Lake Pyhäjärvi is in the rear, behind the Mannerheim line. If you look at the first map on post #8, Lake Pyhäjärvi is where 10.D mark is, that kinda "U" shaped lake. I assume the drop was seen and a patrol was sent to take them out.

***

3 February - DAY 66 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: Finnish defenders successfully repulse enemy attacks on the Mannerheim Line in Summa, Suokanta and Oinaala.

The Russian 7th Army and 13th Army are ordered to begin the work of breaking down the Finnish defences on the Isthmus.

Ladoga Karelia: detachments of enemy troops which had advanced from the south on skis are surrounded in a 'motti' at Lavajärvi.

Battalion Mankonen completes destruction of the enemy ski battalion at Löytöjärvi. In three days the enemy death toll reaches around 400.

Soviet aircraft bomb a number of localities across the country: in Kuopio the air raid leaves 34 dead and 38 injured.

Viipuri: enemy bombers hit hard in and around Torkkelinkatu, Punaisenlähteentori square, the market square, the old town and the district of Havi. The Lutheran cathedral is partly destroyed in the raid.

Kotka: the woodyard at the Enso Gutzeit sawmill is set ablaze and almost totally destroyed.

Eastern Isthmus: a Russian fire control aircraft is in the air all day over Taipale directing the enemy artillery fire.

A captured enemy map contains accurate details of the position of the Finnish command post in the Taipale sector.

Abroad: the International Labour Office announces that the Soviet Union has been expelled from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Marshall Mannerheim's sister, Countess Eva Sparre arrives in New York to begin a series of lectures in the USA on Finland.

The great Finnish runners Paavo Nurmi and Taisto Mäki receive a hero's welcome on arrival in New York. Thousands of people and dozens of reporters come to the harbour to welcome them.

Daily losses: 129

4 February - DAY 67 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops wipe up the western 'motti' at Lemetti in the early hours of the morning, capturing a considerable amount of enemy material, including 32 assault tanks, 40 lorries, six field kitchens and the instruments of a military band. Only around one hundred enemy troops manage to break out of the 'motti' before its final destruction.

Northern Finland: the Russian Dolin ski brigade launches a counterattack in Kuhmo.

Central Isthmus: enemy artillery, aircraft and assault tanks shell the Finnish positions in Summa and Lähde.

Only in Summa village does the Soviet infantry attempt an advance, using its overwhelming superiority in numbers in an attempt to exhaust the Finnish troops, who are forced to fight and sleep in the open in temperatures of almost 30 degrees below zero.

At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Moscow's propaganda radio announces that Finland is continuing to hound its workers, with "officer devils" spurring their troops on to burn and loot working-class homes.

The Finnish Army is unable to find any more reserves or transfer those it has in time to cover areas where the Russians are threatening to break through.

Eastern Isthmus: Taipale enjoys its quietest night of the year. Less than 50 mortars are fired in 7th Division's sector.

Helsinki: children, the elderly, and the disabled are to be compulsorily evacuated from the city. Those who do not leave voluntarily will be forcibly removed.

Abroad: Paavo Nurmi and Taisto Mäki, the famous Finnish runners currently on a tour of the USA, attend a flag-raising ceremony in the Finnish pavilion at the New York World's Fair.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/QP8KHQv.jpg
Smouldering Russian dugouts. West Lemetti.

Daily losses: 153

5 February - DAY 68 of Winter War

Stockholm: Finnish Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner confers with his Swedish counterpart, Christian Günther, before proceeding to Hella Wuolijoki's room in the Grand Hotel to hold a meeting at 11 a.m. with the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm, Madame Alexandra Kollontai.

Tanner is told the Soviet Union cannot accept Finland's terms for opening talks, and Tanner then suggests one of the islands in the Gulf of Finland as an alternative site for a Soviet base instead of Hanko. Ambassador Kollontai promises to pass the proposal on to her government for consideration.

Karelian Isthmus: following a preliminary artillery bombardment, the enemy launches heavy assaults in the morning in the areas of Summa, Marjapellonmäki and Lake Hatjalahti with the support of over one hundred assault tanks. Despite overwhelming numerical superiority the attack becomes bogged down and ends in the destruction of 22 assault tanks.

Ladoga Karelia: the Finnish counterattack in the Pitkäranta area is unsuccessful.

Northern Finland: the enemy drops a number of parachutists, but the Finnish defences are able to locate where they land.

In the early hours of the morning Finnish aircraft bomb the enemy troops bivouaced around their campfire.

Ladoga Karelia: the Russians begin to take Karelians from the border villages in the municipality of Suojärvi over the border into Soviet Karelia.

Over 1,500 are transferred to two transit camps. Those moved are mainly from Suojärvi but a few are from border villages in the municipality of Salmi. Old people, women and children are transported in lorries to forest labour centres almost 200 kilometres away in Interposolka and Kaimaoja. A number of children die on the cold journey. Over 50 children and old people die in the camps due to a lack of proper food.

Northern Finland: a battalion of the enemy's Dolin ski brigade tries to get behind the Finnish troops at Haukkajärvi, but is pushed back across the border by Detachment Kekkonen.

Abroad: Supreme Allied Command in Paris decides to help Finland. An allied unit of at least two brigades in strength is to be sent to Finland in the middle of March.

The Finnish Red Cross receives a donation from the Belgian Red Cross.

The great Finnish runners Paavo Nurmi and Taisto Mäki travel to Washington, where they are received by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Daily losses: 166


http://i.imgur.com/xw9CH7gm.jpg

Shot down DB3 at Kerisyrjä.

6 February - DAY 69 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: the Mannerheim Line holds firm. Finnish troops repulse the attempted Soviet breakthrough in Summa village and Marjapellonmäki.

The first enemy tanks are destroyed in the early morning twilight, with the accompanying infantry also suffering heavy losses.

By 7.30 in the evening the Finnish front line is entirely under Finnish control. The retreating enemy suffers heavy losses from the Finnish artillery and machine-gun fire.

Northern Finland: in Kuhmo, the Finnish 9th Division surrounds the Russian 54th Division in a series of 'mottis'.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops capture an enemy base to the northeast of Lake Ladoga. The enemy loses over 500 men and a considerable amount of war material.

Stockholm: Finnish Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner has another meeting with the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm, Madame Alexandra Kollontai. Madame Kollontai passes on her government's view that Tanner's suggestion of the previous day does not provide a sufficient basis for opening peace talks. Tanner leaves for home.

Norway: the northern Norwegian province of Ruija announces that there are currently 1,179 Finnish refugees in the province: 381 men, 359 women and 429 children.

London: a question is asked in the House of Commons on the urgent dispatch of aircraft to Finland. Due to the sensitivity of the issue no detailed information can be provided.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/vrk8d4Z.jpg
Ski patrol in Märkäjärvi.

Daily losses: 94

7 February - DAY 70 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: the pressure on the Isthmus continues to grow. The non-stop Soviet artillery bombardment, bombing and tank and infantry assaults are now into their seventh day in the area defended by the Finnish 3rd Division.

A dugout belonging to the Finnish 9th Infantry Regiment takes a direct hit from a heavy enemy mortar; 18 soldiers are killed and 11 wounded.

Central Isthmus: Red Army tanks and infantry mount two separate assaults in Summa village, both of which are successfully repulsed.

Ladoga Karelia: in the Aittojoki sector, Detachment Pajari is attempting to strike the enemy troops to the west of the River Kuukkausjoki.

The Finnish attack grinds to a halt in the evening in the face of heavy enemy fire.

Northern Finland: in the Suomussalmi sector an enemy detachment which had entered Finnish territory to the south of Raate is pushed back across the border.

Thirty-three enemy aircraft carry out a surprise bombing raid on Kajaani, where the headquarters of the North Finland Group are situated. Four people are killed in the raid, including one doctor, and two civilians are injured. Several buildings are destroyed, the worst hit being the town hospital.

The enemy takes advantage of the resulting confusion to send in reconnaissance parachutists. Those picked up are wearing Finnish military uniforms.

Helsinki: the city court sentences 12 people to pay fines for infringing the blackout regulations.

Abroad: in Copenhagen a new civilian labour agency has attracted 1,250 volunteers for Finland in its first two days of operation.

An article in Leningradskaya Pravda tells of the first executions in Leningrad for hoarding food and profiteering. The official grounds for the convictions are counter-revolutionary activities and serving as a Finnish agent.

The United States' House of Representatives rejects by 108 votes to 105 a motion to withdraw the US Ambassador from Moscow in protest over the war in Finland.

The American trade union movement is today holding a special day to express its support for Finland.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/dBkJS6e.jpg
Captain Teira of 8/kT-Pr.* in Märkäjärvi.

*=8th battalion, field replacement brigade

Daily losses: 195

8 February - DAY 71 of Winter War

The Soviet Union asks Finland which island it would be willing to surrender to house a Soviet base.

Central Isthmus: Soviet infantry supported by tanks and protected by ski-borne armoured sheets manage to reach the front of the Finnish positions in Summa. By midnight the enemy has been forced to withdraw, leaving almost 150 armoured sheets in Finnish hands.

Eastern Isthmus: two Soviet divisions launch a massive assault in Taipale at 10.15 in the morning.

The enemy directs heavy shelling onto the eastern part of Kirvesmäki and the western strongholds in Terenttilä.

The Finnish positions being shelled are also bombed by nine enemy aircraft at the same time as fighter aircraft strafe the front lines.

Two of the Terenttilä strongholds are lost to the enemy. Finnish losses total 219 men, of whom 32 are killed.

The enemy assault on Kirvesmäki fails with the loss of two assault tanks.

In the north, 1,500 Russians are killed in Kuhmo.

Ladoga Karelia: the enemy wipes out a Finnish ski battalion to the northeast of Lake Ladoga.

An enemy detachment of around 250 men is surrounded to the east of Lake Nietjärvi.

Government ministers Ryti, Walden and Tanner discuss the offer of help from the Allies and decide it should be used to exert pressure on both the Soviet Union and Sweden.

Second Lieutenant Wilhelm Bekassy, a Hungarian volunteer, disappears while flying his Fiat G50 fighter, bought from Italy and assembled in Sweden, from the Swedish city of Västerås to Säkylä in southwest Finland.

The Swedish national collection in aid of Finland has so far generated around 15 million krona.

The British Labour Party delegation visiting Finland leaves for home today.

Abroad: the Paris Opera is putting on a special gala evening to raise funds for Finland.

Daily losses: 187


http://i.imgur.com/mAYzq5rm.jpg

Ski patrol at Märkäjärvi.

9 February - DAY 72 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops surround a Red Army regiment in Vorojenkivi, to the east of the great Kitelä 'motti', establishing what was later to become known as the 'regimental motti' to the north of Lake Ladoga. The name came naturally from the fact that an entire Russian regiment (JR 203) was trapped there.

The Finnish attempt to immediately take the 'motti' grinds to a halt in face of the Soviet tanks trapped inside. A bloody struggle ensues.

Karelian Isthmus: the commanders of the Soviet northwest front on the Isthmus order a general offensive. Around midday, the Soviet infantry launches a tank-supported assault in the Finnish 4th Division's positions in Marjapellonmäki.

The assault is repulsed, but Soviet troops manage to take the Karhu stronghold to the north of Marjapellonmäki on the Summa front.

Finnish attempts to retake the stronghold prove unsuccessful.

In Summa, a fresh battalion is sent in during the course of the evening to relieve the battalion fighting in the Lähde sector.

Helsinki: graduation as a qualified nurse is to be made easier and more courses provided for trainee nurses in the Helsinki area.

The armed forces payment system is to be overhauled by presidential decree. Every soldier is to receive a monthly salary, ranging from 500 markkaa for a private soldier up to 2,500 markkaa for a general. This basic salary will be further supplemented by 150 markkaa for the first child in the family and an additional 100 markkaa for each subsequent child.

The Government is also to decide on the payment of maintenance benefits to the wife, child or disabled and dependent parents or siblings of a man called up to serve in the armed forces.

Sweden: more than two out of every hundred Swedish doctors are now in Finland, and the Swedish Medical Association's collection for Finland has already brought in over 100,000 krona.

A collection organized by a Lutheran priest in Gothenburg has raised 240,000 krona to buy a fighter aircraft for Finland.

Denmark: 10,000 Danes have volunteered to go and work in Finland.

London: a credit agreement has been signed to facilitate Finland's purchase of war material from the United Kingdom.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/pa5IhMN.jpg
View of the frontline terrain. Oinola.

Daily losses: 182

What is an ski borne armored sheet?:doh:
Some sort of protective shield that is used by infantry?

Yes, exactly that.
http://i.imgur.com/gyjREzZ.jpg

They would be pulled by the tanks.

Interesting design. First time I see something like that.:salute:

10 February - DAY 73 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: the commander of the Finnish 3rd Division says the main defensive position in Summa is under attack from three Soviet divisions and a tank brigade.

The Soviet infantry has broken through in the Merkki sector.

Finnish troops successfully repulse the enemy assaults in Marjapellonmäki, but are unable to retake the Karhu stronghold.

Eastern Isthmus: the fighting in Taipale continues with increasing ferocity. The enemy artillery opens fire at 10.30 in the morning.

At 12 minutes past noon the enemy infantry launches its assault with the support of six assault tanks.

At 2.30 p.m. Major Saarelainen announces that the enemy assault has been successfully repulsed and four of their assault tanks destroyed.

Mikkeli: Prime Minister Ryti, Foreign Minister Tanner and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, Marshall Mannerheim discuss possible terms for peace. Mannerheim urges the Government to seek peace.

Ladoga Karelia: in the Aittojoki sector, troops belonging to Detachment Pajari carry out a new assault on the River Kuukkausjoki.

After fierce close combat the Finnish troops manage to clear the enemy from the west bank of the river by the evening.

Viipuri: enemy bombing destroys the Dominican monastery built in 1481 and currently serving as the church for the rural congregation around Viipuri.

Abroad: a train from the Finnish Centre for Nordic Aid arrives in Stockholm with 300 Finnish children.

A Danish officer, Colonel Tretow-Loof is travelling to Finland to lead the Danish volunteer battalion.

An association called 'Wings for Finland' is founded in New York to procure aircraft for Finland.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/IaCaH7l.jpg
Abandoned Russian tank (BT?) at Lemetti crossroads.

Daily losses: 147

11 February - DAY 74 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: the day begins foggy, but brightens up during the course of the morning. The temperature remains at around 20 below zero throughout the day.

Central Isthmus: at 8.40 in the morning, the Soviet artillery begins drumfire across the entire breadth of the 3rd Division's defensive position in Summa, continuing the bombardment for four hours.

A little before midday the enemy infantry begins its assault with massive air and tank support.

The Russians throw 50,000 troops into the attack in Summa.

The defending Finnish forces take out 72 enemy assault tanks.

The 'Fort Poppius' fortress is lost to the enemy at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Some of its defenders begin to panic, and by evening a Russian division has penetrated to the support line in the Lähde sector.

The Finnish counterattack runs out of steam before midnight. In all other parts of Summa the enemy assault is successfully repulsed.

By midnight Finnish reserves have restored the lines.

The three Finnish divisions in the main defensive position successfully repulse attempted breakthroughs by at least six Soviet divisions.

Eastern Isthmus: during the course of the day between 40,000 and 50,000 mortars of varying types rain down on the front line and reserve positions in Taipale.

In Kirvesmäki every single soldier in stronghold no.1 is either killed or wounded.

Northern Finland: at Löytövaara in Kuhmo, Battalion Arponen launches an assault with shock troops at 7 o'clock in the morning.

A volunteer detachment of shock troops crawls through deep snow to take the enemy dugouts by surprise. The ploy is a success, and the shock troops begin to systematically take out the Russian defences with piled-up charges, petrol bombs and machine pistols. By evening the area is in Finnish hands, with only a few of the enemy managing to escape across Lake Löytöjärvi to Riihivaara.

Karelian Isthmus: Reserve Lieutenant Gunnar Höckert is killed on the Isthmus. Höckert won the gold medal in the men's 5,000 metres at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and ran three world record times during the course of his athletic career.

Abroad: teams representing Sweden and Finland play an international bandy match in biting temperatures of 15 below zero in the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm. The proceeds are to be donated to the Finnish war effort. Listeners to Swedish radio can also contribute to the collection.

Before the match begins the actress Ella Eronen recites the words of the Finnish national anthem in Finnish and Swedish.

The game ends in a Swedish victory by 2 goals to 1.

The official proceeds from the match are 475,000 krona.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has sent 1,200 dollars to the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and Sibelius has decided the money should be used to help the needy families of fallen reservists.

Daily losses: 565


http://i.imgur.com/4AAkqttm.jpg

Finnish sentry at Kemijärvi.

12 February 1940 - DAY 75 of Winter War

Northern Finland: Colonel Dolin, commander of the enemy ski brigade bearing his name, is killed in a skirmish with a Finnish patrol in Kuhmo.

Karelian Isthmus: the Red Army enlarges its breakthrough in the Lähde sector.

The enemy fails to break through in other sectors of the front.

The enemy continues to attack on the Muolaanjärvi-Punnusjärvi isthmuses.

The Kirvesmäki stronghold in Taipale is lost and attempts to retake it prove unsuccessful.

Heavy fighting continues in Summa.

Referring to the aid Finland is expecting from the international community, Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner issues a statement in his own name via the Finnish News Agency in which he denies claims of attempts to broker a peace.

Prime Minister Ryti and Minister without Portfolio J.K. Paasikivi describe Tanner's statement as ill-considered.

While in Turku en route for a secret trip to Stockholm, Tanner receives details from Chargé d'Affaires Erkko of the Soviet Union's terms for peace.

The Soviet terms are passed on to the Finnish Government.

The Ministry of Supply announces new maximum prices for coffee: the maximum permitted retail price for roasted ersatz containing at least 25% coffee is 20 marks per kilo, with Rio blend at 34 marks, the Central American Santos blend 32 marks and Quality blend at 50 marks per kilo.

Abroad: Karl J. Ewerts, the director of volunteer recruitment in Sweden, returns from a trip to the Karelian Isthmus and issues a statement to the press calling for weapons, men and vehicles to be sent to Finland.

The first 10 Finnish flying cadets arrive in Stockholm for training provided by the Royal Swedish Aero Club.

In the United States, the 'one dollar collection' organized by the Finnish committee has already raised over a million dollars.

Daily losses: 503

Daily (Finnish) losses (KIA) added to each entry.

Are those just the Finnish losses or those of the soviets as well?

Finnish losses only, taken from the Suomen sodissa menehtyneet 1939-1945 database.

Definitely unsustainable for such a small population.:dead:

The larger problem turned out to be the lack of ammunition for both artillery and anti-tank guns.

13 February 1940 - DAY 76 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: at 6.30 a.m. the 5th Division's 14th Infantry Regiment launches a counterattack to retake the lost main defensive line in Summa.

By noon the Finnish troops have managed to advance a few kilometres, but then come up against enemy tanks and are forced to withdraw. The counterattack is ultimately unsuccessful.

Just after noon Soviet troops break through the support line in the Lähde sector.

Despite a fierce Finnish counterattack, the enemy continues to advance and approaches the Lähde crossroads.

In Taipale, Finnish troops succeed in retaking the Kirvesmäki stronghold overrun by Soviet troops in yesterday's fighting.

General Headquarters orders the 23rd Division to move onto the Isthmus.

Squadron 26 shoots down 9 Soviet aircraft over the Isthmus.

Viipuri is suffering an endless barrage of enemy bombs.

On the home front, Lahti, Heinola and Porvoo are also bombed.

Foreign Minister Tanner holds talks in Sweden with representatives of the Swedish Government, expressing the hope for Swedish troops to be sent to Finland.

The Swedish Government responds in the negative: Sweden will not give Finland direct military assistance.

The Finnish Parliament introduces draft legislation to leave the taxes of fallen servicemen uncollected.

Abroad: a benefit bandy international between Norway and Finland at the Bislet ice rink in Oslo ends in a 2-1 victory for Finland. The event was organized by sports journalists in the Norwegian capital, and the proceeds of 300,000 marks will be donated to help the families of Finnish sportsmen killed at the front.

Georg Gripenberg, Finland's diplomatic representative in London, and Lieutenant-General Enckell, who is currently on a visit to the British capital, appeal to Lord Halifax, the British Foreign Secretary, to send military aid to Finland. Halifax promises to raise the matter in the War Cabinet.

A fully equipped force of Hungarian volunteers has travelled to Scandinavia via France to help in the defence of Finland.

(Click for larger photo)
http://i.imgur.com/RuTtNrc.jpg
Russian T-26 destroyed by 3/Er.P.5. with a piled-up charge. Somewhere in Muolaa sector.

Daily Finnish Losses: 547

14 February 1940 - DAY 77 of Winter War

Eastern Isthmus: fierce fighting in Taipale results in the enemy retaking the Kirvesmäki stronghold which had been recaptured by Finnish troops during the night.

After a massive artillery barrage lasting two hours the Russians launch an assault in both Terenttilä and Kirvesmäki.

The attack is supported by both aircraft and tanks.

Lack of sufficient available strength makes it impossible for the Finnish troops to respond effectively.

The ferocity of the battle is illustrated by the fact that the commander of the company with responsibility for the front has to be replaced three times within the space of just a few hours due to the death or injury of his predecessor.

There is a lull in the fighting at 5.35 p.m.

In compliance with their orders the Finnish troops in Summa pull out of their positions in the Lähde sector.

Fortunately there is no enemy attack during the withdrawal, reorganization and regrouping of the Finnish defences. The Finns also succeed in reinforcing their troops in the Summa sector.

In the north, the Finnish 9th Division suspends attacks on the Kuhmo 'mottis'.

The Russians lose 30,000-40,000 men in Summa.

The enemy awards an assault tank brigade trapped in a 'motti' 300 roubles to distribute among the troops in honour of the 22nd anniversary of the Red Army.

Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim, the commanding officer of the Army of the Isthmus, and the commanding officer of II Army Corps meet in Saarela manor house to discuss the situation on the Isthmus.

Viipuri: enemy bombers damage the castle bridge and Viipuri Castle itself.

On the home front, Soviet bombers hit Hamina.

The Finnish Government publishes a note aimed at foreign powers on the Soviet Union's infringements of the customs of war.

Abroad: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain informs Finland's diplomatic representative in London, Georg Gripenberg that the United Kingdom is prepared to supply Finland with thirty 84 mm field cannons and 30,000 shells. This is around a third of what Finland had asked for.

Daily Finnish Losses: 456