Winter War, day by day.

[Dowly]

9 January - DAY 41 of Winter War

Helsinki: President Kyösti Kallio holds a press conference for foreign journalists in the Presidential Palace. Among other matters raised, the President says that during the first month of the war the enemy has dropped approximately 4,000 bombs on about one hundred localities across Finland. These air raids have claimed the lives of 239 civilians.

Northern Finland: another crushing Finnish victory is recorded in the north, this time at Suomussalmi. A second enemy division is destroyed as Finnish troops push onwards to the border.

Ladoga Karelia: Soviet forces mount an unsuccessful assault to the north of Ruhtinaanmäki.

Abroad: expressions of sympathy and support for Finland's struggle are pouring in from all over the world.

In Paris, the French National Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union responds to the appeal by the Finnish Parliament and expresses its support for Finland.

The Canadian Red Cross sends 50,000 dollars in aid to Finland.

Herbert Hoover, the former US President, sends his fifth 100,000 dollar check to Finland.

In response to the appeal by the League of Nations, Argentina sends 50,000 tonnes of grain to Finland with no fixed date for payment.

The Nicaraguan Government launches a national appeal for aid for Finland.

Moscow objects to Swedish protests over the sinking of the steamer Fenris.

Originally Posted by Diary of a Soviet politruk from 6th separate ski battalion.

January 9: Moving to the front. Morale is good and everyone's eager to go help the Finns in their struggle against the oppressors. We've got some great soldiers: Mospan, Melnik, Kravtsuk.

Daily losses: 85

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10 January - DAY 42 of Winter War

Northern Finland: the Russian 122nd division at Salla begins to retreat towards Märkäjärvi.

Ladoga Karelia: the vanguard of the Finnish IV Army Corps cuts the road connections of the Russian 56th Army in the area of Pitkäranta.

Soviet troops are trapped at Kitelä: the bulk of the enemy's 56th Army are trapped inside the Kitelä-Syskyjärvi-Koirinoja triangle, giving rise to the great Kitelä 'motti'.

The author Hella Wuolijoki travels to Stockholm for unofficial negotiations with Alexandra Kollontai, the Soviet Ambassador in Stockholm.

The German war correspondent Otto von Zwehl enlists as a volunteer in the Finnish Army. Hitler hears of this and strips him of his German citizenship and military rank.

Mabel Bonney, correspondent and photographer for the American Life magazine, arrives in Finland.

Originally Posted by Diary of a Soviet politruk from 6th separate ski battalion.

January 10: Our journey towards Leningrad continues. I published my first magazine, which I thought was quite good. In the evening, I put forward topic for discussion: The animalistic nature of the White Finns.

Daily losses: 101




Reinforcements on their way to the front. (Leppäsyrjä)