Have a good time.:)

6 August 1941

Combined German-Finnish offensive reaches Aittojoki in Ladoga Karelia.

Commander of the III AK, Major-General Siilasvuo, orders Group F to take defensive positions near Uhtua.

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

German Army Group North reaches the southern shore of Gulf of Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 227

http://i.imgur.com/8PqBIR2l.jpg
'Anti-boredom battery' performing in Haapajärvi.

Showing some bottom cheek there! :huh: :) :woot:

7 August 1941

2. Division captures Lahdenpohja and by doing so cuts the last land based withdrawal route from the Russian troops in the surrounding area of Sortavala.

Colonel Bondarev's 168.D and parts of 115.D are now encircled with Lake Ladoga being the only way out.

I AK (2.D, 7.D, 19.D) is formed to deal with the Sortavala 'motti'.

http://i.imgur.com/l7RD9zCt.jpg

Northern Finland: III AK's Group J captures Kiestinki. SS-Nord takes credit of it by informing Berlin it was they who captured the town.

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

Rumours of deserters begin to circulate on the home front. The wildest rumours speak of over 40,000 deserters armed with machine guns and other armaments given by Russians roaming the woods.

Finnish daily losses: 383

http://i.imgur.com/2N7SjqRl.jpg
Close call for Colonel Pajari.

Typical Waffen SS always wanting a Iron Cross..Hey Berlin we took Kiestinki. :rolleyes:

8 August 1941

After capturing Ilmee, parts of Colonel Pajari's 18.D are ordered to advance south towards Kirvu and Sairala.

Their objective is to capture the towns and the Sairala - Hiitola railway.

Kirvu and Inkilä are captured without a fight on the 8th of August.

Attacks towards Sairala are repulsed by the enemy.

http://i.imgur.com/UBPK9rAt.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 317

http://i.imgur.com/us3eNANl.jpg
Two Jaegers of Jaeger Battalion 1 carrying the so called Marski's SMGs.

For their actions during the tough 'motti' battles of the Winter War, Mannerheim bought 10 Suomi KP/31 SMGs from the Tikkakoski factory with a silver plaque on the stock which read: "To Jaeger Battalion 1, 1940, Field Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim"

The weapons were given to the unit in the summer of 1941 and as Mannerheim wished, they were given to the best soldiers of the unit to be used in combat.

All but two of the KP/31s survived the war.

9 August 1941

Karelian Ishtmus: 2.Division captures Elisenvaara.

http://i.imgur.com/MsAU6eWt.jpg

Commander of the Navy orders mines to be laid to east side of Tallinn.

Finnish daily losses: 256

http://i.imgur.com/z4CWlNMl.jpg
Russian POWs in Nastola.

10 August 1941

Infantry Regiment 30 (7.Division) attack over Karmalansalmi on the west side of Sortavala.

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

15.Division enters Kurkijoki.

http://i.imgur.com/h255f2Ut.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 282

http://i.imgur.com/hxWySnKl.jpg
Finns marching towards Kurkijoki.

***

This was uploaded yesterday to the official FDF youtube channel, so I'll just leave it here:
Inheritance of the Veterans

11 August 1941

East Karelia: 11. Division takes front responsibility in Hyrsylä.

Karelian Isthmus: Last Soviet covering forces retreat from Hiitola to the Kilpola archipelago in preparation for evacuation across Lake Ladoga.

http://i.imgur.com/1Hx6b9Ut.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 292

http://i.imgur.com/pA743Zbl.jpg
Finnish artillery softening suspected enemy positions near Hiitola.

12 August 1941

18.Division continues to advance towards Jääski, Kirvu and Sairala.

2. and 19. Divisions attack against the encircled Soviet 168.D in Lahdenpohja - Sortavala area.

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

Over Kirvu, Captain Jorma Karhunen's flight of six Brewsters engage 20 enemy I-153s and one I-18(I-16?).

Nine Soviet I-153s are shot down and another four unconfirmed with no own losses.

First issue of "Vapaa Karjala" (="Free Karelia") weekly paper is released.

Finnish daily losses: 291

http://i.imgur.com/U4rAXJ3l.jpg
Treating a hoof injury.

13 August 1941

I AK takes front responsibility in the area of Sortavala.

Karelian Isthmus: Mannerheim orders Colonel Pajari's 18.Division to take the northern shore of river Vuoksi between Enso and Pölläkkälä and establish bridgehead on the west side of the river.

IV AK receives orders to start preparing for an attack.

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

Finnish daily losses: 327

http://i.imgur.com/rcUdZwsl.jpg
Machine gun nest inside a childrens' hospital in Sortavala

14 August 1941

18.Division's forces surround Enso and Jääski.

Antrea is captured after heavy fighting lasting the entire day.

I AK attacks against the Soviet 168.D in Lahdenpohja - Sortavala area.

http://i.imgur.com/y6T7NJut.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 349

http://i.imgur.com/cSYQ0dql.jpg
Soldier from assault company with messenger dog 'Taru'

15 August 1941

At 1510hrs, IR30 headquarters receives message from II./IR30:

"The city (Sortavala) has been taken and the blue cross flag flies over the city hall. Own losses: 1 KIA, 3 WIA. Enemy losses number dozens."

Majority of the defending Russians (168.D) have left the city earlier during the day.

Of those Russians who remained in the city, 540 were taken prisoner.

Finnish 10.Division repulses Soviet 265.Division's counter-attack in Timoskala.

VII AK takes front responsibility in Tulemajärvi sector.

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

Finnish daily losses: 256

http://i.imgur.com/pnjMT96l.jpg
Russian prisoners asking their comrades holed up in a cellar to surrender. (Sortavala)


Finnish newsreel of the battle of Sortavala:
http://www.elonet.fi/fi/elokuva/638072

In Finnish naturally, but there's some nice footage there that might interest some.

16 August 1941

Northern Finland: Finnish IR53 (III AK) is encircled near Kiestinki.

IR37 reaches Lake Ladoga in Melloistenlahti, south of Sortavala.

7.Division's commander Colonel Svensson becomes Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #5 for leading the attack on Sortavala.

Colonel Pajari orders his 18.Division to attack across river Vuoksi in Hopeasalmi.

http://i.imgur.com/zrTn8DQt.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 255

http://i.imgur.com/mIMSUJhl.jpg
Colonel Svensson (center) and General Heinrichs (right) in Sortavala.

17 August 1941

Karelian Isthmus: 18.Division's vanguard battalion crosses river Vuoksi in Hopeasalmi at 2300hrs.

"The order to capture the north shore of the river from Enso to Pölläkkälä and to establish a bridgehead on the south side had been received on the 13th of August.
The purpose was to get behind the enemy troops defending the western part of the isthmus and so make the upcoming attack of the IV AK easier in that direction.

The first men of IR27 rowed across the river in complete silence. The surprise was near perfect, only resistance they met was a 10-man patrol which was quickly destroyed.
By first light, almost the entire regiment had moved across and a couple kilometers deep bridgehead had been established."

10.Division attacks towards Räisälä.

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

Swedish Volunteer Battalion takes front responsibility in Hanko sector.

Finnish daily losses: 294

http://i.imgur.com/VxVCQeKl.jpg
2nd Lieutenant Lehtonen from Jaeger Battalion 1 receives the Iron Cross 2nd class.
His patrol destroyed a Russian 6-inch gun battery on 4th of August in Kotasuo.

18 August 1941

Stalin offers peace to Finland.

Finnish ambassador in Washington, Hjalmar Procopé, is informed confidentially by US Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles of Stalin's readiness to start peace talks with Finland.

Due to the success by both Finnish and German armies in the east, Finland sees no reason to make a separate peace with Soviet Union.

Sergeant-Major Oiva "Oippa" Tuominen becomes Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #6. He has shot down 18 enemy planes by this time.

After two days of fighting, Finnish 10.Division breaks through to Räisälä and routs the Soviet 265.Division.

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

Finnish daily losses: 209

http://i.imgur.com/7QR86WAl.jpg
Russian POWs taken in Räisälä.

***

King B. Ooze has summoned me to his court, so I will return to this on Monday/Tuesday unless I find time to write something for the weekend.

19 August 1941

East Karelia: Group O begins attempting a breakthrough in Aittojoki towards Suojärvi.

11. Division attacks from Hyrsylä to Tsalkki.

http://i.imgur.com/9bqop2Gt.jpg

Northern Finland: German 36.AK restarts its offensive on the east side of Salla.

Finnish daily losses: 224

http://i.imgur.com/go4jdEml.jpg
Finnish soldier walking past a burning building in Kiviniemi.

***

20 August 1941

Ladoga Karelia: Fighting ends on the southeast side of Sortavala. The remaining Russian forces withraw from the Rautalahti encirclement over Lake Ladoga to Valamo and Leningrad Front.

http://i.imgur.com/rCwmRH6t.jpg

Karelian Ishthmus: Russian forces are ordered to withdraw to the Viipuri - River Vuoksi - Pyhäjärvi line.

http://i.imgur.com/72RYH4At.jpg

Hitler orders Waldemar Erfurth to inform the Finns, that Hitler wishes them to surround Leningrad from the north.

After talking with Mannerheim, Erfurth informs to Berlin that Finland is reluctant to take part in the attack on Leningrad.

Finnish daily losses: 183

http://i.imgur.com/0sAHJSOl.jpg

21 August 1941

IV AK's attack on the west side of River Vuoksi begins.

11.Division captures Suvilahti.

KevPrT* advances to Kuparsaari during the morning
(*Light Brigade Tiiainen)

The retreating Russians burn the village of Käkisalmi, which is captured by 15.Division by evening.

http://i.imgur.com/Kir1oVCt.jpg

Hitler halts the attack on Moscow and concentrates on Ukraine and Leningrad.

Finnish daily losses: 263

http://i.imgur.com/TBAUzSGl.jpg
War material left behind by retreating Russians in Rautalahti.

***

22 August 1941

8.Division reaches Säkkijärvi - Vahviala line by evening.

http://i.imgur.com/kN2gdkwt.jpg

Germany takes Estonia.

Finnish daily losses: 179

http://i.imgur.com/VpJrxkXl.jpg
Knocked out Russian tank in Suvilahti.

23 August 1941

10. and 15. Division reach river Vuoksi - river Suvanto line.

Russian forces encircled in Kilpola island withdraw across Lake Ladoga.

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

Finnish daily losses: 226

http://i.imgur.com/QDYiPBOl.jpg
Machine gun dugout

***

24 August 1941

Units of 8. Division cross Gulf of Viipuri unopposed to Lihaniemi.

http://i.imgur.com/kKBxpF8t.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 307

http://i.imgur.com/7atQtWCl.jpg
Wartime drawing.

***

25 August 1941

East Karelia: 11.Division's attack to the Säämäjärvi-Suotjärvi isthmus begins at 1500hrs.

Karelian Isthmus: 12.Division cuts the Viipuri-Leningrad railway near Kämäri.

Russian counter-attack on the east side of Viipuri against 18.Division's bridgehead west of river Vuoksi is repelled.

KevPrT's commander Colonel Matti Tiiainen is mortally wounded when his tent is hit by a artillery shell.

Units from 8.Division capture the railstation at Sommee on the southwest side of Viipuri and Tienhaara to the northwest of the city.

http://i.imgur.com/S75hQyft.jpg

Finnish daily losses: 320

http://i.imgur.com/Ed8dCTdl.jpg
Last war's scars in Taipale.

One good thing came out of this for Finland because they would not seal off Leningrad from their end they were spared being over run by the Russia at the end of the war.