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Old 12-26-15, 08:19 AM   #31
Dowly
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26 December - DAY 27 of Winter War

Eastern Isthmus: at Taipale, the Russian troops which have overrun Kelja successfully repulse Finnish attempts at counterattack.

Northern Karelia: the North Karelian Group completes its offensive in the Pielisjärvi sector after two days, having forced the opposing Russian regiment back across the border.

South coast: the enemy bombs Kotka - four people are killed.

Ladoga Karelia: the railway junction at Elisenvaara in the municipality of Kurkijoki is subjected to intensive bombing. One of the bombs kills 29 civilians who had taken refuge in a sewage ditch.

Abroad: Uruguay announces it is to send material aid to Finland.

Mexico also promises to send Finland whatever assistance it can afford.

Daily losses: 135




Wounded Soviet POW. (Location unknown)

Last edited by Dowly; 08-14-18 at 11:18 AM.
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Old 12-26-15, 11:07 AM   #32
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Here's an aerial photo of part of Taipale sector taken in March 1, 1940. Finnish positions didn't much change throughout the war, so this applies to December as well.

http://i.imgur.com/FC7OjCE.jpg

The village of Taipale is to the right of Linnakangas 2, out of picture.
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Old 12-27-15, 12:36 PM   #33
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27 December - DAY 28 of Winter War

Eastern Isthmus: the Finnish counteroffensive at Taipale pushes the Russians back from Kelja around midday.

The Russians lose 2,000 men in the fighting at Lake Suvanto while 516 Finnish soldiers are killed.

Northern Finland: at Hulkonniemi in Suomussalmi, troops of the Finnish 9th Division launch their decisive assault to destroy the enemy's 163rd Division. The Russians are forced to withdraw from Suomussalmi.

Colonel Siilasvuo receives word that the entire Russian 44th Division is concentrated along the Raate road.

Ladoga Karelia: combat detachments of IV Army Corps commanded by Major-General Hägglund launch a broad counteroffensive which lays the basis for January's 'motti' battles. In Lieksa, the Finnish troops attacking in the region of Kivivaara reach the Russian border and take up defensive positions.

Finland's civil defence chief urges the public to make greater use of camouflage and other forms of protection: cars should be painted white and people should also carry with them white camouflage clothing.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin expresses his appreciation to Otto Wille Kuusinen and his 'Finnish People's Government' for their 60th birthday greetings, and wishes them victory in their struggle.

In a radio lecture, Professor V.A. Koskenniemi likens Finland's fight to the struggle of the ancient Greeks against the great powers of the ancient world.

Daily losses: 205




AT-gun at Kiantajärvi.

Last edited by Dowly; 08-14-18 at 11:20 AM.
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Old 12-27-15, 01:04 PM   #34
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I've always found it funny that the Soviet army was in such a crappy state after the Winter War. I would have thought that an army that had just been used in a costly war in which it proved sub par would have made some effort to replenish stocks of ammo, weapons and invest into better training and equipment in general. Yet our forces could more or less march right through them until close to Moscow with those horror stories of Soviet units only having three rifles for 100 soldiers and only every second guy being issued ammo and so on...
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Old 12-27-15, 01:13 PM   #35
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I think the purges really didn't help, I mean the Soviets had some damn good equipment, but there was just no real leadership because all the leadership was either in a gulag or in a shallow grave. So organisation was completely up the creek, supplies and all.
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Old 12-27-15, 01:56 PM   #36
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The Red Army was actually in the process of trying to resolve its organizational failures, by far the most important factors in its poor performance in 1940 and 1941, after the Winter War. The problem was that it was still undergoing this reorganization when Barbarossa was launched.
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Old 12-27-15, 03:25 PM   #37
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Just spent today reading your wonderful thread Dowly very good mate.
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Old 12-28-15, 08:59 AM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STEED View Post
Just spent today reading your wonderful thread Dowly very good mate.


***

28 December - DAY 29 of Winter War

Northern Finland: Finnish troops take the parish village of Suomussalmi. In the early hours of the morning, the Russian divisions which had overrun the village begin to withdraw across Lake Kianta towards the border at Juntusranta.

In Kuhmo, after three days of fighting, Detachment Kekkonen forces a Soviet detachment of around company strength back across the border at Kiekinkoski.

Central Isthmus: enemy tanks penetrate Finnish positions at the northern end of Lake Hatjalahti. The tanks have no infantry support and two are destroyed and two captured.

Sweden: Fritjof Lager, editor of the Stockholm-published Communist paper Ny Dag, is sentenced to two months in prison for abuse of press freedom. The article concerned bore the headline 'A free, independent People's Republic of Finland'.

London: the London dailies, The Times and the Daily Telegraph praise the stalwart Finnish resistance against overwhelming odds

Daily losses: 123

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:26 AM.
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Old 12-29-15, 04:49 AM   #39
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29 December - DAY 30 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: Russian reconnaissance probes are successfully repulsed both at Summa and at Kelja in the Taipale sector. In the Suomussalmi sector in northern Finland, the fighting at Hulkonniemi ends in the destruction of the Soviet 163rd Division.

Still in the north, there is an increasing enemy presence in the Raate sector.

Ladoga Karelia: troops from Detachment Pajari take Viitavaara on the River Aittojoki and enemy troops launch a counterattack.

Soviet aircraft bomb Käkisalmi, Jyväskylä and Vaasa killing six people.

Abroad: in Sweden, a nationwide collection in aid of Finland has attracted major donations totalling 800,000 krona. Altogether, almost 6 million krona was collected.

Stockholm's footplate men donate a day's pay from December as a New Year present for Finland.

The Danish paper Berlingske Tidende publishes an article in praise of Finnish women.

(Click for larger photo)

Loot from north side of Lake Kianta.

Soviet 163rd Division's attack and subsequent retreat


163rd Division attacks Suomussalmi from east and north, capturing the town on the 8th of December.


Group Siilasvuo starts its attack on Suomussalmi on the 11th of December. This attack fails, but the Raate road is cut.


Finnish 9th Division is formed under Colonel Siilasvuo. Group Kari began its attack towards Hulkonniemi on the 27th, causing the Soviet 163rd Division to start retreating from Suomussalmi across Lake Kianta on the 29th of December.

Daily losses: 174

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:27 AM.
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Old 12-30-15, 03:41 AM   #40
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30 December - DAY 31 of Winter War

Northern Finland: Colonel Siilasvuo is ordered to destroy the Russian 44th Division grouped along the Raate road. Finnish troops continue to pursue the retreating enemy across the frozen Lake Kianta.

The enemy's 163rd Division loses around 6,500 men, approximately 35% of its strength.

The Finnish force at Hulkonniemi captures large amounts of enemy material, including 25 artillery pieces, 11 tanks, 150 lorries and 250 horses.

Finnish losses are 350 dead and 600 wounded.

Lake Ladoga: Finnish troops repel an exploratory offensive by the enemy across the newly-frozen Lake Ladoga.

Daily losses: 85

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:27 AM.
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Old 12-31-15, 07:16 AM   #41
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31 December - DAY 32 of Winter War

Northern Finland: the enemy is pushed back across the border in the Kuhmo sector.

Fighting continues at Suomussalmi.

Finnish forces halt the Russian offensives in all sectors along the front.

Jyväskylä and Vaasa are subjected to fierce enemy bombing killing 21 civilians in Jyväskylä and four in Vaasa. Both towns suffer serious damage.

President Kyösti Kallio hosts a reception to celebrate the New Year. Those present include the Speaker of Parliament, Väinö Hakkila, Prime Minister Risto Ryti and Members of Parliament.

Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner gives an interview to the Swedish newspapers' telegraph office, TT, in which he welcomes Swedish volunteers to Finland.

The Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) publishes its New Year message to Finnish workers. The SAK emphasizes the trade union movement's determination to defend Finnish independence and democracy.

Abroad: in Amsterdam, persons unknown raise the Finnish flag on the mast of the Soviet steamship Joseph Stalin. ()

Daily losses: 114

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:28 AM.
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Old 01-03-16, 11:21 AM   #42
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1 January 1940 - DAY 33 of Winter War

Northern Finland: Colonel Siilasvuo determines to smash the Russian 44th Division which has been advancing along the Raate road.

Ladoga Karelia: two battalions of the Finnish 13th Division launch an assault to the north of Ruhtinaanmäki.

Soviet troops capture Viitavaara on the River Aittojoki for the first time.

The numbering of some of the Finnish divisions is changed in order to confuse Soviet intelligence.

The enemy bombs the cities of Oulu in the north and Turku in the southwest. In Oulu, four people are killed and 16 buildings destroyed. Altogether 30 enemy aircraft are used in the attack on Turku.

Abroad: the Swedish sports reporter Torsten Tegnér proposes a bandy match to raise funds for Finland.

10 well-known Russian émigré writers, including Nobel Prize winner Ivan Bunin, issue a communiqué in Paris condemning the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland.

(Click for larger photo)

Soviet tanks at Loimola.

Daily losses: 176

***

2 January 1940 - DAY 34 of Winter War

Northern Finland: the Finnish 9th Division begins its offensive, winning a major victory at Suomussalmi.

Eastern Isthmus: a five-and-a-half-hour artillery barrage ends with the launch of a strong assault by enemy infantry at Kirvesmäki. The Finnish troops hold their ground.

Lake Ladoga: the 28-year-old speed skating world champion, reserve Second Lieutenant Birger Wasenius, is killed along with nine other Finnish soldiers in fighting on the islands of Lake Ladoga.

The 44th course of the Reserve Officer School begins under exceptional circumstances and with an exceptionally large intake.

Abroad: more than 10,000 Swedish homes have volunteered to receive Finnish mothers and children. To date, 50 mothers and 400 children have been evacuated to Sweden.

Daily losses: 137

***

3 January 1940 - DAY 35 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: the Finnish 13th Division breaks off its assault at Ruhtinaanmäki.

Northern Finland: Soviet troops supported by tanks and artillery launch an offensive in the Kuhmo sector.

Finnish forces surround the enemy base entrenched at Sanginlampi.

Salla sector: in temperatures approaching -40° Celsius, four Finnish battalions begin a counterattack at Joutsijärvi designed to break the defences of the enemy division.

Åland Sea: the Soviet submarine S2 is sunk by a Finnish mine in the Märket narrows.

The labour office of the Ministry of Supply announces that the most important work to be carried out in the countryside is the gathering of firewood.

Abroad: according to German radio, the Soviet Union is concentrating its call-up on reservists with a technical background.

In Norway, a special rucksack collection in aid of Finland has already gathered 25,000 rucksacks packed with food and clothing.

(Click for larger photo)

Forward positions at Joutsijärvi.

Daily losses: 81

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:29 AM.
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Old 01-04-16, 06:04 AM   #43
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4 January 1940 - DAY 36 of Winter War

Northern Finland: Colonel Siilasvuo gives his troops the final order to attack.

Salla: Detachment Roininen breaks off its attack at Joutsijärvi.

Eastern Isthmus: Finnish troops repulse the enemy offensive at Kirvesmäki in the Taipale sector.

The Ministry of Education urges parish priests and officials to reserve areas for establishing heroes' cemeteries as a matter of urgency

The voluntary defence organization Maan Turva organizes a tour of the front by well-known entertainers which becomes popularly known as the 'anti-boredom battery'. The main attractions are the popular character actor Aku Korhonen and the conductor George de Godzinsky. Others taking part in the tour include Siiri Rantanen, Uuno Laakso, the accordionist Onni Laihanen, and the actress Tuire Orri.

The period for completing tax return forms and paying both income and property tax is extended to April 1st.

Members of the public are forbidden to take photographs of the damage caused by enemy bombers or of equipment used for military or civil defence.

Abroad: Sweden rejects the Allied offer of assistance in respect of both armaments and troops.

An anonymous Danish businessman announces he is to donate 50 lorries to Finland.

Daily losses: 139




Musical instruments left behind by Soviet forces. (Pelkosenniemi)

Last edited by Dowly; 08-14-18 at 11:26 AM.
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Old 01-05-16, 04:57 AM   #44
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5 January 1940 - DAY 37 of Winter War

Northern Finland: troops of the 9th Division set out to destroy the enemy's 44th 'Blue' Division on the Raate road. H-hour is set for 8.30. The enemy is hard pressed but cannot be broken.

Mikkeli: the headquarters town of Mikkeli suffers heavy bombing. Due to severe cold the phone lines are down and the anti-aircraft guns are frozen. 40 enemy aircraft take part in the raid which kills 29 people and injures 36.

Gulf of Bothnia: at 13.00 hours the Soviet submarine Sts 311 sinks the Swedish steamer Fenris off the Swedish coast near Umeå.

Central Isthmus: the troop replenishment at the main defensive position at Summa is successfully completed.

Enemy infantry assaults are successfully repulsed at Summa, Suokanta, Työppölänjoki and Lake Hatjalahti.

Northern Finland: it's a bitterly cold night on the Raate road, with a temperature of -40° Celsius. The Finnish force has only one or two tents and the troops have to spend the night in the open air.

President Kyösti Kallio is donating 100,000 markkaa as basic capital for a fund to assist impoverished relatives of the dead and wounded.

Sweden: the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm, Alexandra Kollontai, protests to the Swedish Government over voluntary recruitment activities and other aid work on behalf of Finland, and also over articles in the Swedish press critical of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union also sends a similar note to the Norwegian Government.

(Click for larger photo)

Sauna being made ready. Suistamo, January 5.

Daily losses: 126

Last edited by Dowly; 02-12-16 at 04:30 AM.
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Old 01-08-16, 04:04 AM   #45
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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.

Last edited by Dowly; 08-14-18 at 11:31 AM.
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