Continuation War, day by day.

[Dowly]

30 June 1944

Fighting around Tali ends, battle of Ihantala begins.

Originally Posted by Mikko H. @AHF

Lt. Col. Reino Inkinen's IR 6 is manning a delaying line north of the Portinhoikka crossroads, while the Jäger Brigade, IR 50 and IR 30 withdraw north. The Armored Division is withdrawn from battle, but the other units regroup to a new delaying line, to give time for Maj. Gen. Einar Vihma's reinforced 6th Division to man the new defence line west of Lake Ihantalajärvi. In morning the Group Vihma (the 6th Division reinforced with the remains of the IR 48 ) has established itself on the new line, and the IR 6 withdraws from the battle.

The enemy follows the withdrawing forces and in afternoon manages to break into IR 48's positions at Tähtelä, but is beaten back by Col. S. Laaksonen's IR 35 (of the 6th Division) by midnight.

Col. Yrjö Hanste's reinforced IR 12 is manning a delaying line south of Ihantala, and is subjected to a strong enemy attack in early morning. After running out of AT-weapons, IR 12 withdraws to the new defence line at 7 am. However, the bridge south of the village of Ihantala is left intact after the engineers assigned with blowing it are killed. IR 12 settles into defence while subjected to heavy artillery fire.

In evening the enemy attacks the IR 12 at Ihantala after a furious artillery preparation. They manage to break in the regiment's positions, but the enemy infantry is destroyed by artillery and mortars, and the tanks with Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks. In all, the Finnish ground forces destroy today 24 enemy tanks around Ihantala.

This day is considered the last of the Tali-phase of the battle. Lt. Gen. Taavetti Laatikainen's IV Army Corps has succesfully straightened its right flank and manned the new line west of Ihantala. For once, the terrain is favourable to the defender, and the Finnish infantry is receiving large numbers of German infantry AT-weapons. The Finnish artillery is reaching the top of its powers. Finnish Army has more than 20 artillery battalions concentrated near the battlefield, and the advanced fire-control system is showing what it can achieve. In the air the Finnish Air Force, reinforced by Obstlt. Kuhlmey's German Stukas and Fw 190's, provides air cover and ground support. This is a true combined-arms battle.

The Soviet forces, on the other hand, while still receiving reinforcements, are suffering losses at an even higher rate. The troops are tired and operating at the end of a long supply line.

*

After learning of President Ryti's guarantee to Hitler concerning separate peace, the United States severes ties with Finland.

Finnish daily losses: 361

Finnish losses in June: 8,519

Finnish losses in the war so far: 53,812


Finnish tank hunters walk by a destroyed Soviet tank in the Ihantala area.
From right: Sergeant Heino Nikulassi (6./IR 12), Sergeant Kaarlo Niemelä (8./IR 12) and Jäger Eino Heikkilä.
Sergeant Nikulassi died on the following day at Ihantala.