|
Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF
This day is the first of the Ihantala-phase of the Battle of Tali-Ihantala. The Finnish IV Army Corps (Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen) has succesfully straightened its right flank and settled down into defence. The new line is practically unfortified, but the rugged and rocky terrain favours the defender.
Commander of the Finnish 6th Division, Maj. Gen. Einar Vihma gives orders to the forces under his command. Right flank between Hoikkala and Vakkila is to be defended by Col. S. Laaksonen's detachment (II/IR 35, IR 48 minus its III battalion, and I/IR 30), and left flank between Pyöräkangas and Lake Ihantalanjärvi by Col. Yrjö Hanste's detachment (IR 12, Separate Battalion 16 and 16th Mortar Company). Gen. Vihma's reserves are comprised of IR 30 (minus its I battalion) and III/IR 35. AT-defence is provided by the 9th, 11th and 23rd AT-gun companies, 1st Separate AT-detachment and German Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303.
The Soviet main effort is made at Ihantala. According to a Soviet officer captured a few days later, their aim is to reach the border of 1940 and then advance towards Helsinki, the Finnish capital. Early this morning the Soviet forces, supported by tanks, ground-attack aircraft and artillery, attack the Finnish II/IR 12 which holds the Village of Ihantala. The attack is repelled with the aid of artillery and mortar fire.
Another attempt is staged in mid-morning. The Soviets forces, supported by some 20 tanks and artillery, again attack the II/IR 12. However, as the Soviet attack commences, a stroke of good luck comes to help the Finns. The bridge across a stream running south from the Lake Ihantalanjärvi was left intact yesterday, when the engineers assigned with blowing it up were all killed. A Finnish artillery officer, Capt. Urho Karhula, decides to try to destroy the bridge this morning with one heavy artillery piece. He starts directing the fire, and finally a hit is scored, which also detonates the charges left in the bridge. Three enemy tanks are knocked out in the explosion, and seven are left stranded between the Finnish positions and the destroyed bridge, while the Finnish artillery and infantry fire drives the enemy infantry away.
After these unsuccesful attempts the Soviets try to penetrate the Finnish defences at Vakkila, west of Ihantala. At 1 pm the Soviet air forces bomb the 6th Division's positions, and immediately afterwards the Soviet artillery fires a furious barrage at the Finnish positions around Vakkila. But the attack is aborted soon after its start when the Finnish artillery and mortars disperse the advancing Soviet formations. Obstlt. Kurt Kuhlmey's German aircraft bomb the advancing Soviets, destroying several tanks.
At 6 pm. the Red Army once again attacks Ihantala, supported this time by some 30 tanks, but is again repelled. An hour later the Soviet forces attack west of Ihantala in several waves, but suffer heavy losses in Finnish infantry and artillery fire. At 9 pm. the Soviet aircraft bomb the positions of the I/IR 12 around Pyöräkangas, and are soon joined by the Soviet artillery. The Soviet ground forces start forming for an attack after 10 pm, but are dispersed by Finnish artillery, and the attack is aborted.
Gen. Vihma's forces have today succesfully repelled the Soviet attempts to break through all along their front. Finns claim 19 Soviet tanks destroyed around Ihantala.
|