2 March 1940 - DAY 94 of Winter War
Three Soviet divisions launch a massive general offensive.
The fiercest fighting is on the Karelian Isthmus, at Käremäenlahti to the south of Viipuri and in the Lyykylä sector east of the city. The Finns are forced to withdraw from the frontline strongholds.
Enemy strikes towards the islands of Tuppuransaari and Teikarsaari are supported by a massive artillery bombardment. A Finnish counterattack around midday is unsuccessful and Tuppuransaari runs out of ammunition. Both islands are lost to the enemy.
The enemy also manages to reach land on the western shore of Viipurinlahti bay.
In Ladoga Karelia, the Soviet artillery in Kollaa begins an intensive bombardment at 6.30 in the morning, followed by an assault with two divisions across the entire breadth of the Finnish positions.
Finnish reconnaissance planes have in the past couple of days observed firing stations for approximately 50 enemy artillery batteries in the centre of the Kollaa front. During the course of the day the enemy artillery in Kollaa fires about 30,000 rounds, against less than 1,000 on the Finnish side.
Despite the enemy's massive numerical superiority, the fighting becomes bogged down in trench warfare with very heavy casualties on both sides.
The enemy artillery at times reaches a rate of 200 rounds a minute.
Despite the extremely difficult conditions and the pounding it has taken from the air due to the Soviet Union's aerial superiority, the Finnish defence nevertheless holds firm.
The Russians also launch assaults with artillery and tank support on the River Aittojoki.
The Russian assaults are repulsed.
In the north, the Finns defending the Kuusijoki line in Kuhmo are unable to withstand the Russian assault.
The assault was preceded by an artillery bombardment of around 3,000 rounds.
In Salla, nine members of a company of Swedish volunteers are killed when the company is surrounded by the Russians. The enemy loses 200 of its own men.
In Ladoga Karelia, an enemy ski battalion is wiped out between Mustalampi and Lavajärvi.
Tampere is bombed by over a hundred enemy aircraft, including some fighters.
Over 70 buildings are destroyed by Soviet bombers in Lahti.
Foreign Minister Tanner explains to the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee why the Government has postponed acceptance of the Soviet Union's peace terms.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Christian Günther delays passing on Finland's answer to Moscow.
The Allies ask the Norwegian and Swedish Governments to allow their troops to pass through Norway and Sweden en route to Finland.
Norway and Sweden refuse permission.
A battalion of Hungarian volunteers arrives in Finland.
The office of the Canadian Prime Minister announces there are no legal obstacles to Canadian volunteers participating in the war in Finland. The first batch of volunteers board ship in Ottawa en route for Finland.
Daily Finnish losses: 523
Firefighter at work in Lappeenranta after an air raid.