Finlands Winter War 1939-40

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

For 105 days Finland stood up against the Soviet Union. The War started on 30th November 1939 and ended on 13th March 1940 when Finland was forced to accept a hard peace.

THE DEFENDER

The population in Finland was approx 3,8 milj inhabitants. The peacetime Armed Forces approx 28.000 men plus 115.000 in the voluntary Territorial Defence.

The Finnish Army could mobilize 9 Inf Divs plus one formed by the peacetime training units. Also one Cav Bde. Total strenght approx 300.000 men.

These had a border line of 1.646 km to defend.

THE AGRESSOR

The population of the Soviet Union was approx 170 milj inhabitants. The Army had approx 100 Inf Divs, 44 Cav Divs and 10 Armoured Bdes. Total strenght approx 11 milj men.

The attack was caried out by five Soviet Armies. Counted from the north: 14th, 9th, 8th, 13th and 7th Army.

THEATERS OF OPERATIONS

Finland could be divided three sectors:

1) North
2) Middle (with lake Ladoga coastal defence)
3) South (with Baltic coastal defence)

NORTHERN THEATRE (CO: MjGen Tuompo)

There were a few bad roads and a few minor villages or settlements. Soviet attacks could be expected from seven directions (counted from the north, defending units within brackets):

1) Petsamo - Rovaniemi (500 km) (10th Ind Coy)
2) Salla - Rovanemi (17th Bn)
3) Kuusamo - Rovanemi/Uleåborg (16th Bn)
4) Suomussalmi - Kajana (15th Bn)
5) Kuhmo - Kajana (14th Bn)
6) Kivivaara - Lieksa - Nurmes (13th Bn)
7) Inari - Lieksa - Nurmes (12th Bn)

In these areas there were only a few Independent Inf Bns. and two Arty Btys (one of wich 19th century vintage)

The Soviets attacked with 14th and 9th Army.

MIDDLE THEATRE (CO: LtGen Hägglund)

North of lake Ladoga there were a few roads and villages. Soviet attacks could along a border line of some 100 km be expected from five directions (counted from the north):

1) Liusvaara - Ilomants (11th Bn)
2) Suojärvi - Tolvajärvi (10th Bn)
3) Suojärvi - Kollaa (9th Bn)
4) Käsenälkä - Sordavala (8th Bn)
5) Salmis - Sordavala (just north of lake Ladoga)

Just north of Ladoga was deployed 4th Army Corps (LtGen Hägglund, 12th and 13th Inf Divs). North of this there were only a few Ind Inf Bns.

The Soviets attacked with 8th Army.

SOUTHERN THEATRE (CO: LtGen Österman)

The Karelian Isthmus had several roads leading to the city of Viborg/Viipuri - the second largest city in Finland. The main assault was expected in this area.

The main body of the Finnish Army was deployed in this area.

Four Defence Groups formed by the peacetime units were deployed for delaying operations between the border and the main defence line.

In the main defence line there were:

Karelian Army (LtGen Österman)
- 2nd Army Corps (LtGen Öquist, 8th and 10th Inf Divs)
- 3rd Army Corps (LtGen Heinrichs, 1st, 4th, 5th and 11th Inf Divs)
- Army reserve (6th Inf Div)

HQ reserve: Cav Bde.

The Soviets attacked with 13th and 7th Army (together some 100 Inf Regts, 1.000 tanks, 400 arty guns and 1.000 aircraft).

In the following posts I will describe what happened at the border crossings one by one starting from north.

PICTURE:

The Finnish defence 30th November 1939.
Er.P = Ind Inf Bn.
Black circle with number = Inf Div.

On 1st January 1940 6th Div was renumbered 3rd, 10th became 7th and 11th became 2nd Div (wich not only confused the Soviets but also the Finns and military historians today).