Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

24 November 1943

Air Force:
6 enemy sorties; 7 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 3 planes

Finnish daily losses: 6


I/JR 25 command post near Karhumäki, Maaselkä Isthmus.
From left: Captain Saariaho, Major Toropainen, Captains Launikari and Tahka

***

25 November 1943

3.D/Uhtua: At 7am the enemy began heavy artillery and mortar barrage on base "Horseshoe", firing ~500 rounds in the first five minutes followed by another 500 during the next 30 minutes. About 15 minutes from the start of the barrage, enemy forces advanced at two points into Finnish positions. The situation was quickly resolved with counter-attacks which dislodged the enemy forces. Soviet losses were an estimated 40 dead, Finns lose two men dead and 16 wounded.

Air Force:
23 enemy sorties; 38 planes
7 Finnish sorties; 13 planes

Finnish daily losses: 22


German barrage balloon over Jäniskoski power plant.

***

26 November 1943

Air Force:
8 enemy sorties; 10 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 8

***

27 November 1943

Air Force:
8 enemy sorties; 8 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 20

***

28 November 1943

Air Force:
7 enemy sorties; 7 planes

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

29 November 1943

3.D/Uhtua: Enemy attack at the Malviainen road repelled in the evening.

Finns responds to Soviet queries of peace talks by stating they are ready to negotiate new borders based on the pre-Winter War situation.

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 3 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 21

***

30 November 1943

Aunus Group: Soviet artillery and mortar fires at a Finnish supply depot in the Gjilno(?) area. Ammunition and food storages are destroyed along with stables and two field kitchens. Three Finns die and seven are wounded.

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane
2 Finnish sorties; 2 planes

Finnish daily losses: 21

Finnish losses in the war so far: 42,263

[Dowly]

Hola senor and senors with titties.

I got a early christmas present in the form of a book: Jatkosodan torjuntataisteluja 1942-1944 (Defensive battles of the Continuation War 1942-1944).

It tells about the defensive battles of 1942 to 1944 (duh) from alternating Soviet and Finnish views. (Finnish mostly by Ari Raunio, a Finnish historian; Soviet side by professor of St.Petersburg University Juri Kilin).

My question is: is there interest in me posting translations (and maps) from those 1942 battles afterwards? It's six months 'til Summer '44 so I might have time to write some proper stuff on the 1942 battles (IIRC, there's 3 Soviet offensives) afterwards.

Let me know, I can't decide.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Hola senor and senors with titties.

I got a early christmas present in the form of a book: Jatkosodan torjuntataisteluja 1942-1944 (Defensive battles of the Continuation War 1942-1944).

It tells about the defensive battles of 1942 to 1944 (duh) from alternating Soviet and Finnish views. (Finnish mostly by Ari Raunio, a Finnish historian; Soviet side by professor of St.Petersburg University Juri Kilin).

My question is: is there interest in me posting translations (and maps) from those 1942 battles afterwards? It's six months 'til Summer '44 so I might have time to write some proper stuff on the 1942 battles (IIRC, there's 3 Soviet offensives) afterwards.

Let me know, I can't decide.

I'm interested

[Schroeder]

You don't need to go into too much detail but to see things from the Soviet perspective would be interesting.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

You don't need to go into too much detail but to see things from the Soviet perspective would be interesting.

Yeah, I can do that for the September 1942 Kriv offensive.

[Dowly]

1 December 1943

Air Force:
7 enemy sorties; 8 planes
5 Finnish sorties; 7 planes

Finnish daily losses: 9


Terrain in front of Base "Kukko". (Rukajärvi)

***

2 December 1943

Air Force:
2 enemy sorties; 3 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 2 planes
- Two Soviet planes shot down by Germans in North Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 8

***

3 December 1943

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane
4 Finnish sorties; 7 planes

Finnish daily losses: 17

***

4 December 1943

14.D/Rukajärvi: 20-man Soviet strike team attacks Finnish sentry post in the Ontajärvi sector. Four Finns are wounded when a hand grenade is thrown in to their dugout and the sentry is killed in a firefight.

Air Force:
3 enemy sorties; 3 planes

Finnish daily losses: 14

***

5 December 1943

Air Force:
5 enemy sorties; 6 planes
11 Finnish sorties; 23 planes

Finnish daily losses: 11


Handcrafted ship by Sergeant Asikainen.

***

6 December 1943

Finland celebrates its 26th Independence Day.

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 8 planes
8 Finnish sorties; 15 planes

Finnish daily losses: 8


Jäger preparing to head out on a patrol behind enemy lines. (Rukajärvi)

***

7 December 1943

Aunus Group: Small enemy attack in the Koromyslova area repelled. Soviet losses at least 10 dead, Finnish losses 3 dead and 4 wounded.

Air Force:
18 enemy sorties; 32 planes
5 Finnish sorties; 12 planes

Finnish daily losses: 12

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Jäger preparing to head out on a patrol behind enemy lines. (Rukajärvi)

I find it funny that you call your troops Jäger in Finnish. It's the same term in German (for several branches) and literally means hunter(s).

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I find it funny that you call your troops Jäger in Finnish. It's the same term in German (for several branches) and literally means hunter(s).

Well, we had the whole Jäger Movement thing.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Well, we had the whole Jäger Movement thing.

Never heard of it.

[Dowly]

8 December 1943

Aunus Group: "In the northwest side of lake Gangjärvi, our patrol entered enemy's living area, taking by surprise a 16-man group who were practising shooting. All but one of the group were killed, the survivor was taken prisoner. Before leaving, the patrol destroyed a living dugout and a log bunker. No own losses."

Air Force:
45 enemy sorties; 75 planes
11 Finnish sorties; 17 planes

Finnish daily losses: 18

***

9 December 1943

Air Force:
19 enemy sorties; 48 planes
7 Finnish sorties; 11 planes

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

10 December 1943

14.D/Rukajärvi: Enemy prisoner who took part in the encirclement battle on 21 November says their losses in the battle were 162 dead.

Air Force:
6 enemy sorties; 23 planes
5 Finnish sorties; 6 planes

Finnish daily losses: 11


Preparing a pig for Christmas table. (Rukajärvi)

***

11 December 1943

3.D/Uhtua: "During the night an enemy group of unknown strength attacked our sentry post from behind on the Mutalampi - Ruokojärvi isthmus. The enemy withrew with losses after a short firefight, leaving behind 7 dead. Own losses 2 wounded."

Maaselkä Group: "In the lake Kindasjärvi area, a six men enemy unit snuck through our obstacles and in front of our trenches during the dark. At dawn, they entered our trenches after wounding a sentry with a satchel charge. Under our small arms fire, the enemy patrol quicly withdrew taking with them the wounded sentry."

Air Force:
63 enemy sorties; 107 planes
26 Finnish sorties; 45
One enemy plane shot down by AA over Karelian Isthmus.

Finnish daily losses: 15


Jäger patrol moving through the white wilderness. (Rukajärvi)

***

12 December 1943

Air Force:
17 enemy sorties; 41 enemy planes
15 Finnish sorties; 31 planes
One enemy DC-3 shot down by two Finnish Brewsters over Luulajärvi.

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

13 December 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "To the east of Kapujärvi, our patrol destroyed small enemy base. Five living dugouts were destroyed and an estimated 40 enemies were killed. Own losses 2 dead (incl. patrol leader 2nd Lieutenant Ryynänen) and 6 wounded."

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 7 planes
6 Finnish sorties; 11 planes

Finnish daily losses: 22

***

14 December 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "At 8.40am around 200 enemies attacked one of our bases near the Vaskisavotta road, reaching our trenches. The enemy was thrown back by an immediate counter-attack, fought in close quarters. By 9.15am, the base was fully cleared of enemies. Enemy lost an estimated 60 men dead. Own losses 3 dead and 16 wounded."

Air Force:
31 enemy sorties; 41 planes
11 Finnish sorties; 19 planes

Finnish daily losses: 14

[Dowly]

15 December 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "In the morning, around 600 shells were fired on our base at the mouth of Rajajoki river. At the same time movement was observed on the enemy side which was quickly dispersed by our artillery. Between 8.15am and 9.00am a heavy artillery barrage landed on the Valkeasaari road terrain after which approx. company size enemy attacked our positions under smokescreen. The enemy advance was stopped already before our obstacles and they began a slow withdraw that lasted until 12.30pm. Based on cries and medical staff, we inflicted heavy losses to them. Our artillery was an important part of stopping the attack. Our losses were 3 dead and 8 wounded.

At 8.30am our strike team (3 x platoon) advanced, under artillery cover, into enemy positions in the Harvasuo area. After the obstacles were breached, our troops assaulted and cleared an area 500m wide and 400m deep destroying 11 dugouts and the men inside them. Enemy casualties are estimated at 35 dead, we also took two prisoners (from IR62). Own losses were 6 dead and 21 wounded."

Air Force:
10 enemy sorties; 12 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 19

***

16 December 1943

Air Force:
2 enemy sorties; 2 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 7 planes

Finnish daily losses: 20


Pfc. Horttana showing a Lynx he shot earlier. (Vitele)

***

17 December 1943

Air Force:
67 enemy sorties; 84 planes
12 Finnish sorties; 29 planes
- 1 Finnish VL Pyry plane lost in a training accident. Pilot (Cpl. Simonen) killed.

Finnish daily losses: 7

***

18 December 1943

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 4 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

19 December 1943

Air Force:
13 enemy sorties; 15 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 6 planes

Finnish daily losses: 15


A finnish soldier returning to base after finding a suitable tree for Christmas. (Valkeasaari)

***

20 December 1943

Karelian Isthmus: During the past ten days, 75 Finnish patrols have been sent to the no man's land/enemy side.

Air Force:
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 9

***

21 December 1943

Air Force:
2 enemy sorties; 2 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 16

[Dowly]

(wont be here tomorrow so here goes)


***


22 December 1943

Air Force:
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

23 December 1943

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 4 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 11


Choir singing in a dug-out. (JR 60/Maaselkä)

***

24 December 1943

Maaselkä Group: "Today at 12.35pm attacked enemy, whose strength we have not been able to assess, suddenly against one of our bases in the southern end of lake Jolmajärvi. Thirteen men from the base managed to break through from the encirclement. The enemy withdrew once the fight had ended. Patrol sent to the base found four of ours dead, seven wounded. Eleven men are still missing. Our combat patrol is in pursuit."

14.D/Rukajärvi: "Two horse led carriages on their way to deliver Christmas presents to our southernmost base at lake Ontajärvi were ambushed by a 20-man enemy patrol. Two men were killed and one man and two Lottas are missing, presumed taken prisoner. Our patrols are in pursuit."

Air Force:
No activity

Finnish daily losses: 25


Battalion commander visiting the outermost positions of base "Koivu".

***

25 December 1943

Air Force:
5 enemy sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 21


Christmas time in a dug-out. (Uhtua area)

***

26 December 1943

45 soldiers from II/JR 5 are jailed for the night after a fight breaks out during Boxing Day celebrations in Karhumäki. (Alcohol was involved)

Air Force:
No activity.

Finnish daily losses: 11

***

27 December 1943

Air Force:
5 enemy sorties; 7 planes
- One enemy plane downed by AA on the Karelian Isthmus; pilot captured.
3 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

28 December 1943

Air Force:
46 enemy sorties; 84 planes
- Enemy has bombed rear areas on Karelian and Maaselkä Isthmuses, and in Rukajärvi.
13 Finnish sorties; 31 planes

Finnish daily losses: 19

***

29 December 1943

Air Force:
7 enemy sorties; 28 planes
20 Finnish sorties; 50 planes
- One Finnish Junkers 88 lost.

Finnish daily losses: 11

***

30 December 1943

Air Force:
6 enemy sorties; 9 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 3 planes

Finnish daily losses: 15


Sentry standing guard in Ohta.

***

31 December 1943

3.D/Uhtua: "Own 150-man combat patrol made contact with a 260-man enemy unit in grid 7550/9955 where it had dug in. The enemy was pushed to river Kostamus, which it crossed by swimming. Enemy losses ~20 dead and two POW. Own losses 5 dead and 3 wounded."

Air Force:
2 enemy sorties; 2 planes
8 Finnish sorties; 16 planes

Finnish daily losses: 20

Finnish losses in December: 440

Finnish losses in 1943: 6,169

Finnish losses in the war so far: 42,703

***

For anyone interested, here are the weekly thread views from late September to end of 2018:
https://i.imgur.com/iwS2skx.png

And thus ends 1943/2018. Happy New Year!

[STEED]

Thanks Dowly for another great year of the continuation war.

I take it next year this one ends and the new one starts, really looking forward to the final battle that changed Stalin's mind to invade Finland and the Lapland war.

Well done.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by STEED

Thanks Dowly for another great year of the continuation war.

I take it next year this one ends and the new one starts, really looking forward to the final battle that changed Stalin's mind to invade Finland and the Lapland war.

Well done.

What Steed said

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by STEED

I take it next year this one ends and the new one starts, really looking forward to the final battle that changed Stalin's mind to invade Finland and the Lapland war.

Yeah... I should probably start writing those Summer 1944 entries soon..


***


1 January 1944

Aunus Group: "About 3km to the west of Miroskin(sp?) at the mouth of Palandapuro river enemy started a heavy barrage in the morning at our positions. At the same time a enemy combat patrol managed to partially enter our trenches from which it was quickly thrown out."

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 6 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 14

***

2 January 1944

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 6 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 8

***

3 January 1944

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

4 January 1944

Men born from 1 January to 30 June 1926 are called into service.

Air Force:
No activity.

Finnish daily losses: 8


View of no-man's-land in Ohta.