Since Dowly has been sent out on patrol once more you'll have to settle with getting today's report from me again:
6 July 1944
Äyräpää-Vuosalmi
At 03:30 Capt. Raassina received orders to abandon the church ruins on Kirkonmäki and withdraw fighting after heavy equipment and the wounded had been evacuated to safety. Another order came at 03:50 from III AK saying that the church must be held at all cost, because IV/19th Brigade (IV/19.Pr.) was about to start an counter-attack southeast from IR49's positions on the right flank.
During the night, the ridge areas held by the enemy were level-bombed from air. At 08:00, Major Kuusinen (ErP25) took over the defense of the every shrinking bridgehead. During morning, enemy was amassing troops behind the Kattilasuo bog for an attack, but this attempt was foiled by Finnish artillery. Two tanks were destroyed and one disabled. At noon, enemy broke into Finnish positions at Alatalo from where it was quickly thrown back by 2nd Lieutnant Helavuori's half platoon. Harjula was attacked three times by enemy groups of varying sizes, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Enemy concentrations were bombed three times by German Stukas during the day, and it was observed that more and more new troops were arriving in the Äyräpää area.
As night fell, the last remaining troops of II/IR7, some 20 men, were replaced by almost 200 captured and re-equipped 'swimmers' from ErP25.
I/IR7 took defensive positions at the Vuoksi rear line, Lumiala's company of Er.P12 and 32.Kss.K (Gas Protection Company) were subordinated to them. The new I/IR7 commander Capt. Simola fell already in the morning of the 6th and Capt. Kuparinen was posted as his successor. Replacements were received during the day and they were distributed to the I and II Battalions. I/IR7's battle strength in the morning of 7 July comprised 11+51+414 and II/IR7 7+44+425, most of whom were replacements.
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Ihantala:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF
Soviet artillery began a massive barrage on the Finnish positions in morning. Despite this the infantry and tank attack formations were succesfully destroyed by Finnish counter-barrage. Artllery battle went on for the whole day, until the Soviets were able to mount another attack at 6 pm. They broke succesfully through positions of I/IR 35, which was forced back, and were able to capture some ground around the strategically important Pyöräkangas. Col. Yrjö Hanste alerted his reserves, and orders I/IR 12 to attack from west, Separate Battalion 16 from east and I/IR 35 from north. The Finnish counter-attack, supported by more than 13 artillery battalions, started at midnight, and the lost positions at Pyöräkangas were recaptured by 3 am. on 7 July.
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Finnish daily losses: 370
Separate Battalion 16 men marching towards the front for a counter-attack.
Same as above.
"A hero emerges from beneath the mounds." said Lieutenant Luukko's messenger as he crawled out of his dugout after an artillery strike.