17 November 1943
14.D/Rukajärvi: Small enemy patrol attempting to get into Finnish trenches in the main road sector is thrown back. Four Finns are wounded.
3.D/Uhtua: A platoon size enemy supported by artillery manages to enter Finnish trenches during the night from where it is immediately driven off by Finnish artillery, mortar and smallarms fire. Seven Finns are wounded.
Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 4 planes
17 Finnish sorties; 38 planes
1 Finnish Curtiss fighter is lost in mid-air collision with a Finnish Blenheim over Aunus. Pilot of the fighter, Lieutenant Aalto, is killed.
Finnish daily losses: 10
***
18 November 1943
Karelian Isthmus: In the Murata road area Cavalryman Laukas of the HRR (Hämeen Ratsuväki Rykmentti/Häme Cavalry Regiment) drives away a five man enemy patrol that had snuck into Finnish trenches.
14.D/Rukajärvi: On the north side of the main road a Finnish sergeant is taken prisoner while on sentry duty.
Aunus Group is ordered to begin planning fall back positions on the lake Ladoga-lake Syskyjärvi line.
Air Force:
7 enemy sorties; 7 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 2 planes
Finnish daily losses: 9
***
19 November 1943
Karelian Isthmus: Small enemy patrol tries to take a Finnish NCO as prisoner in Valkeasaari. Other sentries manage to intervene and kill one enemy as the rest withdraw.
14.D/Rukajärvi: During early morning a sizeable enemy group attacks a Finnish sentry post which has to be abandoned after a short firefight. After destroying the sentry post the enemy group leaves.
Air Force:
40 enemy sorties; 191 planes
18 Finnish sorties; 45 planes
- Most enemy activity over Gulf of Finland and Karelian Isthmus. Steamship Pukkio was attacked by five IL-2s and three Lagg-3s to the north of Suursaari. Five sailors were wounded.
- Four planes attacked shipment south of Seivästö. Finnish AA shot down one plane.
- Near Ristisaari island German AA shot down two IL-2s.
- One enemy plane was seen going down near lake Lempaalanjärvi.
- Six aerial fights in which a total of five enemy planes were shot down by Finnish Messerschmitts
Finnish daily losses: 16
First snow has fallen on Maaselkä Isthmus. (I/JR25 Command post)
***
20 November 1943
Soviet Ambassador to Sweden Aleksandra Kollontai informs that if Finland is ready for peace talks they are welcome in Moscow. Kollontai ensures that the USSR is not interested in making Finland a province of the Soviet Union unless Finland's political situation so dictates.
Maaselkä: Three separate attacks towards the town of Poventsa and Stalin's Canal are repulsed during the day. Enemy losses are estimated at 20-26 men dead. Finns lose two men dead, one missing and 13 wounded.
14.D/Rukajärvi: Finns catch up to the group that had attacked the sentry post yesterday and encircle them. Two prisoners inform Finns they're part of Infantry Regiment 345 and the encircled detachment is approximately 300 men strong. Finns have softened the enemy detachment with artillery and mortar fire all day.
Air Force:
11 enemy sorties; 44 planes
10 Finnish sorties; 31 planes
Finnish daily losses: 21
Sentry in Kuuttilahti, Aunus.
***
21 November 1943
14.D/Rukajärvi: The softening of the encircled enemy detachment continues until 10.40am when Finns take hold of the terrain. At the same time the enemy manages to break through to the north with the help of another detachment that attacks the rear of Finnish encircling forces in that direction. The enemy has lost at least 100 men dead in the fighting. Finns lose 11 men dead, 21 wounded and one man missing.
Air Force:
10 enemy sorties; 12 planes
5 Finnish; 7 planes
Finnish daily losses: 16
***
22 November 1943
Aunus Group: Enemy attack supported by artillery in the area of Karelka is repelled. Thirteen enemy KIA are counted, Finns lose 1 officer KIA.
Air Force:
17 enemy sorties; 49 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 6 planes
Finnish daily losses: 11
Some of the fallen Soviet soldiers of the encirclement battle in Rukajärvi.
***
23 November 1943
Air Force:
No activity.
Finnish daily losses: 11