Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

31 December 1941

Over 76 000 Karelians have returned to their homes in the recaptured areas.

Finnish daily losses: 24


Wishing the neighbour 'Happy New Year' at midnight. (Svir front)

[Dowly]

1 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Soviet troops attack against Finnish positions along the entire front.

Finnish daily losses: 40


New year's turn in Lempaala with what appears to be ghost soldiers.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

1 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Soviet troops attack against Finnish positions along the entire front.

Finnish daily losses: 40

Surprising that an attack on the whole front led to "only" 40 fatalities.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Surprising that an attack on the whole front led to "only" 40 fatalities.

I found that quite surprising as well. The book mentions that the first attacks were against forward posts, which would have pulled back early on, if it seemed like they were to be outnumbered. The combat effectiveness of the Soviet troops is also mentioned to have been rather poor, most likely being the same units that were pushed back during the offensive phase with heavy losses in both KIA and POW.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Did you take in count the 1941 rate etc.?

I did. Still the sum seems ridiculously high.

[Dowly]

It does seem rather high. Could be a mistake in the book.

***

2 January 1942

The small Finnish detachment occupying Suursaari (Gogland) is forced to retreat under a Soviet attack.

Finnish daily losses: 26

***

3 January 1942

Soviet attack on the Maaselkä Isthmus continues.

Finnish daily losses: 35


Finnish troops prepare to attack Jyvälahti in Northern Finland.

***

4 January 1942

More schools are opened in Karelia.

Finnish daily losses: 54

[sublynx]

According to this the Swedish help was considerable durinc Winter War:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swed...the_Winter_War

Hundreds of artillery pieces, machin guns, tens of thousands of rifles, etc.

Perhaps the book really is right. Thanks for the Swedes

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by sublynx

According to this the Swedish help was considerable durinc Winter War:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swed...the_Winter_War

Hundreds of artillery pieces, machin guns, tens of thousands of rifles, etc.

Perhaps the book really is right. Thanks for the Swedes

I don't think the war material is counted in, the phrase the books uses is "[..]collected to aid Finland[..]" ([..]kerätty Suomen avustamiseksi[..])

EDIT: The last entry of the first post of the thread mentions 33 million crowns, so I think a typo is most likely. Either 50 or 58 million sounds more likely.

***

5 January 1942

Olonets Isthmus: Finnish offensive to recapture Gora begins.

Three Dornier Do-17z aircraft donated by Göring arrive in Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 82


Grave of an unknown soldier in Kuuttilahti (Olonets Isthmus).

[Dowly]

6 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Soviet 1st Ski Brigade attacks across the frozen Lake Onega to Suurniemi cape, Southeast of Poventsa.

The Soviet offensive on Maaselkä Isthmus continues. The 1st Ski Brigade,
specifically formed and trained for the operation, begins to advance across
Lake Onega in freezing temperature towards Suurniemi.
Defending Suurniemi are two squads from Jäger Battalion 3, supported by two
"Whips" (45mm AT-guns). The jägers are taken by surprise and they retreat
to a road 4km to the North. After getting reinforcements, the jägers push
the Soviet troops back to the southern tip of the cape.



Finnish daily losses: 53


Sentry and his mighty castle.

[Dowly]

7 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Fighting continues in Suurniemi.

The Soviet troops entrentched in Suurniemi get reinforcements during the night.
On the morning of the 7th, the Finnish Jägers continue their attack against the enemy troops.
After a three hour battle, the cape - now christened "Tapponiemi" (lit. Killing cape) by the Finns - is cleared of enemies.
In and around the trenches lay the bodies of roughly two enemy battalions.

In Helsinki, a suspected spy escapes from custody, killing one and wounding two police officers. In the ensuing manhunt, the suspect is wounded and captured, and sentenced to death for treason.

Finnish daily losses: 85


Soviet soldier, who was feigning death under a pile of bodies, is pulled up from the trench. (Suurniemi)

[Dowly]

8 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Soviet troops renew their attack to Suurniemi. Approximately 270 Soviet soldiers are killed under Finnish machine gun fire.

Finnish daily losses: 75


Ski patrol has just returned from enemy side where they destroyed an enemy dug out. (Lempaala/Karelian Isthmus)

***

9 January 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Soviet offensive at Kriv stops to determined Finnish counter-attacks.

Finnish daily losses: 62

[August]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Ski patrol has just returned from enemy side where they destroyed an enemy dug out. (Lempaala/Karelian Isthmus)

Is that a Russian uniform on the guy not wearing winter whites?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by August

Is that a Russian uniform on the guy not wearing winter whites?

No, that is the Finnish M/36 uniform.

[Dowly]

10 January 1942

Soviet 1st Partisan Brigade attacks the island of Klimetski on Lake Onega.

Parts of the island falls in enemy hands, but already on next day the Finns retake the island.



Olonets Isthmus: Finns recapture Gora.



Finnish daily losses: 55


Finnish soldier at Kiestinki.

[August]

Originally Posted by Dowly

No, that is the Finnish M/36 uniform.

Ah I see, thank you.