Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

You recruited 12 year olds?
When the Nazis did that here it was a last ditch effort.

Under age boys could serve in the Civil Guard's organization for boys. Mostly they would do various duties on the homefront, but some served on the front in non-combat duties such as messengers. The boy in the photo is probably serving at a divisionor army corps HQ, it would be rare to have so young serving nearer to the front. (Officially boys under the age of 17 were forbidden to serve in field units, but that order wasnt often followed)

[Dowly]

2 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 15


Motor torpedo boat on the Gulf of Finland.

***

3 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 11


81mm mortar firing. (Svir, IR 50)

***

4 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 20

***

5 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 12

***

6 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 8


Independence Day parade in Käkisalmi.

***

7 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 7


Typical frontline terrain of the Svir front.

***

8 December 1942

Finnish daily losses: 11


2nd Lieutenant Hollming has just returned from a 15-day patrol. (Rukajärvi)

[Dowly]

9 December 1942

According to Finnish intelligence there are in total 23 Russian divisions, 14-20 brigades and a number of smaller units on the Finnish front.

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

10 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 20


Dug-out of II/171.light-AA battery.

***

11 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 14

***

12 December 1942

On the Maaselkä isthmus, Finnish snipers have killed 81 enemies during the last ten days.

Finnish daily losses: 17


Trench turned into a mass grave on Munakukkula hill where Russian soldiers who died during a Finnish counter-attack in the Winter War are buried. The men call it the "Corpse Alley".

***

13 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 15

***

14 December 1942

The Supply office reports there are 41,632 Russian POWs in Finland. Nearly 15,000 POWs have died during 1942.

Research done by the Finnish National Archive titled "POW deaths and People Handed Over in Finland in 1939-55" can be read here:
https://www.arkisto.fi/uploads/Julka...deaths_web.pdf

Finnish daily losses: 15

***

15 December 1942

Aimo Rikka is sentenced to death for spreading anti-war propaganda. In 1943, President Ryti changes the sentence to time in prison.

Finnish daily losses: 15


Medical Lottas prepping a surgery. (Kivennapa, 23.Field Hospital)

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

9 December 1942


Dug-out of II/171.light-AA battery.

Looks pretty elaborate for a dug out. Almost like a permanent position. Must have been quite the effort to build it.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Looks pretty elaborate for a dug out. Almost like a permanent position. Must have been quite the effort to build it.

Finns liked to build these elaborate dug-outs, especially at unit HQs. There even were competitions where the best looking dug-out would be awarded.

For example here's the one that won IR 30's competition:

(IR 30, Svir front)

Head over to http://sa-kuva.fi/ and search for korsu, there are some very good looking ones.

[Schroeder]

I bet that one even had a Sauna.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I bet that one even had a Sauna.

If not then one's surely nearby, sauna was one of the first things Finns would build when arriving to a new position.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

If not then one's surely nearby, sauna was one of the first things Finns would build when arriving to a new position.

The first thing most likely being the liquor shelf.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

The first thing most likely being the liquor shelf.

Hah, there's a line in "Talvisota"* when they receive Molotovs, and they notice they are made in Rajamäki booze distillery, one goes immediately: "Think we can drink that?".

*Link to the full movie with eng subs: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3qol47
(Seriously, good movie.)

[Dowly]

16 December 1942

A single Dornier from 46. Squadron bombs Soviet airfield at Levashovo, but the bombs fail to detonate.

Finnish daily losses: 15


Finnish LRRP observing a village on the enemy side in the Rukajärvi area. The man in front, 2nd Lieutenant Lindholm died during a skirmish in the village.

***

17 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 9


A lone sentry. (Rukajärvi area)

***

18 December 1942

The USA sees that the continuing diplomatic relations between the two nations has kept Finland from attacking further East.

Finnish daily losses: 11


Fetching a Christmas tree. (Ollila)

***

19 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

***

20 December 1942

Maaselkä Group is given orders to form Independent Battalion 23; a sort of volunteer penal battalion.

Finnish daily losses: 18

***

21 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 8

***

22 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 23

[Dowly]

23 December 1942

The so called "Gangster Communists" Veikko Pöysti is killed in a firefight with the police in Tikkurila.

Finnish daily losses: 16


Troops at Valkjärvi waiting to get their papers in order for a Christmas leave.

***

24 December 1942

Nearly 20,000 Finnish children celebrate Christmas in Sweden, away from home.

Finnish daily losses: 25


Christmas Sauna warming up. (Olonets front)

***

25 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 25


During enemy attack. (Valkeasaari)

***

26 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 25

***

27 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 9


Helmi Oikarainen and soldiers from Kuusamo's Brothers-in-Arms association who built her a house after her husband was killed in the war.

***

28 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 26

***

29 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

30 December 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 9

***

31 December 1942

Soviet 33. Ski Brigade attacks against Finnish positions at lake Seesjärvi on Maaselkä isthmus.

Maaselkä Group War Diary:
"On the Northwest side of lake Seesjärvi a 200-man strong enemy detachment tried to get through our lines. The enemy was pushed back after a half hour fight."

By the end of the year, 239 529 people have returned to their homes in the recaptured areas.

Finnish daily losses: 18

***

Finnish losses in 1942: 9 693
Finnish losses since the start of the war: 36 507

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

23 December 1942


Helmi Oikarainen and soldiers from Kuusamo's Brothers-in-Arms association who built her a house after her husband was killed in the war.

Is the Kuusamo's Brothers-in-Arms association consisting of active soldiers? How would they have time to build houses in a war?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Is the Kuusamo's Brothers-in-Arms association consisting of active soldiers? How would they have time to build houses in a war?

I have no idea. Could range from troops on home leave to reservists not called to the front.

[STEED]

Thanks for this years posts Dowly.

Looking forward to 1943 posts.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by STEED

Thanks for this years posts Dowly.

Looking forward to 1943 posts.

Thanks, STEED.

I've added the two remaining days for 1942 to my above post.