17 March 1943
LeLv 42's bombers strike Jeljärvi train station and the village of Semskaja.
Finnish daily losses: 24
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18 March 1943
AOK Norwegen: "Enemy planes attacked the Alakurtti airfield this morning. Our fighters shot down seven or eight enemy planes."
Finnish daily losses: 23
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19 March 1943
Aunus Group: IR 50 attacks and captures an enemy base in the Suur Kuzrajärvi area.
Quote:
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Artillery preparations began at 0729hrs, the attack followed a minute later. By 0900hrs the new front line had been established everywhere but on the western end where a single bunker was still putting up fierce resistance. Enemy counter-attacked at 1300hrs unsuccessfully. By evening the western end of the line had been captured and enemy positions still offering resistance had been encircled. Further two enemy counter-attacks repelled.
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Finnish daily losses: 51
Marching towards the staging area.
Waiting for the attack the begin.
The battle has began and first wounded men are being taken to the rear.
Exhausted.
Destroyed Russian bunker.
Fighting in the enemy positions.
Russian bunker hit with a flamethrower.
This Russian POW fell asleep as soon as he was brought to the command post.
Entrance to a heavily fortified bunker (6 layers of logs as roof).
Flamethrower softening Russian positions during the night.
***
20 March 1943
McClintock meets with Finland's Foreign Minister Ramsay to discuss the possible peace negotiations between Finland and the Soviet Union.
Quote:
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Ramsay said that there were numerous “practical difficulties” in the way of concluding a separate peace with Russia and he likened it to yacht racing where the question of time was an important factor—when to tack or when not to come about. I observed that there was a new weather mark and that it might be time to come about. The Foreign Minister said he did not think that economic aspect of leaving Germany was so important and I had impression he did not regard threat of possible German military reprisals as grave. He said, however, that principal difficulty was that Finns simply could not trust Russians and their experience of Winter War and interim between that conflict and present war had amply confirmed their distrust of Soviet intentions. He said that what his Government feared would be that following the conclusion of a peace even under American auspices they would find that every few months or so Soviet Government would make fresh demands for concessions on the part of Finland. He expressed doubt whether American Government could prevent Soviet Government from following such a policy and said rather than accept such a situation it was better to go on fighting.
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Telegram in full:
https://history.state.gov/historical...us1943v03/d174
Helsinki is bombed by 30 enemy planes. First use of incendiary bombs against civilian targets in Finland.
Finnish daily losses: 38
Detachment Puustinen's men returning across lake Ontajärvi.
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21 March 1943
Aunus Group: Last enemy pockets in the Suur Kuzrajärvi area have been cleared. Total of 11 enemy counter-attacks have been repelled. Enemy casualties estimated at 500-600 dead or wounded.
Finnish daily losses: 17
Anti-air guns firing. (Helsinki)
***
22 March 1943
President Ryti invites Mannerheim and leading politicians to discuss the United States' offer regarding peace negotiations.
Finnish daily losses: 18
***
23 March 1943
No entry.
Finnish daily losses: 18