Thanks Schroeder.
Sorry about the delay, I needed some R&R after that patrol. Unfortunately, this week might be a bit slow on updates, Midsummer and all that here.
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16 June 1944
Detachment Ehrnrooth defeats two weak attacks at Siiranmäki. The 2nd Division has achieved a defensive victory in their sector and thus prevented the enemy from getting in the rear of III AK which is holding out on the eastern Isthmus. Finnish casualties at Siiranmäki were 873 men, of them 164 KIA, 760 WIA and 49 MIA. The Red Army in turn had lost 3,784 men, 887 of them dead.
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Finnish troops in Maaselkä and Svir are ordered to begin withdrawing to the 1939 border.
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Lieutenant-General Oesch, commander of the troops on the Isthmus, gives order to abandon the VT-line and do a fighting retreat to the Viipuri-Kuparsaari-Taipale line (VKT-line).
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German weapon deliveries resume; nearly 11,000 Panzerfausts arrive within the first ten days.
Finnish daily losses: 256
Situation on the central & eastern Isthmus.
Captain Nykänen with two of his men. The trio had had to make their way back from behind enemy lines earlier. (Uusikirkko)
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17 June 1944
Major-General Vihma's 6th Division begins to withdraw from Maaselkä isthmus.
IV AK's troops withdraw to the Muolaanjärvi line on the western isthmus.
Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey arrives at Immola with 32 Ju-87 Stukas, 30 FW-190s and a small number of Me-109s.
Finnish daily losses: 255
Knocked out 'Iosif Stalin' at Summa.
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18 June 1944
Finnish delaying actions towards the VKT-line continue; 4th Division and 3rd Brigade withstand Soviet attacks at old Winter War battlefield at Summa-Leipäsuo.
15th Division (III AK) begins to withdraw to the north side River Vuoksi on the eastern isthmus.
Finnish daily losses: 192
Soviet planes over Summa.
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19 June 1944
Detachment Kuhlmey downs 24 Soviet planes during their first day of combat sorties, losing three of theirs.
Aunus Group begins to withdraw from the south side of River Svir.
Soviet naval infantry occupies the island of Narvi on the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Finnish daily losses: 319