposes the dissolution of the Civil Guard.

Anti-aircraft units are given strict orders not to engage targets other than those positively identified as German.

Finnish daily losses: 27

Finnish losses in October: 1,439

Finnish losses in the war: 64,786

1 November 1944

The Allied Control Commission demands all POWs taken and then recruited into the Finnish Army to be handed over to the Soviet Union by 10 November.

Schools start again.

Finnish daily losses: 30

***

2 November 1944

Finnish troops briefly encircle a German regiment in the Kaunispää area. The Germans, however, manage to break out by evening.

Finnish daily losses: 39

***

3 November 1944

The Parliament accepts President Mannerheim's proposal to abolish the Civil Guard.

Soviet Captain is shot in Lauttasaari, Helsinki as he was leading a column to Porkkala. Soviet Union blames Finns for his death, but as Finnish authorities are not allowed to examine the body or question any witnesses the case is closed.

Finnish daily losses: 14

***

4 November 1944

According to preliminary calculations, the total material losses of the displaced populace is over 30 million Finnish Marks. (~5.2mil euros)

Finnish daily losses: 24

***

5 November 1944

The Jaeger Brigade captures Ivalo.

Last of HQ's LRRP units is flown back from behind enemy lines by Flight Detachment Sauri.

Finnish daily losses: 20

http://i.imgur.com/m4vEZ1Bm.jpg
Jaegers crossing a stream near Ivalo.

***

6 November 1944

Finnish advance halts at Palojoensuu.

Finnish daily losses: 12

http://i.imgur.com/TeXG4Rxm.jpg
Not much was left of Ivalo after Germans left.

***

7 November 1944

N/A

Finnish daily losses: 22

In other news, I got my great uncles service records at hand. Unfortunately, and as I expected, they do not shed any light to what happened to him on 7 July 1944 in Äyräpää where he went missing.


But, as I have them now, here's what it reads:



Page 1

Physical description: 175cm/70kg, blue eyes
Gas mask number (size?): 2
Boot size: 44

Name: Tikkanen, Martti Leo
Date and place of birth: 28.10.1920, Keitele
Place of residence and religion: Keitele, Lutheran
Father's name: Heikki
Closest relative and his/her place of residence: (father) Heikki, Keitele
Married/Unmarried: Unmarried
Occupation: Farmer
Education: Elementary School
Language: Finnish
Sentences before service: None
Time in Civil Guard: None
Date of military oath: 21.7.1940
Sentences/punishments during service: None
Basic properties: Punctuality/good, diligence/good, observation/good, individual progression/good, behaviour/good
Type of service: Armed
Description of service: AT-gun assistant loader, 12 months

Notes:
-Transferred to I/KTR.14 (1st Battalion/Field Artillery Regiment 14) on 15.6.1940
-Transferred to Tyk.K./7Pr. (Gun company/7th Brigade) on 1.11.1940
-10.6.1941 Tyk.K./JR 7 (Infantry Regiment 7 was formed from 7th Brigade)

On the side of page 1 there is other misc. information about his service. Note that the records are not in chronological order and a lot is repetition.

Specialized as: AT gunner
Rank: Private

Draft group number and place: 57/5/40, Kuopio
Date of draft: 21.3.1940
Draftee class: A1 (in full condition for service)
Ordered to begin military service on: 28.3.1940
Ordered to: Infantry Training Center 6 (Jv.k.k.6)
Arrived on: 28.3.1940
Discharged as fully served on: 27.3.1942
Length of service: 2 years
Place of residence: Keitele
Transferred to reserve: 27.3.1942

By decision of Ministry of Defence on 7.11.1947, declared KIA on 7.7.1944.

***

Page 2 (Service after general mobilization for the Continuation War)

Arrived on/to: 10.6.1941/Infantry Regiment 7
Dog tag #: 497978
Ordered to: Gun Company(14.)/IR 7, assistant loader
Closest relative and place of residence: (mother) Hilja, Keitele
Transfers: 21.7.1944 Iisalmi Civil Guard precinct (Some internal re-organization stuff I guess, he had been MIA for 2 weeks by now)
Description of service: AT-gunner (assistant loader) 14./IR 7 10.6.1941 - 7.7.1944

Promotions/medals: Medal of Liberty, 2nd class
Battles:
Tyrjä 30.6.-4.8.1941
Fighting in SW of Lake Ladoga 6.-20.8.1941
Karelian Isthmus 28.8-5.9.1941
Karelian Isthmus 4.10.1941-7.7.1944

Wounded in Ohta on 13.7.1943.
(I read their war diaries sometime ago and there was a mention of private Tikkanen being wounded in the arm from a mortar frag, might be this occasion)

Notes: MIA on 7.7.1944 at Äyräpää, company commander 2nd Lieutenant [signature I can't make out)


The rest two pages are his KIA/MIA reports, stating his name, closest relative and place of disappearance.

https://i.imgur.com/DRHYfpF.gif



8 November 1944

The Control Commission demands the surrender of all prisoners of war in the Finnish army.

On 1 November, the Control Commission submits a memorandum to Foreign Minister Enckel demanding the surrender of all prisoners of war who have served in the Finnish army by 10 November. The memorandum states that the Finnish military command has used prisoners of war for active combat missions in violation of international agreements and points out that the names of the prisoners have not been included in the list of prisoners of war.
The prisoners in question are soldiers of the so-called kindred nationalities who served in two separate battalions - Kindred Warrior Battalion 3 and Independent Battalion 6 - but who, in the Commission's view, are still Soviet soldiers.
The soldiers of Independent Battalion 6 are Ingric people who remained in the German-occupied areas, while the men of Kindred Warrior Battalion 3 are former prisoners of war, but were considered by the Finns to have been released from military captivity after joining the Finnish army.

Military demobilisation begins in earnest.

As requested by the Allied Control Commission on 30 October 1944, the general demobilisation of the army began in the country, which, according to the Armistice Agreement, must be completed by 5 December.
In less than a month, the total number of men to be discharged is around 380 000, which requires a large number of transport vehicles. Civilians are therefore urged to avoid any unnecessary travel.

Finnish daily losses: 30

https://i.imgur.com/0GjVhBF.jpg
Finnish 75/K.44 AT-gun (First time I've ever seen it!)

You can read more about it from https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ALMOST4.htm

10 November 1944

The Government publishes guidelines for the re-employment of conscripts and other persons released from military service.

Finnish daily losses: 12

***

11 November 1944

The ban on dancing is lifted.

Finnish daily losses: 6

***

12 November 1944

The State Alcohol Company will stop all sales and serving of alcohol until further notice. The reason given is military discharges.

A Douglas DC-2 aircraft "Hanssin Jukka" takes off with a six-man parachute patrol, which is supposed to jump into Finland's Arm, but fog prevents them from reaching the target. The attempt is repeated the next day, but this time enemy fire prevents the jump.

Finnish daily losses: 12


http://i.imgur.com/WsZMAZVm.jpg
Finnish operated Panzer IV Ausf. J on the Merikoski Bridge in Oulu.

13 November 1944

Group Lagus' jaegers reach Inari.

The country's biggest rationing crime case begins at the Mynämäki Magistrates' Court. The case against Raukan Saha ja Mylly Oy is about over-milling of grain and a total of 355 people are to be prosecuted.

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

14 November 1944

N/A

Finnish daily losses: 8

***

15 November 1944

N/A

Finnish daily losses: 12

***

16 November 1944

The last long-distance patrol of the Lapland War, led by Lieutenant Pentti Pernu, returns from the enemy's rear.

Finnish daily losses: 20

17 November 1944

The President appoints a coalition government led by J.K. Paasikivi

The Castrén government's difficulties in dealing with the Allied Control Commission lead to its decision to tender its resignation on 10 November. On the same day, a delegation of representatives of the parliamentary groups visits Paasikivi to ask the 74-year-old to form a new cabinet.
The next day, Mannerheim gives Paasikivi the task of forming a government. Paasikivi is ready to consider the composition of the new government with open mind. Mannerheim, for his part, believes that the government cannot include communists before the elections. Paasikivi finally persuades Mannerheim to accept that governing the country now will be impossible without the Communists.
The third government of Mannerheim's presidency is appointed on 17 November 1944. More than half of the members are new, and the cabinet also includes four men from the peace opposition who believe the war should have been continued.

-

The Headquarters' long-range patrol flight squadron "Jauri" is disbanded and merged into Squadron 44.

Finnish daily losses: 11