Winter War, day by day.

[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

[Dowly]

15 January - DAY 47 of Winter War

Undeterred by his jammed machine gun, Staff Sergeant Siltavuori, a squadron test pilot, downs an enemy DB bomber by cutting its rudder with the propeller on his Fokker.

Northern Finland: Finnish troops begin to pursue the retreating enemy in Salla by advancing from Joutsijärvi in the direction of Märkäjärvi.

Ladoga Karelia: Viitavaara on the River Aittojoki is finally lost to the Russians.

Eastern Isthmus: in Taipale, Finnish troops repulse an assault by a fairly small enemy detachment.

Finnish patrols on the eastern border are still vigorous and effective.

Viipuri: the city is subjected to surprise attacks from the air. The sirens start up at 23 minutes past noon as the first bombs explode. The late warning means there are still many people on the streets and in shops and offices. Three people are killed and several injured. The attack devastates the area around Punaisenlähteentori square.

Abroad: the Swedish Government responds to the Soviet note accusing Sweden of abandoning its neutrality and the Swedish press of publishing anti-Soviet material. The Swedes reject the accusation and affirm their commitment to freedom of the press.

The German Foreign Ministry denies rumours of German attempts to play a mediating role in the Finno-Soviet conflict and claims that the visits of the German Ambassador in Moscow to Foreign Minister Molotov have merely concerned economic relations between the two countries.

The Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf donates her gold medal from the Swedish Academy and her Nobel Gold Medal to the collection in aid of Finland.

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

January 15: Still in Uus-Syväri. Temperature has fallen to -40C. We got some newspapers. Semenov was unhappy. I have not received any letters.

(Click for larger photo)

"Our supply route Katitsanlampi-Repomäki after a fight with a Russian patrol."

Daily losses: 67

***

16 January - DAY 48 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: heavy enemy shelling pounds the defences on the Mannerheim Line in Summa.

Ladoga Karelia: in temperatures of -41° Celsius, a small Finnish detachment attacks and halts the enemy advance at the edge of Mursula village in Kitilä.

The Finnish aid agency Suomen Huolto grants 800,000 marks in aid to victims of the bombing in the towns of western Finland.

Abroad: a special Finnish day is to be held at the Holmenkollen skiing games in Oslo to raise money for Finland.

A Danish association of factory-owners is sending a railway wagonload of food aid to Finland.

United States President, Franklin D. Roosevelt says the USA can extend a non-military loan to Finland as this would in his opinion not compromise US neutrality.

The Swiss Medical Association announces it is to send a group of volunteers to Finland.

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

January 16: Still in Uus-Syväri. It's -52C outside. My nose nearly froze, but I rubbed some snow on it. We can't buy anything from the stores. I'm angry at the weather. Have not received letters. Wondering if Nadja is cheating on me.

Daily losses: 65

***

17 January - DAY 49 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: the Finnish 12th Division launches its offensive in the Uomaa sector.

IV Army Corps halts its offensive in the Pitkäranta area. The Finnish force does not have sufficient strength in the area to push on to the border. Fokker fighters from 24 Squadron shoot down 8 enemy SB bombers over the Isthmus.

Central Isthmus: in the Lähde road sector, heavy enemy shelling inflicts serious damage on 'Fort Poppius'. This concrete fortress named after Second Lieutenant Poppius can house up to 26 men.

Enemy bombers hit Turku, Hanko, Lappeenranta and Koivisto.

Viipuri: bombers concentrate on the south harbour.

Finland's civil defence chief reminds members of the public to keep their identity papers with them at all times.

The Ministry of the Interior is to set up a supply centre for evacuees.

In Summa, temperatures have fallen to -42° Celsius.

Abroad: Norwegian fruiterers have today donated six trainloads (50,000 kilos) of apples to Finland.

The United States has decided to send two military attachés to Finland.

In Uppsala, the author Frans Emil Sillanpää addresses a Swedish audience on the situation in Finland.

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

January 17: We haven't moved. It's -42C outside. I lost my watch today. No letters. During the day we talked about Lenin and in the evening about the poor situation of workers in Norway and Sweden.

Daily losses: 75