Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

16 June 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 14


War dog "Tuija" at Hämeenlinna training center.

***

17 June 1943

Karelian Isthmus: "Enemy attack in the Simola area stopped by mortar and small-arms fire."

Finnish daily losses: 18


Fortification works at Karhumäki.

***

18 June 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 20


Lieutenant Salminen tells visitors on top of a destroyed bunker about the battles at Summa during the Winter War.

***

19 June 1943

Uhtua/3.Division: "At 0400hrs the enemy attacked our positions near Iso Kiiskisjärvi managing to get into our trenches from where it was quickly pushed out. Meanwhile estimated 250 strong enemy unit approached from the north, but this enemy was also beaten back."

Finnish daily losses: 12


76mm AA-gun at Suursaari.

***

20 June 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 9


Mother with three Crosses of Mourning on her chest, one for each son she's lost.

***

21 June 1943

No entry.

Finnish daily losses: 24


View of Suursaari from atop Haukkavuori.

***

22 June 1943

Maaselkä Group: "Three of our bases in the Krivjärvi - Kommunarofjärvi area were attacked this morning after a strong artillery preparation. Two of the attacks were halted before reaching our obstacles, the third attack pushed into our trenches and was killed to the last man there. So far, we've counted 142 enemy KIA. Own losses 30 men KIA/WIA."

Finnish daily losses: 24

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

16 June 1943

Mother with three Crosses of Mourning on her chest, one for each son she's lost.

That's brutal.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

That's brutal.

Quite.

Since I've got too much time, here's the report of 3.Division's combat on June 19th. I put it in chronological order, since it wasn't.
The Finnish unit was Infantry Regiment 11.

0400hrs
The enemy began heavy artillery and mortar shelling on the regiment's sector, concentrating most of the fire between base "Kaneli" and Iso Kiskisjärvi. Especially strong fire was also directed towards bases "Turisti", "Etu", "Kivi" and "Saarinen"

0410hrs
Reserves were formed from regiment's supply troops and [illegible] under Lieutenant Rauma(?), strength 4+29+129. The reserve was positioned at this moment near "Messuhalli".
Enemy planes appeared at the same time, flying east to west making strafing and bombing runs on our front and rear positions.

0415hrs
6/JR11 -- the division's reserve -- alarmed.
About a platoon of enemies advanced towards "Horsma" on III.battalion's sector under the cover of the morning mist and smoke boxes. The enemy got 30 metres from our positions before our small-arms fire forced them to take cover. Behind them advanced 200-250 more enemies towards "Horsma".

0420hrs
Enemy infantry (~2 comp.) began their attack towards "Turisti", advancing to our obstacles and sending a smaller group forwards that captured 50 metres of our trenches.

0425hrs
Commander of 6/JR11 Lieutenant Nylund reported in at the command post. 6/JR11 is to stay at their living area for now.
The local forces at "Turisti" had successfully thrown out the enemy that had gotten into our trenches. At the same time our fire mission struck the rest of the enemy forces in front of "Turisti" causing them heavy casualties and forcing them to retreat at about 0430hrs.

0430hrs
Received word that "Turisti" was captured by the enemy.
The sun and morning winds dissipated the mist and smoke which allowed for our infantry to see the advancing enemy near "Horsma", forcing them to retreat under fire behind the so called "Vilukukkula" hill.

0435hrs
Report from Lieutenant Patakaski that "Turisti" is still fully in friendly hands.

0520hrs
Runner reported that the fighting at "Turisti" has ended.

0630hrs
Fighting at "Horsma" has ended.

0645hrs
Our mortars fired behind "Vilukukkula" hill.

Losses:
I.Battalion - 1 KIA, 1 WIA
III.Battalion - 1 KIA, 6 WIA
Enemy losses: 30 KIA counted infront of "Horsma", lots of wounded judging by the cries and enemy medics seen.
Estimated enemy KIA/WIA: 150

For the thousands of Finns who obviously read this thread, the original pages in more exact detail (but not in chronological order) can be read here:
Page 1: https://i.imgur.com/XN8DxTW.jpg
Page 2: https://i.imgur.com/Mr6gTlM.jpg


Or alternatively from the National Archives war diary archive:
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/slistaus.ka?ay=77836.KA (Pages 8-9)