27 January - DAY 59 of Winter War
Karelian Isthmus: the enemy artillery continues its increasingly fierce pounding of the main Finnish defensive position on the Isthmus.
The 'Million Fort' in the Lähde sector to the east of Lake Summajärvi is badly damaged by the enemy's heavy artillery.
Ladoga Karelia: near Pitkäranta, Soviet troops take the offshore island of Putkisaari.
IV Army Corps' combat detachment and battalion commanders hold talks at the 13th Division's command post.
Major-General Hägglund gives the command to take the 'mottis' at Kelivaara and West Lemetti.
Abroad: Count Eric von Rosen, the Swedish Finnophile who donated the first aircraft in the Finnish Air Force, believes Finland can withstand the Soviet pressure and does not believe the air raids will undermine Finnish resistance.
An editorial in the Red Army paper Krasnaya Zvezda claims the "Red Army is fulfilling an honourable international obligation in Finland."
The American daily The Chicago News suggests the 1940 Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to Finland.
Sweden's Foreign Minister warns the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm, Madame Alexandra Kollontai, that continuation of the war against Finland could lead to the involvement of the Western powers.
(Click for larger photo)
Kelivaara.
Daily losses: 122
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28 January - DAY 60 of Winter War
K.J. Ståhlberg, independent Finland's first President, turns 75.
Karelian Isthmus: a reconnaissance patrol from the Finnish 1st Division has returned from a successful two-day mission along the railway line to Raivola and back along the frozen Gulf of Finland.
Ladoga Karelia: Detachment Pajari repulses the Soviet offensive on the River Aittojoki.
During the afternoon, the Soviet troops in Vieksinki voluntarily withdraw from the village, leaving behind over 200 fallen comrades.
The Finns take the Kelivaara 'motti'.
The assault on West Lemetti 'motti' is unsuccessful.
In the Ilomantsi sector the enemy makes several attempts to take Petkelniemi.
Karelian Isthmus: enemy bombers hit a field hospital marked with a red cross in a vicarage in Johannes. The bomb kills 20 patients, two members of the women's auxiliary defence forces and two nurses. Several others are wounded in the attack.
The enemy also bombs the coastal towns of Kotka, Loviisa, Hanko and Rauma.
29 fallen servicemen are buried in a joint service in Uurainen church.
The crew of a Blenheim bomber on a transfer flight from Tampere to Luonetjärvi are killed when the plane crashes in Siikakangas
'Père Clément', the renowned French general Clément Grandcourt arrives in Helsinki to enlist as a volunteer in the Finnish Army.
Daily losses: 110
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29 January - DAY 61 of Winter War
Molotov announces through the Swedish Foreign Minister that the Soviet Union is in principle willing to discuss peace.
Northern Finland: at 5 o'clock in the morning Colonel Siilasvuo's 9th Division launches a counteroffensive to destroy the Russian 54th Division in Kuhmo.
Central Isthmus: in Summa, the enemy carries out a probing assault preceded by heavy preparatory artillery fire in the Hanhiojansuu sector. The Finnish defences repulse the assault.
Eastern Isthmus: in Taipale, the enemy breaks through in the Terenttilä area. Intense fighting is still going on.
Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops continue their attacks on the West Lemetti 'motti'. Six Blenheim bombers from 10 Squadron bomb enemy transports at the mouth of the River Taipaleenjoki. When one of the aircraft has to make a forced landing, the others land on the ice and rescue the crew.
Karelian Isthmus: Finnish fighters shoot down two enemy fire control planes.
Häme: an enemy bomber makes a forced landing on Lake Iso Roinevesi in the municipality of Hauho. The Finnish air Force inherits a completely undamaged Russian DB-3 bomber.
Ladoga Karelia: Soviet aircraft bomb Mantsi Fort.
Turku: a late air-raid warning allows enemy bombers to catch the city by surprise and 36 people are killed on their way to the air-raid shelters; most of the victims are hit in front of the main post office.
Finland's Minister of Social Affairs K.-A. Fagerholm travels to Oslo to appeal to Norway to send troops and fighter aircraft to Finland.
Abroad: tickets for the bandy match between Finland and Sweden to raise funds for Finland are sold out. King Gustav V of Sweden is among those who have bought a ticket.
Daily losses: 126
Soviet POWs at Matkaselkä.