Winter War, day by day.

[Dowly]

(Better late than never, right? )

***

5 December 1939 - DAY 6 of Winter War

Parliament assembles for the first time in Kauhajoki.

Karelian Isthmus: the covering force on the Isthmus launches its final counterattack at Perkjärvi, ending in a Finnish withdrawal behind the main defensive position.In places the withdrawal shows signs of panic.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops disengage from Ägläjärvi.

Official sources say 80 enemy tanks have so far been destroyed or put out of action.

General Headquarters sets up a central office of censorship and a number of local offices to supervise war censorship.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company urges its listeners to be on their guard against Russian propaganda, and indicates it will use as many familiar announcers as possible in its own broadcasts.

Abroad: Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay have today protested over the Soviet Union's attack on Finland.

Daily losses: 46

***

6 December 1939 - DAY 7 of Winter War

Helsinki: Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner hosts an Independence Day reception for the diplomatic corps in the banqueting hall of the Kämp Hotel.

Kiviniemi: the last part of the covering force in front of the main defensive position on the Isthmus pulls back to the north of Vuoksi.The work of the covering force comes to an end.

Eastern Isthmus: fighting begins at Taipale. A Soviet division launches an attack across the River Taipaleenjoki.

By nightfall a Russian battalion has crossed River Taipaleenjoki at Koukkuniemi.

Ladoga Karelia: General Headquarters forms Group Talvela to cover the Tolvajärvi-Ägläjärvi sector.

Sweden: 80 leading public figures call on the country to help Finland.

Sounds of Soviet artillery pounding Finnish lines at Taipale:


Daily losses: 97

***

7 December 1939 - DAY 8 of Winter War

Taipale: by evening Finnish troops have beaten back the first Russian offensive.

Ladoga Karelia: during the night Soviet troops achieve combat contact with the Finnish positions on the River Kollaanjoki.

Ilomantsi: Finnish troops in the Ilomantsi sector fall back to Möhkö and overnight to Kallioniemi ferry. They begin a defensive action.

Northern Finland: Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim reinforces the troops around Suomussalmi with sections of the 9th Division commanded by Colonel Siilasvuo.

Soviet troops take the parish village at Suomussalmi.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops at Kollaa beat back the first Soviet offensive.

Lieutenant-Colonel Pajari takes command of the Finnish forces in the Tolvajärvi area.Finnish troops launch active countermeasures.

Northern Finland: the Russian 122nd Division launches its main offensive against Finnish positions on the Kairala parallel.The defending Finnish battalion cannot hold. The detachment pulls back to the parish village at Salla.

The three largest American radio networks have sent their own correspondents to Helsinki.One is the journalist Warren Irving, who is sending a radio commentary from Helsinki to the USA.


Captured Red Army soldier in Alasalmi. (December 7)

Daily losses: 172

***

8 December 1939 - DAY 9 of Winter War

Southern Isthmus: the advance guard of the Finnish 4th Division, which has been fighting in the southern Isthmus, pulls back during the night behind the main defensive position.The Russians regroup to break through the Finnish lines.

Northern Finland: the Finns are caught completely off guard by the Red Army's offensive through the wilderness between Lake Ladoga and the Arctic Ocean with as many divisions as it deployed on the Karelian Isthmus.Finnish troops successfully repulse an attempted Russian breakthrough launched at 7.20 at Haukiperä in Suomussalmi.The Finns then take the initiative.

Eastern Isthmus: the Soviet artillery at Taipale launches a week-long barrage in an attempt to destroy the Finnish positions.

Ladoga Karelia: Soviet troops overcome the Finns at Tolvajärvi and almost capture Tolvajärvi village and the vital crossroads.During the night, Lieutenant-Colonel Pajari turns the tables with a decisive flanking attack on an encamped Russian battalion.

The Soviet force attacking Finland is placed under the direct command of the General Staff of the Red Army.

Commander of the Army, 2nd Class K.A. Meretskov is placed in command of the Soviet 7th Army on the Isthmus.

Northern Finland: the Russians enter the parish village at Salla.

Sweden: the Finnish Consulate in Gothenburg announces that 493 Swedish families have so far offered to take in Finnish refugees.

Finland is reintroducing the Cross of Liberty previously used during the War of Independence in 1918.


2nd Lieutenant Renkonen (pilot in center) giving a debrief to Colonel Kuussaari (left). (December 8)

Daily losses: 136

[Dowly]

14 December 1939 - DAY 15 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: at Summa, the Soviet artillery continues its bombardment of the main Finnish positions with increasing ferocity. Enemy tank and infantry attacks are successfully repulsed.

Ladoga Karelia: Soviet troops launch an offensive on the northern flank of the River Kollaanjoki line.

In the Tolvajärvi sector, Detachment Pajari reaches Ristisalmi.

Turku Archipelago: Utö Fortress sinks a Soviet destroyer.

Northern Finland: the Soviet 273rd Infantry Regiment crosses the River Kemijoki at Savukoski. The Finns fall back past Savukoski to the crossroads at Lunkkaus without engaging the enemy.

The League of Nations expels the Soviet Union and urges its members to give Finland all possible humanitarian and material assistance.

Swedish border: the first foreign volunteers cross the border at Haaparanta and arrive at the reception centre in Tornio.

Stockholm: Frans Emil Sillanpää receives the Nobel Prize for Literature.

New York: the film star Greta Garbo gives 5,000 dollars to the Finnish aid fund.

(Click for larger photo)

Messenger dogs. Summa, December 14.

(Click for larger photo)

Patrol returning from "No Man's Land". Summa, December 14.

Daily losses: 207

[Dowly]

15 December 1939 - DAY 16 of Winter War

Eastern Isthmus: at Taipale, a Russian division launches a tank-supported offensive at 8.30. The advance is halted at Kirvesmäki.

The fighting at Terenttilä continues into the second day.

Central Isthmus: two Finnish companies launch a counterattack at Summa, but fail to get further than a few kilometres.

Ladoga Karelia: troops of the 13th Division under the command of Colonel Hannuksela launch an offensive towards Ruhtinaanmäki.

At Uomaa, a Finnish patrol rescues two wounded men who had survived in a tent for 12 days in territory overrun by the enemy.

Listeners are reminded that today is the last recommended day for sending Christmas packages to the troops at the front.

Despite the war, Finland is honouring the repayment schedule for its First World War debt to the USA.


Captured Soviet rifle. Suomussalmi, December 15.

Daily losses: 226

[Dowly]

16 December - DAY 17 of Winter War

Ladoga Karelia: the Finnish defence at Kitelä on the shores of Lake Ladoga is partly broken by the 168th Soviet Division.

The Tolvajärvi offensive comes to a halt at Ristisalmi.

Eastern Isthmus: Finnish troops successfully repulse several enemy assaults on the River Taipaleenjoki.

General Headquarters confirms as official policy that the fallen are to be sent home for burial.

Salla: the position of the Finnish troops at Pelkosenniemi is getting harder by the minute.

Central Isthmus: enemy shelling is pounding the entire length of the 5th Division and 1st Division's defensive sector between Summa and Muolaanjärvi.

Employers are forbidden on pain of damages from firing a reservist on account of his being called up to the reserve.

In accordance with the decision of General Headquarters, every effort will be made to send those fallen in battle home for burial.

Paris: students demonstrate throughout the day in support of Finland.


Tank obstacles. Tali, December 16.

Daily losses: 210

[em2nought]

Seeing this thread is giving me the desire to pick up a Finnish mosin nagant.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by em2nought

Seeing this thread is giving me the desire to pick up a Finnish mosin nagant.

I'd love to get my hands on a Suomi KP/-31.

**********

17 December - DAY 18 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: this morning Soviet infantry and tanks launched their first major offensive at Summa. The tanks penetrate the Finnish positions, but the infantry are held at the front line.

Eastern Isthmus: at 8.15 Soviet troops continue the offensive at Taipale. The attempted breakthrough is thwarted mainly by Finnish artillery fire.

Petsamo: the vanguard of the Russian regiment overcomes the Finnish holding detachment near Porojärvi.

Northern Finland: fighting to retake the parish village at Suomussalmi continues.

Petsamo: Detachment Pennanen retreats to the River Kornettijoki, 120 km south of Petsamo. The fighting disperses into skirmishes between patrols.

Ladoga Karelia: Finland is forced to send 17-19-year-old schoolboys into battle at Salmi.

Mursula: the Finnish force fighting at Mursula on the shores of Lake Ladoga lose 26% of its strength and has to retreat. 32 Finnish soldiers are dead or missing. The enemy loses 300 men.

Helsinki: Isoviha ('The Great Wrath'), directed by Kalle Kaarna, receives its premiere screening in Helsinki. Starring Hilkka Helinä, Kalevi Mykkänen and Santeri Karilo, Isoviha was banned during the negotiations on the eve of the war, and the version screened now is still partly censored.

(Click for larger photos)


Soviet tanks advancing. The one on the right in the first photo has been disabled, the left one however keeps advancing. River Kollaanjoki, December 17.

Map of Karelia:
http://i.imgur.com/Y7abkjv.jpg

Daily losses: 193

[Dowly]

18 December - DAY 19 of Winter War

Central Isthmus: enemy tanks once again penetrate the Finnish positions at Summa, but the infantry assaults are repulsed in all sectors.

Soviet troops take the village of Oinala to the southeast of Muolaanjärvi.

Ladoga Karelia: in the early hours of the morning Detachment Pennanen continues its advance towards Ägläjärvi in the Tolvajärvi sector. The offensive fails due to a combination of exhaustion and bad weather. The troops return to their original positions.

The enemy offensive gets bogged down at Kollaa. The difficult terrain makes it impossible for them to make effective use of their tanks and artillery.

Northern Finland: Finnish troops under Major Perksalo defeat a Russian regiment at the parish village of Pelkosenniemi to the west of Salla. The Russians disengage and head for Savukoski.

Other Finnish troops simultaneously halt the offensive by the main force of the 122nd Division at Joutsijärvi.

Abroad: Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard give 1,000 guilders to the Dutch Red Cross to be passed on to the Finnish Red Cross.

(Click for larger photo)

Field service at Särkisalo, December 18.

Daily losses: 271

[Dowly]

19 December - DAY 20 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: the main thrust of the continuing Soviet offensive on the Isthmus is at Summa in the central Isthmus. The enemy can manage only temporary breakthroughs. By evening the Soviet infantry has been repulsed and around 20 of the 100 tanks used in the offensive have been destroyed. However, the Finnish troops are unable to retake the village of Oinala.

Koivisto: Saarenpää Fortress and a Russian naval detachment led by the battleship Marat begin an artillery exchange at 12.15. Combat is broken off at 13.04.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops in the Tolvajärvi sector launch a new offensive to retake Ägläjärvi.

Northern Finland: troops from Detachment Roininen attack the flank of the Soviet 122nd Division from the south at Joutsijärvi and inflict considerable losses in men and materials. Our own losses are 22 dead and 29 wounded.

Turku: the enemy bombs the city for the first time. Soviet aircraft also hit Hanko, Helsinki, Viipuri, Jänisjärvi and other targets.

Abroad: the renowned Finnish composer Jean Sibelius' appeal to the American people is published in a number of daily newspapers in the USA. Sibelius emphasizes that the fate of the Finnish people lies primarily in their own hands, although it will also depend to some extent on the actions of other freedom-loving peoples.

(Click for larger photo)

"Flying Lottas" (General Wallenius' daughter on the right). Lappeenranta, December 19.

Daily losses: 373

[Dowly]

December 20 - DAY 21 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: Soviet troops continue their assault at Summa. The first Soviet offensive on the Isthmus runs out of steam. By evening the main defensive positions are entirely under Finnish control.

The Finnish II Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Öhquist are ordered to launch a counteroffensive.

Northern Finland: at Joutsijärvi in the Salla sector a Russian battalion manages to infiltrate behind the Finnish positions at Mäntyvaara. The Russian battalion is finally destroyed in hand-to-hand fighting.

A battalion of the Soviet 122nd Division surprises two companies of Detached Battalion 17 which had been moved into reserve. After four hours of fighting, the enemy withdraws with the loss of 300 dead. Finnish losses are 17 dead, including the two company commanders.

The Finns take the initiative at Salla.

Colonel Paavo Talvela is promoted to Major-General, and Lieutenant-Colonel A.O. Pajari to Colonel.

Ladoga Karelia: the enemy bombs and machine-guns a train carrying evacuees at Jänisjärvi Station in the parish of Harlu. 16 civilians are killed.

Northern Finland: the enemy bombs Kontiomäki. One person is killed.

Ladoga Karelia: the enemy bombs Sortavala. Two people are killed and three injured.

Soviet aircraft also bomb Matkaselkä. Five people are killed and three seriously injured.

Abroad: donated ambulances leave Sweden and Denmark en route to Finland.


"Company of Death" Summa, December 20.

Daily losses: 293

[Aktungbby]

What amazed me about the Finnish war effort was the brilliant use of that obsolete firing platform; the Brewster F2A (B-239) 'Buffalo' B-239s (a de-navalized F2A-1) operated by the Finnish Air Force proved capable of engaging and destroying most types of Soviet fighter aircraft operating against Finland at that time and achieving in the first phase of that conflict 32 Soviet aircraft shot down for every B-239 lost, and producing 36 Buffalo "aces". The Finnish Air Force produced 36 Buffalo aces. The top scorer was Capt. Hans Wind with 39 Buffalo air victories (out of 75); second was WOEino Ilmari Juutilainen, with 34 (out of 94) and third highest score was Capt. Jorma Karhunen (25.5 out of 31.5). First Lt Lauri V. Nissinen also had victories on the type (22.5 out of 32.5).That's 121 Brewster kills for four pilots! [wiki]

[Dowly]

21 December - DAY 22 of Winter War

Terijoki: in honour of Stalin's birthday, Otto Wille Kuusinen's 'Finnish People's Government' holds a meeting and a parade of the 'Finnish People's Army'. The meeting sends a telegram congratulating Stalin on his birthday. At the same time, enemy aircraft bomb two passenger trains in southern Finland.

Southern Finland: enemy fighters strafe a stationary train on the edge of the forest between Helsinki and Turku for 15 minutes, killing three civilians.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops in the Tolvajärvi sector launch an assault in the evening to retake the village of Ägläjärvi. The determined assaults by the Finnish strike force of five battalions overcome the main force of the Russian division.

Civil defence officials point out that lighting restrictions also apply to Christmas lights. This means, for example, that candles must not be placed beside graves this year, and outdoor Christmas trees must not be illuminated. People should also remember to stay off the streets during air-raid warnings.

Daily losses: 158

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

21 December - DAY 22 of Winter War

Terijoki: in honour of Stalin's birthday, Otto Wille Kuusinen's 'Finnish People's Government' holds a meeting and a parade of the 'Finnish People's Army'. The meeting sends a telegram congratulating Stalin on his birthday.

I'm surprised he wasn't arrested for treason immediately....
*Edit*
I just read that that was in the area that was occupied by Soviet troops. That would explain that.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I'm surprised he wasn't arrested for treason immediately....
*Edit*
I just read that that was in the area that was occupied by Soviet troops. That would explain that.

Yup, what is commonly known as the Terijoki Government or Kuusinen's Government in Finland, was just a puppet-government that failed rather spectacularly. Same goes for it's army, which was to be 80,000 strong and consist of Finnish deserters. It reached a strength of about 23,000, with over half being non-Finns.

[Dowly]

22 December - DAY 23 of Winter War

General Headquarters approve Lieutenant-General Öhquist's proposal for a counteroffensive in the western Isthmus.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops advance at Ägläjärvi. By 15.30 the village is under Finnish control.

"After days of fighting, Ägläjärvi has finally been captured today. The area had to be fought bunker by bunker, and the town itself ruin by ruin. Own losses significant, enemy's much higher. Estimated 2,000 enemy KIA, 600 prisoners taken.
Captured equipment includes 6 artillery guns, 8 tanks, 8 AT guns, 4 machineguns, 1 mortar and 240 rifles."
-Excerpt from General HQ's wardiary, page 152. (SPK 2777)

Two Finnish battalions pursue the Soviet troops retreating towards River Aittojoki.

The enemy loses over 2,000 men in the fighting at Tolvajärvi-Ägläjärvi.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs wires the Finnish envoys in London and Paris to tell them that Finland desperately needs military assistance.

The first 150-bed field ambulance from the Swedish Red Cross arrives in Finland. The staff of the ambulance comprise 5 surgeons, 2 consultants and 10 nurses under the leadership of Professor G. Nyström.

Abroad: the Norwegian National Theatre in Oslo presents a Finnish programme including Heimo Haitto, the 14-year-old violin prodigy.

Argentina is the first country to respond positively to the League of Nations' appeal for aid to be sent to Finland.

The Hungarian Pen Club awards its medal for 1939 to the Finnish poet Otto Manninen.

Daily losses: 180

[Dowly]

23 December - DAY 24 of Winter War

Karelian Isthmus: the Finnish II Army Corps launches a fragmented counteroffensive at 6.30. The commander of II Army Corps suspends the offensive at 14.30. Overall losses in the unsuccessful offensive total 1,328 men: 361 dead, 777 wounded and 190 lost in action.

Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops counterattack at Kollaanjoki, but the attack is broken off during the course of the evening.

In the Tolvajärvi sector, battalions from Detachment Pennanen win control of the Aittojoki parallel. The fighting at Tolvajärvi-Ägläjärvi comes to an end.

Northern Finland: the vanguard of the Soviet 44th Division comes into contact with the Finnish troops on the Raate road.

Karelian Isthmus: the Soviet long-range 'ghost gun' in the Perkjärvi sector wreaks havoc and confusion in Viipuri, damaging numerous buildings in the city.

Turku archipelago: the armoured coastal vessels Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen move out of the archipelago into the open sea at Kihti to protect vital shipping routes threatened by Soviet aircraft operating out of Estonia.

Unemployment statistics show that Finnish unemployment has fallen well below the level of one thousand.

Abroad: Argentina's positive response to the League of Nations' appeal for aid to be sent to Finland has been joined by a similar response from Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, the Union of South American States, Bolivia, Venezuela and Mexico.

United States: Gunnar Bärlund, the Finnish heavyweight boxer resident in the USA, beats Italo Golonello, with the referee stopping the bout in the seventh round. Bärlund donates part of his proceeds from the fight to the Finnish Relief Fund.

Daily losses: 659