6 January - DAY 38 of Winter War
Ladoga Karelia: the counteroffensive by the Finnish IV Army Corps north of Lake Ladoga begins in temperatures of -29° Celsius.
Southern Finland: Lieutenant Jorma Sarvanto in his Fokker fighter shoots down six Soviet aircraft from a formation of nine on their way home from a bombing raid over Kuopio. The action in the skies between Utti and Kotka lasts around five minutes.
Viipuri: enemy aircraft cause serious damage in the city.
Northern Finland: the Russian commander of the Soviet 44th Division on the Raate road orders his troops to break out to the east, taking all their equipment with them. Just before midnight they make their final unsuccessful attempt to break out and Finnish troops record a crushing victory.
Daily losses: 140
Staged photo of surrendering Soviet soldiers. (Karvia POW camp)
***
7 January - DAY 39 of Winter War
Northern Finland: the fighting on the Raate road peters out during the course of the morning. The great battle is over.
The booty taken on the Raate road includes 43 tanks, 71 field and anti-aircraft guns, 29 anti-tank guns, a number of armoured cars and tractors, 260 lorries, 1,170 horses, and an assortment of infantry weaponry, ammunition, and medical and communications material.
Almost 17,500 men of the enemy 44th Division perish at Raate, a loss of approximately 70% of the Division's strength. 1,200 enemy soldiers are taken prisoner.
Finnish losses are also severe: 900 dead and 1,200 wounded, which is approximately 15% of the 9th Division's combat strength.
Immediately after the battle Finland takes foreign journalists to view the combat zone.
Commander of the Army, 1st Class Semyon Timoshenko, is appointed overall commander of the Soviet northwest front on the Karelian Isthmus.
The Supreme Military Soviet decides to focus the main strike on the Viipuri sector.
Daily losses: 89
Shot down Russian Polikarpov R-5 at Suistamo.
***
8 January - DAY 40 of Winter War
At 7 o'clock in the morning Moscow radio transmits a propaganda broadcast in Finnish in which it claims that "unspeakable terror" has broken out in Finland. According to Moscow "people are being shot in droves and supporters of the Kuusinen Government are being hunted all over the country".
Ladoga Karelia: Detachment Pajari defeats a Soviet battalion at Viitavaara.
Foreign Minister Tanner entrusts Hella Wuolijoki with the task of sounding out the possibility of peace with the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm, Madam Alexandra Kollontai.
Northern Finland: Finnish troops carry out guerrilla strikes in northern Finland.
Ostrobothnia: Detachment Sisu is formed in Lapua, composed of foreign volunteers.
Prime Minister Ryti reviews Finland's economic situation for the foreign press.
Foreign Minister Tanner reminds US envoy Arthur Schoenfeld that Finland has captured more materiel as booty from the enemy than she has received in the form of aid from any friendly power.
Map of the Suomussalmi and Raate Road battles.
Daily losses: 74
Captured Soviet T-26 at Raate Road.