Continuation War, day by day. - Page 22

Dowly · 03-11-17, 09:34 AM

6 March 1942

Soviet planes bomb the Tiiksjärvi airbase. 17 planes (enemy, I suppose) are shot down.

Finnish daily losses: 9

Finnish fighter provides air cover for skiing competitions in the Rukajärvi area.

***

7 March 1942

Bank of Finland announces that new holeless coins are not to be put in circulation anymore. (Don't ask me why)

Finnish daily losses: 9

Soviet fighter brought down by AA. (Nurmoila)

***

8 March 1942

Helsinki is bombed by two Soviet planes.

Detachment Englund heads out to destroy a flotilla of 50 barges spotted on Lake Onega.

Quote:

Finnish reconnaissance planes spot a flotilla of barges on the East coast of Lake Onega. As they could be used as landing craft, the decision is made to destroy them before the ice melts. A strike force of 94 men is put together from Onega's coastal brigade to be led by Lieutenant Erkki Englund.

Finnish daily losses: 16

Corporal Tauno Palo (center) and war correspondent from the German Signal, Sonderführer Arthur Grimm (right) in Helsinki.

***

9 March 1942

Detachment Englund loses three men to enemy mines.

Quote:

The trek progresses slower than expected and the East coast is reached by 0600hrs on March 9th. At the same time, the detachment notices they've skied 6km to further South from where they're supposed to be. The coast here is full of obstacles and mines, and three men are lost to mines.

Finnish daily losses: 14

Newly built sauna in Rukajärvi area.

***

10 March 1942

Major-General Pajari is ordered to take Suursaari island on the Gulf of Finland.

Detachment Englund is ambushed on Lake Onega.

Quote:

After almost 24 hours of skiing the now exhausted detachment reach their target. Split in three groups, they begin their attack, but the element of surprise has been lost and enemy opens fire from the barges. After destroying only a handful of the barges and killing approximately 60 enemy soldiers in a nearby military camp the detachment begins to head back to Vasili island where they left their horses and sledges. Upon reaching the island, the Finns are ambushed by the enemy which had moved to the island. Under heavy fire, the detachment begins to retreat over the lake. Distraught from exhaustion and Pervitin, the remaining survivors return to own lines. Of the 94 men, 40 did not return.

Finnish daily losses: 42 (I think some of Englund's losses have not been included, probably because MIA status, later switched to KIA.)

Finnish corporal showcases a captured rifle that had been repaired using plywood.
"Rather weak show of craftsmanship skill from the Russkie."

***

11 March 1942

HQ prohibits physical punishment against female POWs.

Finnish daily losses: 17

Schroeder · 03-11-17, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Bank of Finland announces that new holeless coins are not to be put in circulation anymore. (Don't ask me why)

Could be because coins without holes need more metal which is needed elsewhere for the war effort.

Dowly · 03-11-17, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Could be because coins without holes need more metal which is needed elsewhere for the war effort.

Most likely. I didn't even know we used coins with holes.

Schroeder · 03-11-17, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Most likely. I didn't even know we used coins with holes.

The only ones I've ever seen so far were from Denmark IIRC.

Dowly · 03-17-17, 09:50 AM

12 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

"Two years ago, this snowy terrain was blackened by shells and painted red in Finnish warriors' blood." (Kollaa)

See: Winter War, day by day (12 March 1940)

***

13 March 1942

J.K.Paasikivi lists four failures in Soviet Union's Finland policy in his speech in Messuhalli.
- The land demands made "in defense" of Leningrad before Winter War
- The harsh peace after Winter War
- Continuing pressure on Finland after Winter War
- New hostilities against Finland

In his minds, these are reasons why Finland's leaning towards Germany instead of the SU should not come as a surprise.

Sissi* detachment Koskimaa's attack in the Kiestinki area against an enemy forward base fails. Their losses are 43 KIA, 6 POW.

(*Light infantry basically)

Finnish daily losses: 59

Lotta at 5.Division's laundry & repair shop. (Olonets)

***

14 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

AT-gun ready to give fire. (Maaselkä Isthmus)

***

15 March 1942

Food situation in urban centers has become critical.

Finnish daily losses: 19

Young girl in Paatene.

***

16 March 1942

Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf visits Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 20

Ohta frontlines as seen from artillery spotter's position.

***

17 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 22

The bearded, dirtied veteran showing the line to a newcomer.

Dowly · 03-24-17, 05:55 AM

18 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 15

Bridge under construction in Voznesenje. (Svir)

***

19 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

MG Company in position to provide indirect fire to the enemy side. (Ohta)

***

20 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 24

German MG34 position in Svir.

***

21 March 1942

Major-General Pajari gives order to take Suursaari on the Gulf of Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 15

Commander of the German 163.Division, Colonel Wächsmut, handing out Iron Crosses to Lieutenant-Colonel Aho's Finnish regiment. (Svir)

***

22 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 23

Machine gun position. (Rukajärvi area)

***

23 March 1942

The Finnish Air Force begins to train its own LRRP men.

Finnish daily losses: 23

Finnish patrol clears Russian hut with a hand grenade. (Ontajärvi, Rukajärvi)

***

24 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 18

Dowly · 03-31-17, 07:58 AM

25 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 22

Miniatures built by Finnish pilots. (Viiksjärvi)

***

26 March 1942

Detachment Pajari's troops, ordered to take Suursaari, prepare to attack on the next day.

Finnish daily losses: 15

Detachment Pajari's men having a bite to eat in Haapasaari (Northeast of Suursaari).

***

27 March 1942

Detachment Pajari attacks Suursaari from three sides at 0400hrs.

The attack surprises the enemy completely, but they manage to organize some defenses. The Finns take advantage of the surprise and quickly capture key terrain points around the island. The town of Suurkylä and the highest point on the island, Pohjoiskorkia, are both captured during the afternoon. The remaining enemy troops are killed or driven off the island by next morning.

Enemy casualties are 213, Finns lose 61 KIA and 109 WIA.

Soviet counter-attack in Louhi, in northern Finland. After three days of fighting, the attacker retreats.

Flight Regiment 3's Brewsters' shoot down 27 Soviet planes during the Suursaari operation.

Finnish daily losses: 103

Finnish troops assembled for victory parade in Suursaari.

***

28 March 1942

Fighting in Suursaari ends.

Battle for Suursaari
(Source: Nenye, Munter, Wirtanen and Birks: Finland at War - The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-1945)

Finnish daily losses: 25

Major-General Pajari speaking to Soviet POWs. (Suursaari)

***

29 March 1942

The "For Finnish children" medal (För Finlands barn/Suomen lapsille), designed by Wäinö Aaltonen, is finished and can be bought in Finland and Sweden.

Finnish daily losses: 25

"Alarm! Enemy patrol has been detected!" (Suntu)

***

30 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 21

***

31 March 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 27

Heinrich Himmler visiting General Hjalmar Siilasvuo (center). (Photo from 27th)

Schroeder · 03-31-17, 10:34 AM

Himmler...

They should have made him drink 3 liters of Salmiakki.

Dowly · 03-31-17, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Himmler...

Myeah. Simply was no other interesting photo for the day.

Quote:

They should have made him drink 3 liters of Salmiakki.

Salmiakki is actually quite nice when you get used to it. Like spicy sugar.

Speaking of which, buy from Varusteleka.com! (INrangeTV)

So much good stuff!

Dowly · 04-09-17, 07:07 AM

SA-Kuva is having some problems, so I can only post small photos.

***

1 April 1942

The State Information Department releases guidelines on how newspapers should write about Germany.

Criticizing German actions in their occupied areas is forbidden.

Finnish daily losses: 32

Comm lines being laid in hip deep snow.

***

2 April 1942

After losing Suursaari, the Soviet troops also abandon Tytärsaari (20km SE from Suursaari). A company sized Finnish detachment barely has time to occupy the empty island when on April 2, the Soviets launch an attack to retake it. The attack is repulsed and most of the approximately 200 man Soviet detachment is killed to the shores of the island.

Finnish daily losses: 22

Soviet deserter being interrogated in Ontajärvi.

***

3 April 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 28

***

4 April 1942

German Luftwaffe begins operation Eis Stoß against Leningrad.

Finnish daily losses: 23

Ice fishing at Savujärvi.

***

5 April 1942

Maaselkä Isthmus: Flight Regiment 4 bombs the Soviet airbase in Segeža.

The target of the attack are runways both on ground and on the ice of lake Akanjärvi. Secondary targets are trains and warehouses along the Murmansk line.

Several large explosions are observed in the target area, indicating the bombs hit their targets. Plane shelters and barracks' are observe to be hit as well. All 21 planes return safely home.

12,000 Finnish children have so far been moved to Sweden. Denmark has also offered to take in as many children as needed.

Finnish daily losses: 15

Observing the enemy side. (Kriv/Maaselkä Isthmus)

***

6 April 1942

Soviet planes hit the Tiiksjärvi airbase near Rukajärvi. 17 enemy planes are shot down in aerial combat.

Finnish daily losses: 16

Finnish officer holding a M/41 ice mine aka "ARSA" mine.

***

7 April

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 35

64. POW hospital. (Viipuri)

***

8 April 1942

A battalion sized Soviet attack to Tytärsaari is repulsed.

North Finland: German-Finnish Independent Detachment Petsamo launches an attack to destroy Soviet camps in Lounavaara, Talvikylä and Luto.

Already on the same day, the detachment commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Pennanen receives orders to stop the attack. The Germans are worried that the enemy might counter-attack in the area of Litsa.

Finnish daily losses: 30

Church set ablaze by an enemy fighter's strafing run. (Svir)

***

9 April 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 24

Mortar firing. (IR 9, Svir front)

Dowly · 04-13-17, 04:17 AM

10 April 1942

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 17

Shot down enemy Hurricane. (Tiiksjärvi)

***

11 April 1942

Major Soviet offensive begins on the Svir front.

The Finns are taken by surprise, no one thought the attack would come in April when many of the roads are nearly unusable due to mud.

Finnish daily losses: 86

Machinegunner at work. (Svir front)

***

12 April 1942

Twelve enemy desants are dropped by air to Nuosjärvi near Sotkamo. Four of them surrender on the 15th, the rest are killed in a firefight.

Svir front: Aerial reconnaissance reports the enemy is concentrating its main push between Shemenski and Pertjärvi, to the weak seam of 17.D and 11.D.

Finnish daily losses: 103

***

13 April 1942

Svir Front: The enemy attack, now reinforced with 114.D and two ski battalions, begins to bog down in the poor conditions.

Finnish daily losses: 94

Finnish soldier booby-trapping the door of a dugout before leaving. (Petsamo area)

Dowly · 04-14-17, 02:09 AM

14 April 1942

Svir front: The Finnish 11.Division counter-attacks on the southwest side of Pertjärvi and encircles the spearhead elements of the enemy.

17.Division is also successful in halting the enemy on their sector.

Finnish daily losses: 116

Men from light detachment 10 in Pertjärvi.

Dowly · 04-15-17, 01:27 PM

15 April 1942

Svir front: The enemy attacks across the front have been mostly repulsed.

In the Shemenski - Pertjärvi area, the situation remains critical.

In Pertjärvi, Finns continue to tighten the noose around the encircled enemy.

In Shemenski, the enemy has dug in on the southwest side of Aukijärvi and are threatening 17.Division's supply routes.

Flight Regiment 4's Blenheims bomb a enemy supply centre in the area.

Finnish daily losses: 102

Exhausted soldier getting some rest. (Svir front)

Dowly · 04-16-17, 12:36 PM

16 April 1942

Finnish units in Shemenski prepare to counter-attack against the enemy in Aukijärvi.

Finnish daily losses: 86

Finns waiting for a potential counter-attack in a newly recaptured base in Shemenski area.

Dowly · 04-18-17, 12:07 PM

17 April 1942

Soviet 314.D attacks in the Svir hydroplant area.

Finnish daily losses: 68

Writing home before an attack. (Pertjärvi)

***

18 April 1942

Svir front: The encircled enemy troops in Pertjärvi surrender.

Finnish daily losses: 55

Terrain through which the enemy tried to attack unsuccessfully. (Syvärinniska)

03-31-17, 07:58 AM	#322
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	25 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 22 Miniatures built by Finnish pilots. (Viiksjärvi) * 26 March 1942 Detachment Pajari's troops, ordered to take Suursaari, prepare to attack on the next day. Finnish daily losses: 15 Detachment Pajari's men having a bite to eat in Haapasaari (Northeast of Suursaari). * 27 March 1942 Detachment Pajari attacks Suursaari from three sides at 0400hrs. The attack surprises the enemy completely, but they manage to organize some defenses. The Finns take advantage of the surprise and quickly capture key terrain points around the island. The town of Suurkylä and the highest point on the island, Pohjoiskorkia, are both captured during the afternoon. The remaining enemy troops are killed or driven off the island by next morning. Enemy casualties are 213, Finns lose 61 KIA and 109 WIA. Soviet counter-attack in Louhi, in northern Finland. After three days of fighting, the attacker retreats. Flight Regiment 3's Brewsters' shoot down 27 Soviet planes during the Suursaari operation. Finnish daily losses: 103 Finnish troops assembled for victory parade in Suursaari. *** 28 March 1942 Fighting in Suursaari ends. Battle for Suursaari (Source: Nenye, Munter, Wirtanen and Birks: Finland at War - The Continuation and Lapland Wars 1941-1945) Finnish daily losses: 25 Major-General Pajari speaking to Soviet POWs. (Suursaari) * 29 March 1942 The "For Finnish children" medal (För Finlands barn/Suomen lapsille), designed by Wäinö Aaltonen, is finished and can be bought in Finland and Sweden. Finnish daily losses: 25 "Alarm! Enemy patrol has been detected!" (Suntu) * 30 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 21 *** 31 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 27 Heinrich Himmler visiting General Hjalmar Siilasvuo (center). (Photo from 27th) Last edited by Dowly; 11-01-17 at 05:43 AM. Reason: Map added

03-31-17, 10:34 AM	#323
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Himmler... They should have made him drink 3 liters of Salmiakki. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

03-17-17, 09:50 AM	#320
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	12 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 18 "Two years ago, this snowy terrain was blackened by shells and painted red in Finnish warriors' blood." (Kollaa) See: Winter War, day by day (12 March 1940) *** 13 March 1942 J.K.Paasikivi lists four failures in Soviet Union's Finland policy in his speech in Messuhalli. - The land demands made "in defense" of Leningrad before Winter War - The harsh peace after Winter War - Continuing pressure on Finland after Winter War - New hostilities against Finland In his minds, these are reasons why Finland's leaning towards Germany instead of the SU should not come as a surprise. Sissi* detachment Koskimaa's attack in the Kiestinki area against an enemy forward base fails. Their losses are 43 KIA, 6 POW. (Light infantry basically) Finnish daily losses: 59 Lotta at 5.Division's laundry & repair shop. (Olonets) 14 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 18 AT-gun ready to give fire. (Maaselkä Isthmus) * 15 March 1942 Food situation in urban centers has become critical. Finnish daily losses: 19 Young girl in Paatene. * 16 March 1942 Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf visits Finland. Finnish daily losses: 20 Ohta frontlines as seen from artillery spotter's position. * 17 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 22 The bearded, dirtied veteran showing the line to a newcomer.

03-24-17, 05:55 AM	#321
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	18 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 15 Bridge under construction in Voznesenje. (Svir) * 19 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 18 MG Company in position to provide indirect fire to the enemy side. (Ohta) * 20 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 24 German MG34 position in Svir. * 21 March 1942 Major-General Pajari gives order to take Suursaari on the Gulf of Finland. Finnish daily losses: 15 Commander of the German 163.Division, Colonel Wächsmut, handing out Iron Crosses to Lieutenant-Colonel Aho's Finnish regiment. (Svir) * 22 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 23 Machine gun position. (Rukajärvi area) * 23 March 1942 The Finnish Air Force begins to train its own LRRP men. Finnish daily losses: 23 Finnish patrol clears Russian hut with a hand grenade. (Ontajärvi, Rukajärvi) * 24 March 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 18

04-09-17, 07:07 AM	#325
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	SA-Kuva is having some problems, so I can only post small photos. * 1 April 1942 The State Information Department releases guidelines on how newspapers should write about Germany. Criticizing German actions in their occupied areas is forbidden. Finnish daily losses: 32 Comm lines being laid in hip deep snow. * 2 April 1942 After losing Suursaari, the Soviet troops also abandon Tytärsaari (20km SE from Suursaari). A company sized Finnish detachment barely has time to occupy the empty island when on April 2, the Soviets launch an attack to retake it. The attack is repulsed and most of the approximately 200 man Soviet detachment is killed to the shores of the island. Finnish daily losses: 22 Soviet deserter being interrogated in Ontajärvi. * 3 April 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 28 * 4 April 1942 German Luftwaffe begins operation Eis Stoß against Leningrad. Finnish daily losses: 23 Ice fishing at Savujärvi. * 5 April 1942 Maaselkä Isthmus: Flight Regiment 4 bombs the Soviet airbase in Segeža. The target of the attack are runways both on ground and on the ice of lake Akanjärvi. Secondary targets are trains and warehouses along the Murmansk line. Several large explosions are observed in the target area, indicating the bombs hit their targets. Plane shelters and barracks' are observe to be hit as well. All 21 planes return safely home. 12,000 Finnish children have so far been moved to Sweden. Denmark has also offered to take in as many children as needed. Finnish daily losses: 15 Observing the enemy side. (Kriv/Maaselkä Isthmus) * 6 April 1942 Soviet planes hit the Tiiksjärvi airbase near Rukajärvi. 17 enemy planes are shot down in aerial combat. Finnish daily losses: 16 Finnish officer holding a M/41 ice mine aka "ARSA" mine. * 7 April No entry. Finnish daily losses: 35 64. POW hospital. (Viipuri) * 8 April 1942 A battalion sized Soviet attack to Tytärsaari is repulsed. North Finland: German-Finnish Independent Detachment Petsamo launches an attack to destroy Soviet camps in Lounavaara, Talvikylä and Luto. Already on the same day, the detachment commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Pennanen receives orders to stop the attack. The Germans are worried that the enemy might counter-attack in the area of Litsa. Finnish daily losses: 30 Church set ablaze by an enemy fighter's strafing run. (Svir) *** 9 April 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 24 Mortar firing. (IR 9, Svir front)

04-13-17, 04:17 AM	#326
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	10 April 1942 No entry. Finnish daily losses: 17 Shot down enemy Hurricane. (Tiiksjärvi) * 11 April 1942 Major Soviet offensive begins on the Svir front. The Finns are taken by surprise, no one thought the attack would come in April when many of the roads are nearly unusable due to mud. Finnish daily losses: 86 Machinegunner at work. (Svir front) * 12 April 1942 Twelve enemy desants are dropped by air to Nuosjärvi near Sotkamo. Four of them surrender on the 15th, the rest are killed in a firefight. Svir front: Aerial reconnaissance reports the enemy is concentrating its main push between Shemenski and Pertjärvi, to the weak seam of 17.D and 11.D. Finnish daily losses: 103 *** 13 April 1942 Svir Front: The enemy attack, now reinforced with 114.D and two ski battalions, begins to bog down in the poor conditions. Finnish daily losses: 94 Finnish soldier booby-trapping the door of a dugout before leaving. (Petsamo area)

04-14-17, 02:09 AM	#327
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	14 April 1942 Svir front: The Finnish 11.Division counter-attacks on the southwest side of Pertjärvi and encircles the spearhead elements of the enemy. 17.Division is also successful in halting the enemy on their sector. Finnish daily losses: 116 Men from light detachment 10 in Pertjärvi.

04-15-17, 01:27 PM	#328
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	15 April 1942 Svir front: The enemy attacks across the front have been mostly repulsed. In the Shemenski - Pertjärvi area, the situation remains critical. In Pertjärvi, Finns continue to tighten the noose around the encircled enemy. In Shemenski, the enemy has dug in on the southwest side of Aukijärvi and are threatening 17.Division's supply routes. Flight Regiment 4's Blenheims bomb a enemy supply centre in the area. Finnish daily losses: 102 Exhausted soldier getting some rest. (Svir front)

04-16-17, 12:36 PM	#329
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	16 April 1942 Finnish units in Shemenski prepare to counter-attack against the enemy in Aukijärvi. Finnish daily losses: 86 Finns waiting for a potential counter-attack in a newly recaptured base in Shemenski area.

04-18-17, 12:07 PM	#330
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	17 April 1942 Soviet 314.D attacks in the Svir hydroplant area. Finnish daily losses: 68 Writing home before an attack. (Pertjärvi) *** 18 April 1942 Svir front: The encircled enemy troops in Pertjärvi surrender. Finnish daily losses: 55 Terrain through which the enemy tried to attack unsuccessfully. (Syvärinniska)