Winter War, day by day.

[Dowly]

29 November 1939

Three Finnish border guards go missing from Puumanki border guard post.
Doors and window frames show damage consistent with rifle butt strikes.
Investigation concludes that they were kidnapped by Soviet soldiers.

Moscow Radio announces that Finnish soldiers had attacked across the border
in the same area and that the defenders had pushed the attackers back over the border.




Soviet Union severes diplomatic ties with Finland.

[fumo30]

Originally Posted by Dowly

29 November 1939

Three Finnish border guards go missing from Puumanki border guard post.
Doors and window frames show damage consistent with rifle butt strikes.
Investigation concludes that they were kidnapped by Soviet soldiers.

Anything heard about these men since then?

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by fumo30

Anything heard about these men since then?

Corporal Salkio and privates Simonen and Korhonen were sent to a POW camp in Murmansk. They were released after the war.

[fumo30]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Corporal Salkio and privates Simonen and Korhonen were sent to a POW camp in Murmansk. They were released after the war.

Kiitän ja kuittaan.

...In english: Thanks a lot.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by fumo30

Kiitän ja kuittaan.

...In english: Thanks a lot.

Salkio has also written a book titled "Pummanki - Jäämeren suomalainen kalastajakylä ja sen tuho". Haven't read it myself, though.

[fumo30]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Salkio has also written a book titled "Pummanki - Jäämeren suomalainen kalastajakylä ja sen tuho". Haven't read it myself, though.

Interesting, there's not too many writings about the "lost arm" of Finland.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by fumo30

Interesting, there's not too many writings about the "lost arm" of Finland.

You might be able to find something on the Kansa Taisteli magazines: http://kansataisteli.sshs.fi/index.php?year=1950

***

12 January - DAY 44 of Winter War

Northern Finland: after intense combat with a force of Soviet troops who had made a surprise advance in the Juntusranta sector, Group Susi takes up defensive positions on the Tormua parallel.

Over 400 enemy aircraft bomb several localities across Finland; the main focus of the bombing is in the southwest.

Ladoga Karelia: the commander of the Soviet 56th Army requests an aircraft to lift him out of the Kitelä-Syskyjärvi-Koirinoja triangle. Finnish troops manage to damage the aircraft, which has to make an emergency landing on the frozen Lake Ladoga.

Northern Finland: the F19 airforce regiment of Swedish volunteers goes into combat for the first time at Märkäjärvi.

The Ministry of Supply urges evacuees to adapt to their new circumstances and attempt to support themselves, if possible, and to work for their hosts who are providing them with shelter.

London: the Daily Express reports a Dutch source as saying that Hitler is keen to act as broker in the conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union.

Sweden: an art shop is opened to raise funds for Finland.

The International Federation of Trade Unions issues a resolution calling on governments around the world to fulfil their obligation of solidarity with Finland.

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

January 12: Arrived to Volhovstroi during the morning. It's a beautiful station with a large power plant near it. Danced again. In the evening we resumed our journey.

Daily losses: 89

***

13 January - DAY 45 of Winter War

Åland Sea: the Soviet submarine Sts 324 attacks Finnish convoys in the Märket narrows.

The Finnish escort vessel Aura II sinks after one of its own depth charges explodes on deck.

Central Isthmus: enemy attempts at mini-offensives at Lähde and Summa are successfully repulsed.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops establish the great Kitelä 'motti'.

Soviet bombers carry out air-raids on a number of localities.

The air-raid on Hämeenlinna kills 12 people and injures 21 more.

In Helsinki, the air-raid kills 6 and injures another 21; it also sets the Hietalahti shipyard on fire.

In Lahti, the radio transmitter is damaged in the bombing.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company warns its listeners to be on their guard against enemy radio propaganda and indicates that due to enemy interference it will use only well-known announcers in its own broadcasts.

Abroad: Heimo Haitto, the 14-year-old violin prodigy, is the main attraction at a gala concert in Stockholm organized by the Fund for Finnish Relief.

At a fight held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Finnish heavyweight boxer Gunnar Bärlund scores a points victory over his American opponent, Jim Thompson. Some of the proceeds from the fight go to help Finland.

Coffee growers in Rio de Janeiro donate 60,000 sacks of coffee to Finland.

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

January 13: Arrived to Lotinapelto and continued on foot to a city called Uus-Syväri.

Daily losses: 119

***

14 January - DAY 46 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: Soviet Division is ordered to take Uomaa village and push the Finnish detachments out of the terrain between Uomaa and Lavajärvi.

Northern Finland: the Soviet 122nd Division disengages from Vuosamonselkä and withdraws to Märkäjärvi.

Detachment Roininen and the 40th Infantry Regiment are ordered to prepare themselves to pursue the enemy.

At the same time word comes through that the Soviet 88th Division is concentrating troops at Salla.

The submarine Iku-Turso returns from patrol without having sighted the enemy.

Viipuri: Soviet aircraft begin to bomb the city.

Vaasa: 10 people die in air-raids, among them women and children.

Enemy bombers hit Rauma, Pori, Uusikaupunki, Sottunga in the Åland archipelago, Hanko, Karjaa, Salo, Tammisaari, Helsinki and Kauniainen.

In the Gulf of Bothnia, Soviet aircraft also bomb the Swedish coastline.

At Haparanda the air-raid warning lasts 1½ hours.

Helsinki: an ambulance donated by the French Red Cross arrives from Stockholm with four nurses.

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

January 14: It's -38 celsius. We are preparing for our sacred duty to the motherland.

(Click for larger photo)

MG and ATG at Ruhtinaanmäki.

Daily losses: 95