7 October 1944
Finns attack Kemi.
The 15th brigade's attack plan was completed on October 6. The objective of battlegroup Ojala is to circle around to the bridges north of the city. Detachment Pennanen joins the attack from Karihaara and Pajusaari. Battlegroup Pakkanen is attacking from the direction of Oulu road. In the northernmost of all, battlegroup Heiskanen advances separately. Its mission is to capture the Kemijoki bridges intact.
On October 7, battlegroup Ojala reaches the northeastern clearings of the city and the battle soon rages against the Germans who have dug-in into the cellars of the Kivikko district. Detachment Pennanen is attacking from the west and at 5.10 pm the siege is believed to be complete. However, the fighting continues throughout the whole evening. Estimates of the number of prisoners and dead range between 300 to 600.
All available transport planes of the Finnish Air Forces are given to the use of Flight Detachment Jauri, which is responsible for transporting HQ's long-range patrols.
Finnish daily losses: 150
View of Kemi during the fighting.
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8 October 1944
The war's first four HQ's LRRP units head off, two by foot and two by aircraft.
German troops withdraw from Tornio and Kemi.
Finnish daily losses: 138
Fallen German soldier in Tornio.
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9 October 1944
Lagus' flanking attempt fails in Portimojärvi.
After the battles in Tornio and Kemi, the Finns pursued the Germans towards north. Progress was slow due to Germans having destroyed or mined all north leading roads and bridges.
The aim was to block the retreat of the Germans in the direction of Rovaniemi through Muonio to the north. As soon as Monday (9th), Finnish and German troops were in combat in the Portimojärvi terrain between Ranua and Rovaniemi. Jaeger Brigade's Jaeger Battalion 2 and 4, led by Lagus, sought to flank into the rear of the Germans heading towards Rovaniemi. When the situation began to look like the Germans were about to break away, the Finnish jaegers were ordered to go advance on the road directly towards Rovaniemi so they would be in better position to chase after the Germans. At the same time, the Germans counterattacked the Finns, and the surprise attack drove the Finns off road. Finnish casualties rose up to 295 while Germans only lost few dozen men.
33,587 Soviet citizens currently in Finland have announced they'd like to go back to the Soviet Union.
Finnish daily losses: 96