Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

5 January 1944

Air Force:
22 enemy sorties; 24 planes
- 14 planes bombed the Rukajärvi area. In the direction of Lutto, two fighters strafed a field guard post resulting in deaths of 1 soldier and 1 Lotta.
3 Finnish sorties; 10 planes

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

6 January 1944

Air Force:
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

7 January 1944

Aunus Group: During the first week of 1944, 33 Finnish patrols have been operating behind enemy lines.

Air Force:
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 12


Camouflaged Dornier Do 17 at Mensuvaara airfield.

***

8 January 1944

Karelian Isthmus: "In the direction of Pien-Kivi, enemy patrol snuck in our trenches taking a sentry as prisoner before being forced to withdraw. Our losses 1 captured, 2 dead and 2 wounded."

Air Force:
51 enemy sorties; 122 planes
25 enemy sorties; 54 planes

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

9 January 1944

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane
2 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 6

***

10 January 1944

Air Force:
3 enemy sorties; 4 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 11

***

11 January 1944

Air Force:
10 enemy sorties; 30 planes
4 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 10

[Dowly]

12 January 1944

Air Force:
23 enemy sorties; 48 planes
6 Finnish sorties; 14 planes

Finnish daily losses: 7

***

13 January 1944

Air Force:
31 enemy sorties; 52 planes
- Individual bombings around Rukajärvi during the night.
10 Finnish sorties; 22 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13

***

14 January 1944

14.D/Rukajärvi: "At 7.00am attacked an enemy patrol from both north and south against base "Arina" encircling it. Our reinforcement have in turn encircled the southern enemy unit. Fighting is ongoing."

Air Force:
9 enemy sorties; 13 planes
9 Finnish sorties; 15 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13

***

15 January 1944

14.D/Rukajärvi: "Fighting at base "Arina" ended late last night as the enemy managed to withdraw from the area. So far we've counted 21 enemy dead and have taken one prisoner who told they were part of the 32.Separate Ski Brigade under Colonel Gorohov. Our own casualties are 1 dead and 8 eight wounded."

Aunus Group: During the last week, there has been 70 Finnish and 23 Soviet patrols in the area.

Air Force:
10 enemy sorties; 17 planes
5 Finnish sorties; 6 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13


Jäger patrol somewhere in the Rukajärvi wilderness.

***

16 January 1944

Maaselkä Group: "Last night between 17.45 and 19.45 our combat patrol entered a enemy base on the south side of the town of Maaselkä. Their mission was to take a prisoner and if possible, destroy the base. In this task the patrol was successful. Fourteen enemies were either killed or wounded in the attack, two living dug-outs were destroyed and one prisoner was taken. The patrol returned with 2 LMGs and 1 SMG, and without own casualties."

3.D/Uhtua: "Elements of a strong enemy unit (~300 men) have crossed Lake Röhöjärvi at Mikkiniemi during the night. At 9.00 in the morning one of our patrols came in contact with an enemy unit of unknown strength in grid 6650/2300, losing 2 men dead and 7 wounded. At the same time in grid 6500/2450 our 80-man patrol came in contact with another strong enemy unit and was forced to withdraw after a fierce firefight (no losses). After the contact, the enemy withdrew east through the Mustalampi - Oululampi isthmus. One unit (170 men) is in pursuit of the enemy, while another detachment (133 men) tries to cut off the enemy's route back east in the Haapajärvi area. The enemy unit has left a lot of blood trails behind, indicating they suffered a considerable amount of wounded during the fight."

Air Force:
19 enemy sorties; 22 planes
17 Finnish sorties; 35 planes

Finnish daily losses: 14

***

17 January 1944

3.D/Uhtua: "Both of our detachments have made contact with the enemy in the area of Lake Kunevojärvi. The fighting lasted for five hours, some of it fought in close quarters, before our troops were forced to withdraw under overwhelming firepower. The enemy unit, now confirmed to be at least 600 men, withdrew east. Enemy casualties are estimated in the dozens. Our losses are 8 dead and 27 wounded."

Air Force:
11 enemy sorties; 26 planes
6 Finnish sorties; 11 planes

Finnish daily losses: 23

***

18 January 1944

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 12 planes
6 Finnish sorties; 12 planes
- One Finnish Fokker lost in an accident. Pilot 2nd Lieutenant Sutinen was killed.

Finnish daily losses: 13

[Dowly]

19 January 1944

Karelian Isthmus: "Enemy artillery opened up at 14.37 with a heavy preparatory fire on our positions west of Muratta road. Infantry attack against one of our outposts followed at 15.45. The outpost was lost, counter actions to retake it are in progress. Own casualties have not been counted at this time."

Air Force:
9 enemy sorties; 29 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 2 planes

Finnish daily losses: 31

***

20 January 1944

Karelian Isthmus: "The attack yesterday against our outpost in the Muratta road area was conducted by two enemy platoons reinforced by smaller groups once they had taken the outpost. Own counter-attack began at 17.45, and by 19.45 about 40 of ours were inside the outpost. Enemy counter-attack that followed soon after was repulsed and by 01.07 the outpost was clear of enemies. Inside the outpost we've counted 15 enemy dead and have taken one wounded POW who died later. He was from Infantry Regiment 98. We estimate to have caused a total of 40-50 KIA to the enemy. Our unverified losses are 12 dead, 22 wounded and 3 missing. Platoon leader Lieutenant Sakama is among the fallen."

3.D/Uhtua: "Enemy attack repulsed in Suonimajärvi area."

Air Force:
No activity.

Finnish daily losses: 13


Commander of base "Arina" Lieutenant Leo Rimpinen. (Rukajärvi)

***

21 January 1944

Air Force:
No activity.

Finnish daily losses: 13

***

22 January 1944

Air Force:
4 enemy sorties; 9 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13

***

23 January 1944

Aunus Group: "2km east of Keskasjärvi our patrol slipped into an enemy base and began to assault the trenches. The patrol soon had to withdraw due to strong enemy counter-attack. Estimated inflicted enemy casualties 30, 15 of which are confirmed. Two of ours were wounded."

Air Force:
3 enemy sorties; 5 planes

Finnish daily losses: 14


Singer Gaby Ross (rn. Dolly Bursche) entertaining troops in Sirkiänsaari.

***

24 January 1944

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 2 planes

Finnish daily losses: 8


Small and large "Arsa" ice mines. (Rajajoki)

***

25 January 1944

Aunus Group: "Enemy attack in the Karelka direction repulsed, inflicting at least 15 casualties to the enemy."

Air Force:
10 enemy sorties; 10 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 17


PE-2 acquired from Germany at Malmi airfield.

[Dowly]

26 January 1944

Air Force:
6 enemy sorties; 9 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 2 planes

Finnish daily losses: 20

***

27 January 1944

14.D/Rukajärvi: "At 3.30 in the night attacked approximately company sized enemy unit against our positions on the west shore of lake Ezhjärvi. The attack was repelled with no own losses. Enemy lost at least five dead and one wounded who was taken prisoner."

Air Force:
4 Finnish sorties; 9 planes

Finnish daily losses: 16

***

28 January 1944

Karelian Isthmus: "In the Loikkarinnotko area our patrol (3+4+28, ldr Ltn.Hämäläinen) got into enemy positions by surprise. Number of prepared positions were destroyed as the patrol assaulted the trenches killing at least 13 enemies. Two dug-outs were also destroyed and two enemies taken prisoner. Own losses 1 dead, 3 wounded."

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 10

***

29 January 1944

Air Force:
3 enemy sorties; 4 planes
3 Finnish sorties; 3 planes

Finnish daily losses: 15


Arado flying over Malmi airfield.

***

30 January 1944

Air Force:
2 enemy sorties; 3 planes
1 Finnish sortie; 3 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13


Captured T34.(Petroskoi)

***

31 January 1944

Air Force:
8 enemy sorties; 13 planes
9 Finnish sorties; 18 planes

Finnish daily losses: 13

Finnish losses in January: 419

Finnish losses in the war to date: 43,122

[Obltn Strand]

Nice pics of Malmi airport. I have to visit and see how much it has changed...

No, onko vetoomukset säilyttämisen puolesta allekirjoitettu?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Obltn Strand

No, onko vetoomukset säilyttämisen puolesta allekirjoitettu?

Enpäs ollut tietoinen koko asiasta. Täytyy käydä allekirjoittamassa!

[Dowly]

Post #245 (21 Nov.) updated with colorized version of Lieutenant Remes + summary of him in the wars.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Post #245 (21 Nov.) updated with colorized version of Lieutenant Remes + summary of him in the wars.

Did you colorize that? Impressive! I wouldn't even know how to do that.

[Dowly]

It didn't colorize itself.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

It didn't colorize itself.

So who did you pay to do it?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

So who did you pay to do it?

Obama.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Obama.

Thanks Obama....

[Dowly]

[Dowly]

1 February 1944

Air Force:
20 enemy sorties; 115 planes
2 Finnish sorties; 4 planes

Finnish daily losses: 15

***

2 February 1944

Maaselkä Group: "On the northeast end of lake Hiisjärvi, a enemy patrol managed to slip through our lines to artillery observer positions where it killed one man and wounded several others. The enemy withdrew with one prisoner."

Air Force:
13 enemy sorties; 15 planes
10 Finnish sorties; 19 planes

Finnish daily losses: 17


Base "Turistikukkula" at night. (Uhtua/IR 11 sector)

***

3 February 1944

Air Force:
7 enemy sorties; 13 planes
4 Finnish sorties; 5 planes
- A lone PE-2 was shot down by two Finnish Messerschmitts over Kallbådagrund.

Finnish daily losses: 15

***

4 February 1944

Air Force:
1 Finnish sortie; 1 plane

Finnish daily losses: 12

***

5 February 1944

Air Force:
1 enemy sortie; 1 plane
2 Finnish sorties; 2 planes

Finnish daily losses: 24

***

6 February 1944

"Peace bombings" against Helsinki.

Soviet Air Force heavily bombs Helsinki to try force Finland to peace talks. 103 people are killed and nearly 300 are wounded.

Air Force:
155 enemy sorties; 367 planes
11 Finnish sorties; 23 planes
- One confirmed Yak-7B shot down over Siestarjoki in a dogfight between 4 Messerschmitts and 5-10 Yak-7Bs.

Finnish daily losses: 28


Finnish Messerschmitt over Malmi airfield.

***

7 February 1944

Karelian Isthmus: "Near the northern end of lake Kapujärvi our strike team assaulted enemy positions where it destroyed two dug outs and at least 10 enemies, and took two prisoners with them. Own losses 1 dead, 3 wounded."

Air Force:
27 enemy sorties; 76 planes
11 Finnish sorties; 29 planes

Finnish daily losses: 21


Helsinki during the night of 6/7 February.

***

8 February 1944

The United States strongly suggests that Finland enters peace talks and tries to get out of the war.

German HQ accepts Mannerheim's request that German troops would take front responsibility in the Uhtua area. Finnish Third Division is to be pulled back in 2-3 weeks.

Air Force:
12 enemy sorties; 24 planes
12 Finnish sorties; 30 planes

Finnish daily losses: 9


***


In related news, the research by Finnish National Archives into whether Finnish SS troops committed war crimes is to be released later today. I shall post it either here or in a new thread (depends of the results of the research).

[Dowly]

Post #543 updated with colorized photo of Lieutenant Rimpinen.