1 October 1944 THE LAPLAND WAR BEGINS
LtGen Siilasvuo attacks Tornio.
Siilasvuo decided to open the battle against the Germans with a risky operation: an attack to the rear. Initially, Tornio was to be a diversion attack, with the main attack targeting Kemi. On 30 September, Siilasvuo changed his focus to Tornio. Perhaps it was about deceiving the German intelligence. In addition, Tornio had better opportunities for further operations. The headquarters considered the landing too dangerous because it would have to be carried out by unarmed merchant ships without air support, but Siilasvuo was adamant.
Even before the landing changed from Kemi to Tornio, it had been decided to seize the city with local forces. Thus, the operation began with a attack led by Chief of the Länsi-Pohja Civil Guard, Major Larjo. The 300-man ad-hoc unit was to occupy the city. The Germans had 300-400 men in Tornio, mostly rear troops. The Larjo's men surprised the Germans and most of Tornio was soon occupied by the Finns, with the exception of three German bases.
LtCol Halsti's Infantry Regiment 11 was loaded on three merchant ships in Oulu and reached Tornio's outer port, Röyttä, on October 1 at 7.45am. The unloading of some 3000 men and equipment took approximately five hours in total. The operation came as a surprise to the Germans, so the Finns could carry it out in peace. The aim of the Finns was to expand the beachhead as quickly as possible and to capture the bridges in the vicinity.
The Germans were still expecting for the Finns to attack Kemi, where Detachment Pennanen had taken over the port of Ajos. Thus, no additional troops would be sent to Tornio, and within the first day the Finns occupied the Tornio train station and the German supply center, known as Little Berlin.
During the day, the Germans were still trying to put an end to the hostilities by negotiating. However, the Finnish headquarters did not reply to the messages.
Suursaari island in Gulf of Finland is handed over to the Soviet Union.
Finnish daily losses: 35
