3 July 1941

The attack of Gebirgs-Korps Norwegen's 3. Division reaches Litsajoki.

The advance however bogs down during the following days and the Germans have to ask the Finns for more men.

In Suomussalmi area, III AK's Group F(agernäs) captures Vuokkiniemi.

First Swedish volunteers leave Stockholm for Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 87

http://i.imgur.com/GO7xhqal.jpg
AAA firing in Helsinki.

Sorry for being late, wasnt feeling too good yesterday.

***

4 July 1941

14. Division begins its attack towards Rukajärvi.

The Division's first task is to capture Repola and then advance eastward.

Independent detachment Petsamo advances to the area near Hulkko, where the attack towards Murmansk halts.

Ind.Det.Petsamo retreats back to the border soon after.

Finnish daily losses: 126

http://i.imgur.com/7bNyslUl.jpg
Aarne "Terror of Morocco" Juutilainen, famous for commanding IR/34 in Kollaa during the Winter War.

***

5 July 1941

No entry in the book for this day.

Finnish daily losses: 119

http://i.imgur.com/acWVrGFl.jpg
Armored train in Tohmajärvi.
Finland had two armored trains; Panssarijuna 1 and Panssarijuna 2.

6 July 1941

VI AK attacks towards Värtsilä to get better starting positions for the upcoming general offensive of the Karelian Army.

Colonel Heiskanen's 11.Division manages to break through the Russian 71.Division's lines northeast of Värtsilä and advance to the isthmus between Suolampi and Salmilampi.

Finnish daily losses: 79

http://i.imgur.com/RRVmlxyl.jpg
Lieutenant-Colonel Susitaival interrogates POW in Värtsilä.

http://i.imgur.com/kRiw21el.jpg
Two ladies bathing in the sun at Lake Bodom.

7 July 1941

The Parliament start its summer break (because screw war, right?).

On the left wing of the Karelian Army, Group O(inonen) attacks over the border to get better starting positions for the upcoming general offensive.

Orders given on 3/7 state that Group O must advance to Tolvajärvi and Kuolismaa.

Group O is divided into three battlegroups; Group S, group E and group H.

After crossing the border Group E tries to capture the village of Ontrovaara, but stiff resistance repulses them back by evening.

Group S fares no better getting bogged down for several days in Peurujoki and Melaselkä.

60 Soviet planes strike Kotka.

Finnish daily losses: 164

!Graphic image!

Quote:

7 July 1941

:rotfl2:First things first..

And ladies sunbathing .. in Finnland :huh:


p.s. Hope you're feeling better.

Yep, all good now. :salute:

Dowly, my friend! Do not forget to write about the siege of Leningrad. I'm interested in your opinion on this terrible page of history of the war between the two nations.

Hey Susexx,

There won't be much on SoL, it is not terribly relevant to the Continuation War.

As for my opinion? It doesn't matter. I rather stick to the facts we have.

8 July 1941

In Berlin, Finnish national socialist Erkki Räikkönen "demands" Leningrad to Finland.

Declaration is given to the people living in the areas occupied by Finns.

It is a set of instructions on how the people should behave; people should remain where they live and continue to work as normal.

The civilians can also be called to specific work duties when needed.

Any civilian who opposes or in any way does harm to the Finnish Army is seen as a criminal and is condemned to death.

Adolf Hitler states that both Leningrad and Moscow need to be destroyed.

German 169.Division and SS-Nord attacking towards Salla break the Russian lines and the enemy retreats to the Kairala line. The Finnish 6.Division reaches the southern end of the line.

Finnish daily losses: 102

http://i.imgur.com/S0Fsn84l.jpg
Grave of a Finnish soldier at the border in Ilomantsi.
(I think it might actually be a signpost -D)

9 July 1941

In the early morning, 20 enemy bombers strike Helsinki. 21 people are killed.

Air battle over Gulf of Finland results in 8 enemy planes being shot down by Squadron 24's Brewster Buffalos.

First saboteurs of the so called 'Erna group' leave for Estonia. These saboteurs have been trained in Finland to harass Soviet troops in Estonia.

VI AK begins its main offensive at 2340hrs with objective of achieving a breakthrough in Värtsilä and east side Korpiselkä.

Major-General Talvela's VI AK was supposed to wait for the general offensive, starting on the 10th, but Talvela decided to start the attack early.

The attack bogs down quickly and VI AK cannot advance to its objectives before the general offensive begins.

Major-General Talvela is probably best described as the Patton of Finland. He was extremely stubborn, had strong views on how the Finnish Army should work, was quick to anger and generally was very hard to work with.

Good example of his personality is when the first Mannerheim Cross was awarded. Not to him, but to Ruben Lagus. Reportedly, he screamed in anger "The *bleeping* Russkie gave it to the *bleeping* Swede!".

Capable commander though. :yep:

Finnish daily losses: 149

http://i.imgur.com/AxUN9NSl.jpg
"Mascot" of a certain artillery unit.

10 July 1941

General offensive of the Karelian Army begins at 1500hrs.

Mannerheim gives his so-called Order of the Day of the Sword Scabbard.

The German troops in the north reach the heavily defended Kairala line. The Finnish 6.Division is stopped at the line as well.

German Army Group North begins its attack towards Leningrad.

Finnish daily losses: 289

http://i.imgur.com/kJuveSVl.jpg
Finnish "Ghost plane". These dummy planes were used during the Winter War to fool Soviet bombers to strike bogus targets.

***

11 July 1941

Lieutenant-General Oesch's IV AK receives its attack orders.

VI AK punches through the Russian lines in Värtsilä and Korpiselkä.

Finnish IR/14 is sent to help out the Germans in Petsamo.

Finnish daily losses: 369

http://i.imgur.com/h6BsnTgl.jpg
Finnish troops march through Värtsilä.

12 July 1941

Detachment Lagus (IR/44) captures Tolvajärvi.

On the Isthmus, 15.Division begins to capture terrain that lies in-front of the Soviet lines in Koitsansalo and Änkilänsalo.

VI AK's new objective becomes the Suistamo-Loimola line.

http://i.imgur.com/Rn4B6Fnm.jpg

The Anglo-Soviet agreement is signed in Moscow.

Finnish daily losses: 314

13 July 1941

VI AK captures Uuksu and Muuanto.

Due to its rapid advance, VI AK's objective now becomes the Koirinoja-Käsnäselkä line.

http://i.imgur.com/eWhK6ebm.jpg

The German Gebirgs-Korps Norwegen continues its attack towards Murmansk from Petsamo.

Faced with continuous counter-attacks and threats to the flanks, the advance bogs down.

Finnish daily losses: 318

14 July 1941

1.Jaeger Brigade (1.JPr.) of Detachment Lagus captures Loimola, cutting the Soviet troops in the west from railroad access to east.

http://i.imgur.com/pm0Oe9vm.jpg

After regrouping, Group F (III AK) starts its attack again towards Uhtua.

Finnish daily losses: 258

http://i.imgur.com/mcUDhgBl.jpg
Anti-tank gun firing on enemy positions.

15 July 1941

11. Division captures Soanlahti.

19. Division breaks the Soviet lines in Niinisyrjä.

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

Lieutenant-Colonel Väinö Kotilainen is chosen as the head of East Karelia's military administration.

Finnish daily losses: 234

http://i.imgur.com/o89F2DVl.jpg
Finns advancing in Kollaanjoki. (Light Detachment 4)