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Dowly · 06-13-19, 11:44 PM

14 June 1944

Breakthroughs at Kuuterselkä and Sahakylä.

In the morning, enemy infantry supported by tanks breaks into the VT-line at Kuuterselkä from south. The battalion commanded by Major Keravuori (II/JR 53) withdraws at approximately 9.00 to the support line at the center of Kuuterselkä village. Major Heino's battalion (I/JR 48), which was in third division's reserve, is sent to Kuuterselkä, but the Finnish troops have to retreat towards Liikola by noon.
In the direction of Sahakylä, I/JR 53 commanded by Major Jahnukainen loses its positions immediately at 8.00. Most of the lost positions are recaptured with a counter-attack by an ad-hoc detachment made out of HQ and supply troops. However, one base remains in enemy hands.
With a renewed attack, the enemy troops once again takes the positions at Sahakylä. Lieutenant-Colonel Peitsara's Jäger Battalion 6 (JP 6), which is in the reserve of IV AK, is sent to reinforce the area. One of its companies, together with Major Jahnukainen's troops, re-recaptures the positions. Subsequently, JP 6 is transferred to the Sykiälä-Mustamäki area. At noon Major Jahnukainen's battalion begins to withdraw from the VT-line. Jahnukainen justifies his decision by the events taking place at Kuuterselkä.

The Jaeger Brigade counter-attacks.

The IV AK immediately began to plan the use of the Armored Division for a counterattack, following the breakthrough at Kuuterselkä. In the discussions between the Headquarters and the IV AK, it is decided to use only a part of the division for the task. In the afternoon, the Jaeger brigade in the Pamppala area is reinforced with a battalion of Assault Guns and ordered to recapture Kuuterselkä and afterwards the positions at the VT-line.
Major General Lagus orders Jaeger Battalion 2 (JP 2) led by Major Lammetmaa to take point in the advance southwards towards Kuuterselkä. JP 2 arrives at the positions of Major Heino's battalion (I/JR 48) on the north side of Kuuterselkä at 17.00. JP 2, reinforced with two assault guns, begins its attack on both sides of the road toward Kuuterselkä. By evening, the battalion has advanced to the southern end of Onkijärvi.

Soviet 109.AK's attack in Sahakylä-Kuuterselkä area.

*

Soviet Breakthrough contained at Siiranmäki.

At 8.00 am, a very powerful enemy artillery fire began in the Siiranmäki sector, joined by several ground fighters. After an hour, the enemy's attacks began throughout the sector. The focus of the attack was initially on Detachment Malinen's (Os.M) area. The enemy made a breakthrough, but it was contained and beaten back by JR 7's Jaeger Platoon and the Third Battalion (III/JR 7).
However, the enemy reaches a new breakthrough to the east of Palomäki. Lieutenant Colonel Ehrnrooth orders Major Elovaara's II/JR 6 to attack the enemy flank from west with a company size force. Captain Vetre leads his company against the breakthrough and they force the enemy back, killing them nearly to the last man. Finnish estimated there to be the bodies of at least 200 Soviet soldiers on the battlefield.
In the afternoon, the focus of the attack switched to the east side of Kekrola-Siiranmäki road, where the enemy got into 2./JR 7's positions by the Seppälä house some 2km east of the Siiranmäki junction. Two KV tanks parked themselves to guard the gap and with their support the breakthrough grew to 600m wide and 300m deep.
Local counter-attacks failed, mainly due to the lack of efficient anti-tank weapons. Both company commanders that took part in the counter-attacks, Captain Kiiskinen (3./JR 7) and Lieutenant Walden (2./JR 7), were wounded. Walden would shortly after die as a heavy mortar grenade landed directly at the first aid station.
The attack continued to north towards Kuvaja's I/JR 7 and west towards Siiranmäki junction. Lieutenant-Colonel Varko's II/JR 49 launched a counter-attack from north towards the breach at 16.00. They had to attack head-on towards the enemy as the U-shaped line didn't allow for a flanking maneuver.
After an hour, most positions had been recaptured, but the narrow gap at the Seppälä house couldn't be plugged. The road had been left open, so Finns could use it, but now it proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for the Finnish counter-attack as the KV tanks were still operational and watching the road.
By 17.30, more heavy tanks had arrived at the breach, four of them drove through the gap and took positions on the Siiranmäki ridge. Three hours later, another ten heavy tanks arrived. Lacking personal anti-tank weaponry, Lieutenant-Colonel Varko's counter-attack had to be abandoned.
The situation got better in the evening when JR 49's anti-tank company received Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks. Finnish Panzerschreck patrols destroyed six KV tanks, other anti-tank patrols one KV and three T-34s. Private Eero Seppänen, 19, destroyed three heavy tanks during the evening and three more on the next day with a Panzerschreck. He would be awarded the Mannerheim Cross in July. By the end of the day, four enemy tanks still remained in Siiranmäki.
Varko's counter-attack was renewed and by 23.00 the breach was closed for a short while, before the enemy managed to reopen it. The four tanks behind Finnish lines were destroyed by 01.00.
During the night, three more attempts were made to close the breach, but none of them were successful.

2nd Division's situation.

Enemy's breakthrough at Siiranmäki.

*

President Ryti offers Mannerheim the position of Prime Minister. He declines.

Finnish daily losses: 430

Wounded soldier given first aid. (Vammeljärvi)

06-13-19, 11:44 PM	#608
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	14 June 1944 Breakthroughs at Kuuterselkä and Sahakylä. In the morning, enemy infantry supported by tanks breaks into the VT-line at Kuuterselkä from south. The battalion commanded by Major Keravuori (II/JR 53) withdraws at approximately 9.00 to the support line at the center of Kuuterselkä village. Major Heino's battalion (I/JR 48), which was in third division's reserve, is sent to Kuuterselkä, but the Finnish troops have to retreat towards Liikola by noon. In the direction of Sahakylä, I/JR 53 commanded by Major Jahnukainen loses its positions immediately at 8.00. Most of the lost positions are recaptured with a counter-attack by an ad-hoc detachment made out of HQ and supply troops. However, one base remains in enemy hands. With a renewed attack, the enemy troops once again takes the positions at Sahakylä. Lieutenant-Colonel Peitsara's Jäger Battalion 6 (JP 6), which is in the reserve of IV AK, is sent to reinforce the area. One of its companies, together with Major Jahnukainen's troops, re-recaptures the positions. Subsequently, JP 6 is transferred to the Sykiälä-Mustamäki area. At noon Major Jahnukainen's battalion begins to withdraw from the VT-line. Jahnukainen justifies his decision by the events taking place at Kuuterselkä. The Jaeger Brigade counter-attacks. The IV AK immediately began to plan the use of the Armored Division for a counterattack, following the breakthrough at Kuuterselkä. In the discussions between the Headquarters and the IV AK, it is decided to use only a part of the division for the task. In the afternoon, the Jaeger brigade in the Pamppala area is reinforced with a battalion of Assault Guns and ordered to recapture Kuuterselkä and afterwards the positions at the VT-line. Major General Lagus orders Jaeger Battalion 2 (JP 2) led by Major Lammetmaa to take point in the advance southwards towards Kuuterselkä. JP 2 arrives at the positions of Major Heino's battalion (I/JR 48) on the north side of Kuuterselkä at 17.00. JP 2, reinforced with two assault guns, begins its attack on both sides of the road toward Kuuterselkä. By evening, the battalion has advanced to the southern end of Onkijärvi. Soviet 109.AK's attack in Sahakylä-Kuuterselkä area. * Soviet Breakthrough contained at Siiranmäki. At 8.00 am, a very powerful enemy artillery fire began in the Siiranmäki sector, joined by several ground fighters. After an hour, the enemy's attacks began throughout the sector. The focus of the attack was initially on Detachment Malinen's (Os.M) area. The enemy made a breakthrough, but it was contained and beaten back by JR 7's Jaeger Platoon and the Third Battalion (III/JR 7). However, the enemy reaches a new breakthrough to the east of Palomäki. Lieutenant Colonel Ehrnrooth orders Major Elovaara's II/JR 6 to attack the enemy flank from west with a company size force. Captain Vetre leads his company against the breakthrough and they force the enemy back, killing them nearly to the last man. Finnish estimated there to be the bodies of at least 200 Soviet soldiers on the battlefield. In the afternoon, the focus of the attack switched to the east side of Kekrola-Siiranmäki road, where the enemy got into 2./JR 7's positions by the Seppälä house some 2km east of the Siiranmäki junction. Two KV tanks parked themselves to guard the gap and with their support the breakthrough grew to 600m wide and 300m deep. Local counter-attacks failed, mainly due to the lack of efficient anti-tank weapons. Both company commanders that took part in the counter-attacks, Captain Kiiskinen (3./JR 7) and Lieutenant Walden (2./JR 7), were wounded. Walden would shortly after die as a heavy mortar grenade landed directly at the first aid station. The attack continued to north towards Kuvaja's I/JR 7 and west towards Siiranmäki junction. Lieutenant-Colonel Varko's II/JR 49 launched a counter-attack from north towards the breach at 16.00. They had to attack head-on towards the enemy as the U-shaped line didn't allow for a flanking maneuver. After an hour, most positions had been recaptured, but the narrow gap at the Seppälä house couldn't be plugged. The road had been left open, so Finns could use it, but now it proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for the Finnish counter-attack as the KV tanks were still operational and watching the road. By 17.30, more heavy tanks had arrived at the breach, four of them drove through the gap and took positions on the Siiranmäki ridge. Three hours later, another ten heavy tanks arrived. Lacking personal anti-tank weaponry, Lieutenant-Colonel Varko's counter-attack had to be abandoned. The situation got better in the evening when JR 49's anti-tank company received Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks. Finnish Panzerschreck patrols destroyed six KV tanks, other anti-tank patrols one KV and three T-34s. Private Eero Seppänen, 19, destroyed three heavy tanks during the evening and three more on the next day with a Panzerschreck. He would be awarded the Mannerheim Cross in July. By the end of the day, four enemy tanks still remained in Siiranmäki. Varko's counter-attack was renewed and by 23.00 the breach was closed for a short while, before the enemy managed to reopen it. The four tanks behind Finnish lines were destroyed by 01.00. During the night, three more attempts were made to close the breach, but none of them were successful. 2nd Division's situation. Enemy's breakthrough at Siiranmäki. * President Ryti offers Mannerheim the position of Prime Minister. He declines. Finnish daily losses: 430 Wounded soldier given first aid. (Vammeljärvi)