25 March 1942
No entry.
Finnish daily losses: 22
Miniatures built by Finnish pilots. (Viiksjärvi)
***
26 March 1942
Detachment Pajari's troops, ordered to take
Suursaari, prepare to attack on the next day.
Finnish daily losses: 15
Detachment Pajari's men having a bite to eat in Haapasaari (Northeast of Suursaari).
***
27 March 1942
Detachment Pajari attacks Suursaari from three sides at 0400hrs.
The attack surprises the enemy completely, but they manage to organize some defenses. The Finns take advantage of the surprise and quickly capture key terrain points around the island. The town of Suurkylä and the highest point on the island, Pohjoiskorkia, are both captured during the afternoon. The remaining enemy troops are killed or driven off the island by next morning.
Enemy casualties are 213, Finns lose 61 KIA and 109 WIA.
Soviet counter-attack in Louhi, in northern Finland. After three days of fighting, the attacker retreats.
Flight Regiment 3's Brewsters' shoot down 27 Soviet planes during the Suursaari operation.
Finnish daily losses: 103
Finnish troops assembled for victory parade in Suursaari.
***
28 March 1942
Fighting in Suursaari ends.
Battle for Suursaari
(Source: Nenye, Munter, Wirtanen and Birks:
Finland at War - The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-1945)
Finnish daily losses: 25
Major-General Pajari speaking to Soviet POWs. (Suursaari)
***
29 March 1942
The "For Finnish children" medal (För Finlands barn/Suomen lapsille), designed by Wäinö Aaltonen, is finished and can be bought in Finland and Sweden.
Finnish daily losses: 25
"Alarm! Enemy patrol has been detected!" (Suntu)
***
30 March 1942
No entry.
Finnish daily losses: 21
***
31 March 1942
No entry.
Finnish daily losses: 27
Heinrich Himmler visiting General Hjalmar Siilasvuo (center). (Photo from 27th)