Extracts from a sergeant's war diary 5/5
Written by then sergeant H. Kolehmainen, translated using machine translation (w/corrections) from "Kansa Taisteli"-journal issue 4/1958.
We are staying in a house on the edge of the woods. We don't know who we are
intruding on, as the host had already left the house before we arrived. They
had cleaned their house before they left, as if for guests. We have a good
sauna and it has steamed from dusk till dawn both nights. Everyone has already
had one bath, but it is a treat that I would gladly enjoy more than once in a
row now. The basement of the house is full of canned berries -- strawberries,
raspberries, currants -- you name it. It felt criminal to take them just like
that, even though common sense says they're in danger of going to waste if
unused.
The front line is 4-5 km away. Our brigade's II and III battalions are in
position there. The enemy has remained calm here, but there has been heavy
fighting a little further west on the isthmus between Lake Repola and Lake
Kärstilä.
8 March 1940
The reserve period was short. At noon we received a report that the enemy had
advanced on the railway line near the Tali station. We immediately had to
occupy blocking positions along the eastern shore of Lake Repola up to the
railway line.
The position was occupied. It is just a line on the map. There are not even ski
trails on the terrain. But there were grenade craters, and new ones were
constantly appearing. We huddled among the rocks and watched the Russians
march along the road on the opposite shore of the lake. With binoculars, the
Russians' activities were startlingly visible. Sergeant Potinkara positioned
his machine-gun platoon and fired a few belts with four guns. The Russians
didn't seem to mind, but we were immediately greeted by heavy artillery shells
on our heads.
Only one platoon was left in position for the night and the others were taken
to rest in a dugout that was still under construction. At midnight there is a
changeover and then in the morning everyone is back in position.
10 March
Yesterday we started digging positions. The terrain is almost a ruin of stone.
The enemy's activity has intensified. Twice already today they sent troops
across the lake, a company each time. The first attempt was repulsed halfway
across the lake, but the second time they had armoured shields with them,
which they pushed ahead on skis. This allowed them to get close to the shore,
as a rifle bullet could not penetrate the shield armour. The defence had to be
arranged so that we could shoot from the sides behind the shields. It worked
and the line of shields became motionless.
13 March
Peace. It seems unbelievable, but it's true. When the battalion messenger this
morning brought the news that peace had been concluded in Moscow and that not
a single shot should be fired after eleven o'clock, the announcement seemed
more like a joke than anything else. The Russian guns roared even more
fiercely. Their infantry attacked across the ice, as they had done yesterday.
Men were wounded. At half past ten, a horseman fell near the dugout under
construction. No -- we have been betrayed. A few minutes to eleven and still
the guns roared...
And then -- total silence. A lone enemy plane was returning to its own side.
Water droplets dripped from a nearby fir tree, and a pair of sparrows chirped
on a branch...
We cautiously climb out of our holes. Light a cigarette. Is this true after all
-- peace. The Russians who were on the ice have also emerged from behind their
shields and from their snow holes.
-- That's how close they were already!
The Russians wave their arms and raise their weapons. No one responds to their
gestures.
Then comes another order. One last look at the front area, backpack on and
silently we start to ski to the supply platoon. There, the sergeant-major has
the loads ready and the horses harnessed. We move to the road about a
kilometre away. The soup is ready. We eat. New troops arrive. Officers are
passing by. Even the battalion commander, who hasn't been seen since we left
Leipäsuo. We wait...
The hours go by. We are still waiting. What are the peace terms? Where will the
border be? There are rumours. Someone knows to say that Viipuri, Käkisalmi and
Sortavala must be left to the Russians -- supposedly having heard Tanner's
speech on the battalion headquarters radio. Nobody believes it. A lively
argument ensues on the road.
Finally comes the company commander. It's true. Nobody says anything. Not a word.
There is no order or command. The commander takes the lead, and the company
starts skiing after him.
We arrive in Karisalmi and stay in the same house where we stayed two weeks
ago. Everyone collapses on the floor and sleeps.
Windows are not covered. The lanterns burn without being dimmed. There is no
guard at the door. There is peace.
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