Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

29 August 1941

12.Division reaches Gulf of Finland on the south side of lake Kuolemajärvi, completing the encirclement around the three withdrawing Russian divisions who now try to get to the Koivisto island.
(Fittingly, Kuolemajärvi literally means "Lake Death")

First Finnish troops enter Viipuri.



Finnish daily losses: 138


Swedish volunteers practise storming a bunker. Hanko front.

Mannerheim Cross recipient(s):

Lieutenant Juho Pössi
- For leading his company against a fortified enemy position, personally capturing the first two bunkers.

[Dowly]

30 August 1941

Commander of the Karelian Army gives order to continue the attack towards river Svir.

In a discussion with Mannerheim, Waldermar Erfurth reveals Germany's plan to level Leningrad. Mannerheim is not pleased.

Finnish daily losses: 180


Viipuri's railstation.

[Dowly]

31 August 1941

Russian divisions south of Viipuri become trapped in Yläsommee - Porlampi 'motti' after Finnish 8.Division cuts the way to Koivisto.



18.Division's artillery fires the real 'Mainila shots'.

President Ryti gives Mannerheim permission to extent the Karelian Isthmus offensive couple of kilometers past the pre-Winter War border.

The decision is partly to appease the Germans, who offered Finland 25,000 tons of grain and partly strategic; to straighten the defensive line.

Russian POW reveals that there are "300" radio detonated mines in Viipuri.

Finnish daily losses: 265


Correct address is written on a shell (to Mainila).


Military parade in Viipuri.

[Dowly]

1 September 1941

The Yläsommee - Porlampi 'motti' surrenders.

Over 9000 Russians are taken prisoner, among them the commander of 43.Division Major-General Kirpitsnikov.

Some 7000 Russian bodies are found on the battlefield.

Finns also capture huge amounts of material from the 'motti', these include:
- 306 various types of artillery/field guns
- 19 000 shells
- 246 mortars
- 46 000 mortar rounds
- 272 machine guns
- 10 000 rifles
- 3.4 million bullets
- 55 tanks
- 673 trucks
- 300 tractors
- 154 000 litres of gasoline
- 159 000 litres of oil
- 4500 horses

Soviet 23rd Army is ordered to withdraw to the pre-Winter War border on the Karelian Isthmus.

Finnish daily losses: 193

Finnish losses in August: 8570

Finnish losses in the war (so far): 15 395


Situation in East Karelia.


Commander of IR 50, Major Aho, watches as KV-1 burns.

Mannerheim Cross recipient(s):

Corporal Valde Sorsa
- For successfully leading a number of combat patrols.

[Dowly]

2 September 1941

Russian forces that escaped from the Yläsommee-Porlampi 'motti' withdraw to the Koivisto island just as Finns reach the port area of Koivisto.



Finnish units that have reached the old border begin to push the enemy further back.

Northern Finland: Russians launch a counter offensive near Kiestinki against Division J (previously named Group J).

Military Administration announces that civilians are not yet allowed to return to Viipuri or other recaptured areas on the Karelian Isthmus.

Finnish daily losses: 192


Left: Major-General Oesch Right: Major-General Kirpichnikov

[Dowly]

3 September 1941

Finns begin to play Säkkijärven Polkka in Viipuri to prevent the radio mines from being detonated.
(see posts #136 - #139 for previous discussion on this)

Soviet partisans strike village of Kuosku in Savukoski leaving 6 civilians dead.

Squadron 30's Curtiss fighters down seven Russian I-153s over Siestarjoki - Valkeasaari.

Another three I-153s and two I-16s are downed over Säntämä-Aunus by Squadron 26.

First mass gassing tests using Zyklon B are conducted in Auschwitz.

Finnish daily losses: 255


Yläsommee - Porlampi 'motti'

[Dowly]

4 September 1941

Karelian Army begins to advance towards river Svir and Petroskoi in East Karelia.

General Jodl arrives to Finland to talk about Finland's stance on Leningrad.

Mannerheim repeats what he said to Waldemar Erfurth: Finland will not attack against Leningrad.

Long range patrol is for the first time extracted by a plane from behind enemy lines.

Ingrians in Finland send a letter to the prime minister, wishing Ingria to be annexed by Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 308


General Jodl & Mannerheim

[Dowly]

5 September 1941

Detachment Lagus captures the town of Aunus (Olonets) in East Karelia.



Finnish daily losses: 243


Finnish artillery softens enemy positions in Tuulos (NW of Aunus).

[Dowly]

6 September 1941

Northern Finland: 14.Division reaches lake Rukajärvi.

Finnish and German forces withdraw in Kiestinki area.

Finnish daily losses: 242


Motorcycle in Aunus.

[sublynx]

Where do you find all these photographs from? The one with the tank, the motorcycle and the submachine gun is a thing of incredible beauty!

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by sublynx

Where do you find all these photographs from? The one with the tank, the motorcycle and the submachine gun is a thing of incredible beauty!

Hey sublynx

They are official Finnish Army photos that have been digitized and can be found here.

[Dowly]

7 September 1941

North Finland: Reinforced Gebirgs-Korps Norwegen tries to attack and encircle Murmansk, but the attack stops near lake Kuirkjärvi.

East Karelia: Detachment Lagus reaches river Svir nort of Lotinapelto.



Finnish daily losses: 302


Frequent sight on the Karelian Isthmus these days; Seemingly endless columns of enemy POWs marching towards prisoner camps.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Hey sublynx

They are official Finnish Army photos that have been digitized and can be found here.

Hats off to you Sir! That's a lot more work dor you,, picking the photos for every day

[Dowly]

It does add a bit more work, but on the other hand, I'd probably never see all those photos normally that I do when picking one for the day's post.

[Dowly]

8 September 1941

Detachment Marttinen captures Syväri railstation and cuts the Murmansk track.

Finns capture Prääžä in East Karelia.

German Army Group North captures Pähkinälinna (Petrokrepost).

The siege of Leningrad begins.



Finnish daily losses: 149


Russian tank that struck a mine has flipped upside down by the force of the explosion. (Prääžä)

Mannerheim Cross recipient(s):

Captain Eero Kivelä
- For showing personal bravery by leading IR 27 into battle numerous times from the front.