Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

22 June 1944

The Red Army launches a series of probing attacks against the Vuosalmi bridgehead at Äyräpää.

Finns lose their outermost outposts in the Tali area.

Joachim von Ribbentrop comes to Finland.

Generaloberst Dietl visits Hitler and airs his concerns about the situation in Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 438


Soviet IL-2. (Kuujärvi)

[Dowly]

23 June 1944

Soviet Naval Infantry lands in the rear of Aunus Group at Tuulos. Most Finnish troops are tied up at the PSS-line and what counter-attacks can be organized are unsuccessful in throwing the enemy back into Lake Ladoga.



*

Soviet 32nd Army begins their offensive on the Maaselkä Isthmus against Finns in the Karhumäki-Osterjärvi-Liistepohja area. By evening, Finns are forced to withdraw from Karhumäki.

*

German 303.Assault Gun Brigade arrives to Finland from Estonia and is sent immediately to Tali-Ihantala area.

*

The Soviet Union demands an unconditional surrender from Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 525


Lagus' StuGs waiting for order to move out. (Tienhaara, NW of Viipuri)

[Dowly]

24 June 1944

Renewed counter-attacks against the enemy's beachead at Tuulos are repelled. Meanwhile, the PSS-line comes under attack and its right flank breaks in 15th Brigade's sector. In the evening, Major-General Blick (VI AK) orders the PSS-line to be abandoned.



*

Finnish troops begin to withdraw from Maaselkä area.

*

German 122. Division is transported to Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 392



Fighting northeast of Viipuri 20 - 24 June.



Some of the troops guarding the beachhead at Tuulos.

[Dowly]

25 June 1944

The Battle of Tali-Ihantala begins.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @ AHF

After the Soviet failure to continue their offensive west from Viipuri, the Red Army concentrates its forces north-east of the city. There, around the village of Tali, terrain is more suitable for tanks, and strategic roads run north and north-west. North of Tali there are the Portinhoikka crossroads, where the road runs north through Ihantala towards Imatra, and north-west through Juustila towards Lappeenranta. In military history this day goes down as the first day of the Battle of Tali-Ihantala.

At this point Commander of the Isthmus Forces Lt. Gen. Karl Oesch had three army corps under his command. From west to east they were Maj. Gen. Antero Svensson's V Army Corps (recently transferred from the Olonets Isthmus) which defended the western shore of the Bay of Viipuri south and west of Viipuri, Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen's IV Army Corps, which held the VKT-line from north-east of Viipuri until River Vuoksi, and Lt. Gen. Hjalmar Siilasvuo's III Army Corps which had so far escaped relatively lightly and held the VKT-line along the River Vuoksi until the southern shore of Lake Ladoga.

On the right flank of Gen. Laatikainen's IV Army Corps was Col. Lauri Haanterä's 3rd Brigade (subordinated to the 18th Division), which, just north-east of Viipuri, defended the isthmus between Suomenvedenpohja (the northernmost extremity of Bay of Viipuri) and Lake Kärstilänjärvi. On 21 and 22 June the 3rd Brigade was subjected to Soviet assaults that forced it to give some ground.

The isthmus between lakes Kärstilänjärvi and Leitimonjärvi was defended by Maj. Gen. Paavo Paalu's 18th Division, with Col. Väinö Forsberg's Infantry Regiment 48 holding the front-line near the village of Tali. IR 48 had also been subjected to furious Soviet assaults on 21 and 22 June and lost some ground, but had been able to recover some of the lost terrain by counter-attacks. East of IR 48 was Maj. E. Larinen's Separate Battalion 28, which held the front-line north of Lake Repolanjärvi just west of the divide between the 18th and 4th divisions.

East of lake Repolanjärvi was Maj. Gen. Aleksanteri Autti's 4th Division, and on the IV Army Corps left flank was Maj. Gen. Aaro Pajari's 3rd Division.

The 18th Division (reinforced by the 3rd Brigade) was in a perilous situation. It had suffered great losses, on the average its units had less than half of their strength left. But it had managed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. Maj. Gen. Kaarlo Heiskanen's 11th Division had just arrived, and Maj. Gen. Einar Vihma's 6th Division was on its way, together with elements of Maj. Gen. Ruben Lagus's Armored Division, reinforced with Hauptmann Friedrich Scherer's German Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303.

Reinforcements arrived not a minute too early. Marshal Leonid Govorov's Leningrad Front was about to start its main effort at Tali to finally break through the Finnish defences.

Marshal Govorov had three armies against Finns. On his left flank, west of Viipuri, was forming Lt. Gen. Ivan Korovnikov's 59th Army, recently arrived from Estonia. On the coming days it would start its offensive to cross the Bay of Viipuri. On Govorov's right flank, along the southern shore of Lake Ladoga, was Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Cherepanov's 23rd Army with three rifle corps.

But the main effort was to be made on a 10 km-wide front (from Viipuri to Lake Repolanjärvi) by Col. Gen. Dmitrii Gusev's formidable 21st Army in the middle of Govorov's front. It had 14 rifle divisions in four rifle corps in front-line, supported by numerous tank brigades and tank and assault gun regiments. Maj. Gen. Nikolai Simonyak's elite 30th Guards Rifle Corps would again be the spearhead of the assault. The 30th Guards Rifle Corps had spent more than a week resting and refitting since the Battle of Kivennapa, and its 45th, 63rd and 64th guards rifle divisions were again ready for action, with the 268th Rifle Division in reserve. It was supported by 27th, 30th and 260th Tank Brigades. The other rifle corps to see action were the 97th, 108th (which had also had rest) and 109th, with the 110th Rifle Corps in reserve.

On 25 June, at 6.30 am the Soviet artillery began to fire at the 3rd Brigade's positions, lasting for one and half hours. At 8 am. the Soviet 358th and 314th rifle divisions began their assault, causing severe losses to the 3rd Brigade and forcing it back. Despite the losses the 3rd Brigade was able to consolidate and hold its new positions.

But the main Soviet blow came at Tali against the 18th Division, between lakes Kärstilänjärvi (in west) and Leitimonjärvi (in east), delivered by the 30th Guards Rifle Corps. At 6.30 am the Soviet harassing fire transformed into a tremendous artillery preparation lasting for one and half hours. At 8 am. the the tanks and Shturmoviks began their job, followed by infantry ten minutes later. They belonged to the 45th Guards Rifle Division. Finns had the III Battalion of Infantry Regiment 13 in the front-line, and it took severe losses and was forced to withdraw through IR 48's positions further back. Finnish artillery fired on the advancing Soviet forces, but didn't noticeably slow them down. However, the Soviet assault stopped around 9 am. just before the line where the I and II battalions of the IR 48 held line. Only small infantry groups probed the Finnish positions.

The reason was that the Soviet assault had met unexpected success east of Lake Leitimonjärvi, at the isthmus between lakes Leitimonjärvi and Repolanjärvi defended by Separate Battalion 28 and the III battalion of the IR 48. The Soviet artillery had begun to fire at 6.30 am. like in other sectors, but the 63rd Guards Rifle Division started its assault at 7.45 am. Finnish forces fought desperately, and received support from artillery, but the Red Army advanced regardless of losses, and soon the defenders were forced to withdraw to avoid encirclement. Separate Battalion 28 was shattered and its men retreated in chaos. Its commander didn't regain control until around Ihantala, several kilometers to north. Commander of the III/IR 48, Maj. T. Erwe, managed to gather a small force of his men to form a delaying position halfway to Ihantala. There it repelled the first Soviet probes around 9 am, but was soon forced to withdraw north. III/IR 48 was also reformed around Ihantala.

The Red Army had a clear way east of Lake Leitimonjärvi to reach the back of the I and II/IR 48. The Soviets exploited this hole in the Finnish defences fully. Gen. Paalu's 18th Division had no reserves to plug the hole, but Gen. Laatikainen subordinated battalions from the army corps reserve to him. However, in the chaotic situation the Finnish counter-attacks were badly coordinated, and failed. But the Soviet advance towards Ihantala was, for the time being, stopped. The result of this Soviet success was an elongated salient deep in the Finnish positions that was nicknamed panssarimakkara, 'the tank sausage' by Finnish troops for its shape.

West of Lake Leitimonjärvi a Soviet force of about 20 tanks managed to get past the Finnish defences around noon without meeting resistance (there had been a mix-up with orders). They reached the Portinhoikka crossroads, and divided there, one force going north towards Ihantala, another north-west towards Juustila. Local commander, Lt. Col. Reino Inkinen, took prompt action. He formed AT-squads from engineers, armed with satchel charges. They managed to destroy two tanks around Portinhoikka. Finnish assault guns were alerted and stopped the force advancing towards Ihantala, destroying three tanks in the process. Lt. Col. Inkinen began to prepare a counter-attack to regain the important crossroads. II/IR 6, supported by assault guns, regained the territory near Portinhoikka, but the enemy forces holding the crossroads were too strong to be dislodged.

The Armored Division was ordered to attack and drive the enemy from the crossroads. Maj. Heikki Mikkola, commander of the I battalion of the Panzer Brigade, started a counter-attack with the heavy company of his battalion from the direction of Juustila. With five tanks, one T-34-76, one KV-1, two T-28's and one T-50, it drove the enemy from the Portinhoikka crossroads, destroying four T-34-85's and ISU-152's. This was indeed nothing short of miraculous, given that not one of the Finnish tanks had a main gun that could penetrate the front armor of the Soviet tanks! [Later note: other sources indicate that the majority of the Soviet tanks were destroyed by Lt. Col. Inkinen's engineers, not by Maj. Mikkola's tanks, thus explaining the 'miracle'.] By 7 pm. the Portinhoikka crossroads were back in Finnish hands and a number of Soviet tanks, T-34-85s and ISU-152's, were captured intact. By that time the two battalions of the IR 48 had been forced to retreat from their positions west of Lake Leitimonjärvi.

The Armored Division continued its counter-attack. At 8 pm. the reinforced Jäger Battalion 3 started to advance towards Tali, supported by the 18th Division's artillery. It reached Linnavuori (roughly where the two battalions of the IR 48 had held the line earlier that day) by midnight, but was stopped by Soviet tanks. It prepared to continue its offensive towards Tali in the early hours of 26 June. Around the same time Jäger Battalion 2 prepared to attack north of Lake Leitimonjärvi to cut the Soviet 'sausage' at its base and encircle the Soviet formations that had advanced from the hole in the Finnish defences.

Finnish daily losses: 448

[Dowly]

26 June 1944

Finnish counter-attack comes to a halt in Tali-Ihantala.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF

After midnight commander of the Finnish IV Army Corps Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen reshapes the command structure around Tali by subordinating Maj. Gen. Paavo Paalu's 18th Division to Maj. Gen. Ruben Lagus's Armored Division. However, Gen. Lagus protests that he lacks the means to coordinate such a force, and isn't well enough acquainted with the 18th Division's situation. Gen. Laatikainen modifies the order, stating that the 18th Division shall act in cooperation with the Armored Division. The Finnish lines of command at Tali remain confused, and it influences adversely the fighting today.

In the early morning hours, the Armored Division continues its counter-attack towards Tali west of Lake Leitimonjärvi. These operations were directed by commander of the Jäger Brigade Col. Albert Puroma. Jäger Battalion 3, reinforced by assault guns, reaches around 2 am. the approximate level where the III/IR 13 had been in defence the previous morning. It destroys or captures eight enemy tanks on its way. Later Soviet counter-attack forces it to retreat back to the level it had reached by previous midnight. Between 8 and 9 am. Jäger Battalions 4 and 5, reinforced by elements from Maj. Eric Åkerman's Assault Gun Battalion, settle into defence on the isthmus between lakes Kärstilänjärvi and Leitimonjärvi, while Jäger Battalion 3 withdraws to reserve around Portinhoikka.

But the most ambitious counter-attack is the attempt to encircle the Soviet forces in the 'sausage' east of Lake Leitimonjärvi by cutting it at the base. If succesful, two Soviet divisions (the 46th Guards Rifle and 286th Rifle) would be encircled in a large pocket north of Lake Leitimonjärvi.

Maj. Erkki Kaukolahti's Jäger Battalion 2 starts its attack at 2 am. from west towards Talinmylly, while III/IR 48 attacks from north, and Separate Battalion 14 from east. At best Jäger Battalion 2 and Separate Battalion 14 are only 1 km from each other, but ultimately the counter-attack is stopped in morning by fierce Soviet resistance. The Finnish attacks were uncoordinated and ultimately too weak to attain the ambitious goal, and no reinforcements were available.

At 3.40 pm. commander of the Panzer Brigade Col. Sven Björkman is appointed CO of a battle group formed out of II/IR 13, Separate Battalion 14, III/48 and Maj. Martti Avela's recently arrived Border Jäger Battalion 2. The mission: to reach Talinmylly, and from there advance south-east along the north-eastern shore of Lake Leitimonjärvi to Marjamäki on the isthmus between lakes Leitimonjärvi and Repolanjärvi. Attack was to be supported by a platoon of T-26 tanks, five StuG IIIg assault guns and an AT-detachment.

Battle Group Björkman starts from Ihantala towards Talinmylly at 5.15 pm. However, the attack is soon aborted because of developments elsewhere.

In afternoon the Red Army begins to attack on both sides of Lake Leitimonjärvi, trying to recapture the Portinhoikka crossroads and reach the road from Portihoikka to Ihantala. Around 3.30 pm. an enemy battalion manages to surprise Jäger Battalion 5 by attacking its rear from north of Lake Leitimonjärvi and drive it from its positions. Jäger Battalion 3 counter-attacks at 6 pm. and recaptures the lost positions.

More to north, a Soviet force reaches the Portinhoikka-Ihantala road later in the evening, cutting the road behind the Finns in Portinhoikka. Maj. Heikki Mikkola organizes a hasty force from an engineer company and one T-34-76 and six T-26 tanks that succesfully clear the road of enemy. But another Soviet force reaches the road at Nurmela, and remains there.

During today's fierce battles, Finns are supported by artillery fire that is growing in accuracy and effect. Thanks to the pioneer work of General of Artillery Vilho Nenonen, Finland had one of the most effective artillery fire-control systems of the day, and it is beginning to show. As reinforcements reached Ihantala, Finnish artillery was to become a truly destructive force in the later phases of the battle. Also the Red Air Force didn't have an undisputed control of the skies. Finnish fighters of Lt. Col. Gustaf Magnusson's Flight Regiment 3 claim 25 Soviet aircraft shot down, and bombers of Lt. Col. Olavi Sarko's Flight Regiment 4 are active bombing Soviet concentrations, together with Oberstleutnant Kurt Kuhlmey's German Stukas and Jabos of Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey.

But Maj. Gen. Paavo Paalu's 18th Division is reaching the end of its tether. Its units, less than half-strength at the beginning of the battle, have worn further in today's fighting. This evening and next night, 18th Division is relieved by Maj. Gen. Kaarlo Heiskanen's fresh 11th Division. The 18th Division (minus its artillery, signals, supply and engineer units, which all stay on the battlefield) is taken to rear to rest and refit. Its commander also changes. Commander of the IV Army Corps Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen blames Gen. Paalu for today's failures, and Paalu is replaced by Col. Otto-Gustaf Snellman. With hindsight one can observe that today's failures were largely due the strength and determination of the Soviet forces, and it didn't help that Gen. Laatikainen chose to conduct the battle from his remote HQ without visiting the battlefield.

*

President Ryti gives his personal guarantee to Hitler that Finland will not seek separate peace.

Finnish daily losses: 430


Major-General Paalu, commander of the 18th Division.

[Dowly]

27 June 1944

Reinforced Armored Division renews its counter-attack in Tali-Ihantala.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF

Maj. Gen. Ruben Lagus's Armored Division continues its efforts to cut off the Soviet salient east of Lake Leitimonjärvi. Plan is to attack with Col. Albert Puroma's Jäger Brigade from west and Col. Sven Björkman's Battle Group Björkman from east, while Col. Väinö Forsberg's battle group (IR 48's I and II battalions together with III/IR 13 [*]) attacks from north.

The Soviet salient contains four rifle divisions (63rd Guards, 64th Guards, 45th Guards and 268th) together with one tank brigade and several independent tank and assault gun regiments. All of them, however, have suffered heavy losses.

Nor are the attackers at the top of their powers. Col. Puroma's jäger battalions have about fourth of their strenght left, and Col. Forsberg's forces are also badly worn.

Early in morning Col. Martti Aho's [**] IR 50 (of 11th Division) relieves the Jäger Brigade from the isthmus between lakes Kärstilänjärvi and Leitimonjärvi, and the Brigade is readied for attack. Mission is to advance to Talinmylly and then reach the old defence-line at the south-eastern end of Lake Leitimonjärvi. On Brigade's right flank, north of Lake Leitimonjärvi, attacks Maj. Eero Leppänen's battle group (Jäger battalions 4 and 5). North of Leppänen's force attacks Jäger Battalion 2, and Jäger Battalion 3 is the Brigade reserve.

North of the Jäger Brigade attacks II/IR 6, while Detachment Penttinen (an engineer company, parts of a panzer and assault gun battalion) together with III/IR 6 was to hold the line along the Portinhoikka-Ihantala road. The two battalions of Col. Forsberg's IR 48 together with the III/IR 13, supported by elements of German Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303 were to clear the Portinhoikka-Ihantala road of the enemy from the direction of Ihantala, and then continue their offensive south.

Col. Björkman's detachment's Border Jäger Battalion 2, II/IR 13 and Separate Battalion 14 were to attack from east and link with the Jäger Brigade around Talinmylly.

Col. Puroma's jägers began their offensive at 3 pm. after seven artillery battalions had fired a preparation. Initally they advanced without problems, but then Maj. Leppänen's battle group met a strong enemy force that stopped its advance for few hours. Maj. Leppänen was mortally wounded [***], and replaced by Maj. Jouko Hynninen. The battle group continued its offensive, and around 6 pm. reached Aniskala, about half-way to its final objective. There Battle Group Hynninen's offensive was stopped by fierce enemy resistance. On Hynninen's left flank Jäger Battalion 2 was also stopped short of its objective.

In Ihantala, Col. Forsberg's battle group, supported by German assault guns, succesfully cleared the Portinhoikka-Ihantala road, but the already depleted forces suffered heavy losses in the process, especially the III/IR 13. The German assault guns were forced to leave after running out of ammo [****]. Col. Forsberg informed Gen. Lagus that his men were unable to conduct offensive operations. Gen. Lagus ordered him to proceed as per his earlier orders: to advance towards Jäger Brigade's advancing men from north. Lagus reinforced Forsberg's men with an engineer company and an assault gun platoon. They were able to reach their first objective around midnight, but were forced to return to their starting positions after running out of ammo. Col. Forsberg's battlegroup had spent what strength it had left clearing the road of enemy.

East of the Soviet salient Col. Björkman's forces attacked in afternoon. Especially Maj. Martti Avela's Border Jäger Battalion 2 met success, but its commander was wounded and replaced by Capt. U. Petäjä. At best they were only a kilometer from Col. Puroma's men who were advancing from west. But again fierce Soviet resistance frustrated the Finnish hopes of closing the pocket. The Soviet forces in the salient were still able to bring in reinforcements. Time was running out, but the Armored Division was going to try one more time on the next night.

The Finnish and German air units were busy trying to cut the bridges the Red Army engineers had built at Tali. These bridges were of vital importance for the Soviet offensive, and no matter how often they were destroyed, the engineers, oblivious to all dangers, always rebuilt them.[*] This unit also contained a company of Swedish volunteers, who distinguished themselves in today's battles.

[**] Col. Martti Aho was to become one of only four men who received the Mannerheim Cross, 2nd Class, twice.

[***] Maj. Eero Leppänen, who had already distinguished himself in numerous engagements, was awarded a posthumous Mannerheim Cross, 2nd Class.

[****] Germans didn't inform Finns why they left the battle. This caused bad blood among the Finnish units they had been supporting, who thought the Germans were running from battle.

*

Finnish troops withdraw from the Uuraansaari island on the Gulf of Viipuri.


Aunus Group's situation.

Finnish daily losses: 455


Medic giving first aid to a soldier from I/JR 2. (Aunus isthmus)


EDIT: Footage from around this time as published by the Finnish Army at the time. Around half of it is showing evacuees, the other half seems to be from the Isthmus.
https://www.elonet.fi/fi/elokuva/611630
(may or may not work outside of Finland, I don't know)

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

https://www.elonet.fi/fi/elokuva/611630
(may or may not work outside of Finland, I don't know)

Works in Germany.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Works in Germany.

Good to know.

[Buddahaid]

Works in California.

[Sailor Steve]

Works in Utah.

And it was fascinating to watch.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Works in California.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Works in Utah.

Gotcha!

And it was fascinating to watch.

There's plenty more from Winter War to Continuation War:
https://www.elonet.fi/fi/haku#/puolu...main%20katsaus
(Obviously, all in Finnish)


***


28 June 1944

Last attempt is made to encircle the Soviet divisions at Tali.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF

Col. Albert Puroma's Jäger Brigade starts at 12.45 am. one more attempt to cut from west the Soviet salient east of Lake Leitimonjärvi. After an artillery bombardment fired by eight artillery battalions Jäger Brigade advances a short distance, but the attack bogs down in fierce Soviet resistance. At 4 am. the attacking force withdraws back to its starting positions.

During the early morning hours Lt. Col. E. Polón's IR 30 (minus its I battalion which remained in the 11th Division's reserve) of the 11th Division arrives to the Jäger Brigade's rear and is subordinated to the Armored Division. During its march the IR 30 has taken serious losses from the Soviet artillery and aerial attacks. Maj. Gen. Ruben Lagus now decides to use his reserve, Maj. V. Sarta's I/IR 50, in a final attempt to isolate the Soviet salient. Four artillery battalions fire a preparation, and the attack commences at 8.45 am, but manages to reach only the same level Jäger Brigade's attack had reached earlier the same morning. The I/IR 50 is ordered back to its starting positions. This was the last attempt to close the salient from west.

During the day the Armored Division is subjected to constant and intense artillery fire and aerial bombardment. This afternoon the division's command post is hit, and among others chief of the operations section Lt. Col. Paavo Rasi is killed. The Armored Division, particularly its Jäger Brigade, is reaching the end of its endurance. It is rightly considered a crack formation, and has been used as a fire brigade during the long withdrawal accross the Isthmus. It has spent its strength in numerous counter-attacks in the last three weeks, and its units have only 10-20 % of their strength left. It's a testimony to their spirit that the morale remained high despite the severe losses they had suffered.

On the eastern side of the Soviet salient Col. Sven Björkman's forces try to reach the Jäger Brigade in the early morning hours. Capt. Petäjä's Border Jäger Battalion 2 is again at the front of the attack, but cannot overcome the Soviet resistance. Capt. Petäjä is wounded. The gap between Col. Björkman's detachment in east and Col. Puroma's Jäger Brigade in west is less than one kilometer wide, but that's the closest Finns come to closing it. Their strength is spent, and there's no fresh reserves present.

Now it's again the time for the Red Army to attack.

Col. Björkman's men east and Col. Väinö Forsberg's men north of the salient are subjected to a fierce artillery and aerial bombardment, and the Soviet forces, supported by tanks, attack around 11 am. Col. Björkman's men are forced back, but prevent the enemy from achieving a breakthrough. In Col. Forsberg's sector the situation soon becomes critical. Forsberg's forces have suffered heavy losses in yesterday's counter-attacks, and are now unable to resist long. The enemy achieves a breakthrough, and is around noon only a kilometer from Ihantala. The situation is exteremely dangerous, but again the reinforcements arrive in the nick of time. Maj. Gen. Einar Vihma's 6th Division is reaching Ihantala.

At 12.30 pm. commander of the IV Army Corps Lt. Gen. Laatikainen subordinates Col. Yrjö Hanste's IR 12 (6th Division) to Gen. Lagus for a counter-attack south from Ihantala. The attack starts at 6.30 pm. IR 12 is able to push the enemy back and stabilize the situation by midnight. But the enemy has broken out from the salient, and the Jäger Brigade, IR 50 and IR 30 are in danger of being isolated.

This day and tomorrow are the most critical in the Battle of Tali-Ihantala. There's no more attempts to isolate the Soviet salient and recapture the old positions at the VKT-line around Tali. It's now the question of withdrawing the forces to a new line around Ihantala and stopping the enemy there. The task would be much more difficult without the support given by artillery and air forces, especially the bombers of Flight Regiment 4 (now commanded by Lt. Col. Birger Gabrielsson) and Obstlt. Kuhlmey's Stukas and Fw 190's. Finnish fighter and AA-units claim 49 enemy aircraft shot down today around Tali-Ihantala.

*

Last Finnish unit, 7./IR 7, leaves Petroskoi at 00.10.

*

Finnish fighter aces CWO Ilmari Juutilainen and Capt. Hans Wind both receive their second Mannerheim Crosses.


Finnish daily losses: 759


Ju-87 Stukas returning from a mission. (Immola)

[Jimbuna]

Translates and works fine in the UK.

[sublynx]

Thanks for the films! I didn't know the Finnish news reels were online

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Translates and works fine in the UK.

Yeah, seems the site is available outside of Finland.

Originally Posted by sublynx

Thanks for the films! I didn't know the Finnish news reels were online

No problemo, forgot all about it myself too. Problem is the films aren't dated, but I did recognize some places from SA-kuva from the last two weeks so could say the film I posted was from the Soviet offensive of the last two weeks.

[Dowly]

29 June 1944

Finnish troops begin to withdraw to Ihantala, north of Tali.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF

This morning Commander of the Isthmus Forces Lt. Gen. Karl Lennart Oesch, after consulting commander of the IV Army Corps Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen, orders the IV Army Corps to straighten its line by withdrawing its right flank to a new line at the level of Ihantala. Maj. Gen. Ruben Lagus's Armored Division shall be withdrawn from battle to form the Isthmus Forces reserve, and Maj. Gen. Kaarlo Heiskanen's 11th Division will be transferred to Maj. Gen. Antero Svensson's V Army Corps as soon as Maj. Gen. Einar Vihma's 6th Division can replace it. This evening IV Army Corps front is also narrowed by transferring Col. Lauri Haanterä's 3rd Brigade on its right flank to the V Army Corps.

Since the Soviet forces broke free from the salient east of Lake Leitimonjärvi, Col. Albert Puroma's Jäger Brigade, Col. Martti Aho's IR 50 and Lt. Col. E. Polón's IR 30 have been in danger of being isolated. Now their task is to disengage from battle and withdraw to the new line. However, the Soviet forces press on, and Finns have to conduct a fighting withdrawal.

After midnight the enemy tanks reach the Portinhoikka crossroads, but once again Maj. Heikki Mikkola pushes them back with a prompt counter-attack. Soviets stage another attempt at 7 am, but are slowed down by fierce resistance by the I and II battalions of the IR 50 supported by StuG IIIg assault guns of the Armored Division. Finally the enemy is stopped a kilometer short of the crossroads. But IR 50's position is becoming endangered as the enemy forces are reaching its rear. The orders to withdraw to a new line reaches the IR 50 at noon. All through the afternoon and evening the two battalions slowly withdraw under heavy artillery fire, fighting back and slowing the enemy advance. Col. Aho is wounded, and replaced by Maj. I. Kaila. At one point III/IR 50 has to fight its way out from encirclement, but by evening both battalions have reached the new line. The Portinhoikka crossroads has to left to the enemy.

North of Lake Leitimonjärvi the Jäger Brigade, I/IR 50 and IR 30 (minus one battalion) still man the positions they had reached after the attempts to cut the Soviet salient yesterday. They also receive the order to withdraw around noon, but not all the units receive it on time. There are serious problems with communicating the orders to the battalions. Finally some units have to fight their way out from encirclement, carrying their dead and wounded.

The newly arrived 6th Division continues this morning its offensive from Ihantala south along the Portinhoikka-Ihantala road. It's able to conquer some ground, but is stopped by enemy artillery and air forces. At 12.30 pm. Col. Yrjö Hanste's IR 12 tries again. It's supported by artillery, air forces and German StuG's of the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303. The aim is to reach the point where a road branches north-west towards Vakkila. By 2 pm. Hanste's regiment has advanced near its goal, but taken heavy losses from the enemy artillery. It's forced to withdraw. The regiment repels several attacks by enemy tanks, destroying a number with the newly arrived German AT-weapons, Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks.

East of the Soviet salient Col. Sven Björkman's forces are subjected to a furious Soviet assault early in the morning. The Border Jäger Battalion 2 repels several attacks, even after the III/IR 48 on its right flank retreats at 10 am. It valiantly fights on alone for ten hours, holding the enemy and destroying several tanks. But the border jägers can't hold on alone for ever, and are forced to withdraw at 8 pm.

This results in a dangerous gap in the Finnish defences east of Lake Ihantalanjärvi (which lies east of the village of Ihantala, which is just about to become the focus of the battle). As soon as he is informed of this danger, Gen. Vihma sends his reserves to plug the gap, and the neighbouring Maj. Gen. Aleksanteri Autti's 4th Division also reacts by sending troops (this fighting took place just west of the boundary between the 6th and 4th divisions). By midnight the situation is just barely under control.

Today is the most critical day of the Battle of Tali-Ihantala. The IV Army Corps is able to shorten its line under heavy pressure, but this feat succeeds just barely, and many units have to fight their way out of encirclement. But another critical phase has just begun: after the 6th Division has arrived, no more reinforcements are coming. The Red Army was pressing on all along the Isthmus and elsewhere in the Fenno-Soviet front. This manner they prevented Finns from transferring more divisions to Ihantala, and probed for weak spots that could possibly be exploited. The Finnish forces now present have to be enough to stop the Soviet offensive. The line around Ihantala has to be held.

Situation between Gulf of Viipuri and River Vuoksi.

Finnish daily losses: 582