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).

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Petsamo was defended by reinforced 10th Independent Inf Coy (Cpt Pennanen) wich was the only Finnish unit north of Rovaniemi (500 km south of Petsamo).

The Soviets assaulted with two Divisions beginning 3rd December 1939. The assult was driven back. On 12th December the Soviet attack was repeated and the Finns fought delaying operations direction south. The attack was repulsed 19th - 21st December.

In medio January 1940 the Soviets attacked again and reached Nautsi on 28th February 1940. The Finns - now reinforced to Bn size - threw the Soviets back and on 7th March established a defence at Nautsi wich was held until the peace 13th March 1940.

The Soviets had captured Petsamo but nothing more. The ground south of Petsamo held by the Soviets was an artic landscape without villages.

Photo:
Captain Pennanen who sucessfully halted two Soviet Divisions. He was promoted Major.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

The development in the Salla-direction spelled disaster. Two Soviet Divisions attacked the 17th Bn (Maj Roininen).

The 17th Bn skillfully fought delaying operations inflicting houndreds of casualities for the Soviets. The 17th Bn was reinforced by an improvised Bn from Rovaniemi known as the A Bn.

In March 1940 the Swedish Voluntary Corps (Gen Ernst Linder, 8.700 men of wich 725 Norwegians) took over the defence of this area. The front was held. Preparations for a counter offensive were made but was not carried out before the peace on 13th March 1940.

The Soviets had not achieved much in this direction. The Swedish losses were 26 KiA, 39 wounded and 10 MiA.

Photo:
The artic landscape does not offer much protection.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Kuusamo was defended by 16th Bn which sucessfully held ground until the war ended on 13th March 1940.

Soviet gains: zero.

Photo:
MjGen W.E. Tuompo commanded the Northern Finland Group. He was promoted LtGen.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Suomussalmi had been described in the thread "The time has come the walrus said".

In short the war began with 15th Bn (LtCol Kyander) delaying 163rd Soviet Inf Div.

Col Hjalmar Siilasvou got reinforcements and defeted 163rd Inf Div 27th - 30th December 1939 and thereafter 44th Mechanized Division 5th - 7th January 1940.

Soviet losses: Two Divisions totally destroyed.

Photo:
Col Hjalmar Siilasvuo (1892-1947) was promoted MjGen. In the continuation and Lapland wars he commanded 3rd Army Corps. Mannerheim Cross nr 183 21st Dec 1944.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Kuhmo was defended by 14th Inf Bn (LtCol Ilomäki). The Bn sucessfully fought delaying operations. During December reinforced by one Bn.

During 20th - 23rd January MjGen Siilasvuos troops were moved from Suomussalmi to Kuhmo area. The main attack began 29th January.

54th Soviet Division was halted. The Soviets lost 5 aircraft, 15 tanks, 20 trucks, 6 field guns and 4 mortars. Parts of the Division were routed.

Parts of the Division however managed to hold out thanks to the skillful leadership of the CO, Col Gusevski, and could return to the Soviet Union after the war. Approx 8.000 russians did however stay forever in Finland.

Photo:
LtCol F.H. Ilomäki (right) successfully commanded 14th Ind Bn during the Kuhmo-operations. LtCol A. Wuokko (left) commanded W-Brigade which reinforced Ilomäki´s troops in January 1940.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

In the Lieksa-direction the Northern Karelia Group (Col Raappana 11th and 12th Ind Bns) halted the Soviet assault some 18 km from the border. The Soviet force was one reinforced Inf Regt spearheading a Division.

On 24th December 1939 Col Raappana launched an assault forcing the Soviets back over the border.

Two Soviet Bns were destroyed and 7 tanks were captured by the Finns in working conditions.

Photo:
Colonel Erkki Raappana (1893-1962) chased the Soviets back over the border. Later promoted MjGen. Mannerheim Cross nr 3 3rd Aug 1941.

[Bill Murray]

Keep it up Stellan!!!!!!

Fascinating reading and presented in a very concise and orderly way complete with maps etc. I hope you take us through the whole story, ie the end of the Winter War and then the next two.

Remember my remark, "The Finns are the best fighters" which is sort of counterbalanced by the quote "One Finn is worth 10 Russians but what happens when the 11th Russian shows up".

An amazing people, the Finns, with a brave military history that is far too little known and appreciated by most of the world. Then, of course, few people know that the Vikings ruled a pretty good part of the world way back when and were feared by all they came in contact with. Must have something to do with living in that part of the world where you live in semi darkness 50% of the year and mostly sunshine the other 50%.

Cheers
Bill

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

We have now left the Northern Theatre of Operations and start looking on the Middle Area. This area was defended by 8th - 10th Ind Bns before 2nd Army Corps arrived.

On the northern flank the Finnish troops were losing ground and 2nd Army corps was under a treath to be surrounded.

Colonel Paavo Talvela had retired from the Army and was President of the Finnish State Alcohol Monopoly. He visited Field Marshal Mannerheim and demanded to be placed in charge in the Tolvajärvi area. He also demanded that 16th Inf regt (LtCol Pajari) should be under his command.

The Field Mashal some day later ordered Col Talvela to the front.

The situation was chaotic. The Finns lost both ground and morale. During 12th - 14th December 1939 the tide changed. LtCol Pajari assaulted. The Soviet 139th Division was chrushed.

The Finns pressed east to Äglijärvi where the Soviet 75th Division was torn up.

The Finns captured 59 tanks, 3 armoured cars, 31 guns, 10 mortars e t c. The Soviets suffered some 8.000 KiA. Two Soviet Divisions were destroyed.

In the meantime Col Ekholm sucessfully defended Ilomants with mainly hastly improvised Training Units (Sic!) not giving ground to Soviet 155th Division.

Photo:
Col Per-Olof Ekholm (left), the cool-as-a-cucumber defender of Ilomants and LtCol Aaro Pajari (right). Pajari personally led a Coy attack and changed the tide at Tolvajärvi. He was promoted Colonel and later MjGen. Received the Mannerheim Cross twice 14th Sept 1941 and 16th Oct 1944, nr 12.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

We now for the first time will see the Finns operating with larger units. Here we find the 4th Army Corps (12th and 13th Divisions) commanded by LtGen Hägglund.

First the situation was very dagerous. The Soviets attacked with four Divisions and the Finns were losing ground in Tolvajärvi (see post above). After the creation of Group Talvela in that direction LtGen Hägglund could consentrate on the enemy advancing north of lake Ladoga.

It is a long story, but I will make it short. Already in mid December 4th Army Corps began "chopping wood" by separating the Soviet columns. It took considerable time to destroy the Soviet pockets of restistance. The complete destruction had not been achieved when the war ended.

Let us just count them - destroyed or routed Soviet Divisions:
168th Division trapped at Kitelä.
18th Division destroyed at Lemetti.
34th Armour Brigade destroyed at Lemetti.

The Finns Captured on 18 February 20 tanks, 30 field guns, 37 AT-guns, 25 trucks, 32 field-kitchens e t c and on 29th February 71 tanks, 12 armoured cars, 24 guns, 68 trucks, 133 MGs e t c. We then have disregarded minor resistence pockets.

Picture:
Only time prevented 4th Finnish Army Corps to totally whipe out Soviet 8th Army.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

When lake Ladoga had became frozen, the Soviet attacked over the ice but were sucessfully resisted by the Finns using a o Coast Artillery.

Photo:
MjGen Woldmar Hägglund, CO 4th Army Corps (and after the victories promoted LtGen) with COS LtCol A. Kuistio.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

We are now approaching the end of this story. As we have seen above the Finns have whitstood Soviet attacks everywhere and on several occasions also have whiped out entire Soviet Divisions.

But the Fate of Finland was determined on the Karelian Isthmus.

The peacetime Finnish units and several Territorial Defence units were consentrated on the border to the Soviet Union for carrying out delaying operations.

There were four Battle groups:
1) Rautus
2) Lipola
3) Muolaa
4) Nykyrka

These "Covering Forces" were commanded by CO 2nd Army Corps. Their task was only to delay the Soviets and gain time for the Finnish Army to deploy in the main defence area.

Photo:
LtGen Harald Öhquist (sitting right) CO 2nd Army Corps and (left) COS Col K. Takkula.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

When Field Marshal Mannerheim assumed command as C-in-C the peacetime Army Cdr LtGen Österman became CO of the Karelian Army (2nd and 3rd Army Corps).

The overall strenght:

SOVIET UNION - FINLAND
Divisions: 30 - 9
Tanks: 2.000 - 40
Aircraft:800 - 150

But LtGen Österman also had another problem. He was squized between the strong Field Marshal and also the strong will of LtGen Öhqvist who knew the Isthmus by heart.

After clashes with these two officers he gave up command and was replaced by LtGen Heinrichs. LtGen Österman deserved a better fate.


Photo:
LtGen Hugo Österman (1892-1975, left) and COS Col K.A. Tapola (right).

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

As Bill Murray asked: "What do you do when the 11th Russian shows up?"

Situation early 1940 after that delaying operations had ended. The Finns are defending the "Mannerheim line".

On 23rd December 1939 the Finns attacked and gained some km:s but had to withdrawl. This disaster became somewhat off a sucess because the Soviets were so surprised that it took them a week to figure what the Finns were up to.

Picture:
So try your best tactics to solve this one:

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

LtGen Erik Heinrichs was CO of 3rd Army Corps and succeded LtGen Österman as CO of the Karelian Army. Like the other Finnish Generals he was a scholar and trained in Prussian 27th Rifle Bn during WW 1.

But his mission was still impossible.

Photo:
LtGen Heinrichs (left) with COS 3rd Army Corps Col G. Ehrnrooth. General of Infantry Erik Heinrichs was awarded Mannerheim Cross 2nd class nr 48 on 5th Feb 1942 and 1st class nr 2 on 31st Dec 1944 (Only two 1st class ever issued).

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

The situation at the end of the war 13 March 1940.

The Finns were holding but to the prize of terrible losses in human lives. The Soviet lost ten times the Finns but seemed to have unlimited sources and no feelings for casualities.

At the end of the war the Finns had organized another three Divisions = 12. The Soviets had gained strenght from 30 to 44 Divisions despite several lost in battle.

The Finnish HQ realized that sooner or later the country would bleed to death. The hard peace was accepted and Soviet Union gained Petsmo, Salla and parts of Karelia.

105 days of war between David and Goliath had ended.

Picture:
What do you do when the 11th Russian shows up?
Red line = the old Finnish main defence line.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

From a Military point of wiew the Finns won the Winter War. Their defence was still resisting and north of Lake Ladoga great victories had been won.

The Finns lost the war because they had ran out of resorces and especially human lives. They were also under pressure from the Swedish Government to accept the hard peace terms.

Picture:
The general impression of the 1939-40 Winter War. This is from Lemetti north of Ladoga. It could have been Suomussalmi, Raate, Äglijärvi, Tolvajärvi or whereever in Finland - except for the Karelian Isthmus.

Stalin had come to respect the Finns.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

I forgot to mention that MjGen Talvela - victor of Tolvajärvi-Äglijärvi (see post above) succeded LtGen Heinrichs as CO 3rd Army Corps.

An 1st Army Corps was organised and was commanded by MjGen Tavetti Laatikainen (1886-1954). Like most of the Finnish Generals he had a civilian education. In his case he was an elementary school teacher ending up as a General of Infantry.

Mannerheim Cross nr 17 3rd Oct 1941.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Retired Col Paavo Talvela (1897-1973) who volunteered to solve the problems north of Ladoga. After the battle of Tolvajärvi promoted MjGen.

He was on 18th February 1940 promoted to CO of 3rd Army Corps. Mannerheim Cross nr 2 3rd Aug 1941.

[Bill Murray]

Evening Stellan:

Well, you have already passed into 2005 while Pat and I have just started our second drink with only a few more to come for the quiet evening we have planned.

Your question about what could the Finns do is interesting but rather sadly at the end a question of arithmetic..

If I have the gross numbers right, Russia had a population equal to 42 Russians for every Finn and a potential armed forces strength that was about 36 to one.

According to what I have read, the Finns in both the attack and the mobile defense mode, were able to literally slaughter thousands of Russians assuming they did not run out of ammunition and room to move around.

The last two maps you showed indicate that there was a river line that could have been defended rather well but it was not directly in front of what was the assumed Russian objective, Viipure. From map 1 to map 2 it seemed obvious that the Russians were going to avoid ctrying to cross the river and go directly for the town. This meant the Finns would have to attack, attack, attack over somewhat open ground. While they would be successful in terms of total Russian body count, they would lose too many men in the end as the Russians so badly outnumbered them.

So, as you say, in the end the Finns won the war from a tactical point of view but realized that even at the ratio of Finnish dead to Russian they were going to run out of fighters and even total population before the Russians even began to feel any consequence of the war on their armed forces or their population.

Something the Germans learned a few years later if I may say so.

Keep it up, my friend and I hope you and yours have a very happy 2005.
Bill

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Happy New Year Bill & others!

You are totally right - - - but the river Vouksen wich was border between 2nd and 3rd Army Corps became frozen (- 40 centigrade or even colder). It was however fortified. There were only light fortifications (concrete pillboxes or bunkers). Totally 44 elder and 22 new on a 150 km frontline. However on the flanks Coast Artillery Btys could support the line.

On the maps you see right Laatokka = Lake Ladoga. Under that the name Taipale. The Soviets tried to cross also the River Vouksen but the Finns refused to give up Taipale wich held during 105 days.

On the early 1940 map you see 21st Division as 3rd Army Corps reserve. This newly organized Div was known as Porslinsdivisionen or China Division for two reasons a) All equipment was painted white and b) these troops were fragile due to inferior training.

Anyhow the will of Col Aarne Blick and his men made Taipale remain Finnish to the end of the war.

Photo:
Col Aarne Blick, promoted MjGen and Knight of the Mannerheim Cross nr 11 14th Sept 1941.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Stellan, your Finnish history lesson has been facinating. I showed it to my wife (who's mother was Finnish) and she said, "oh, I have some pictures of her during the war". Needless to say your info put the pictures into perspective. The first picture is of her mother (with the accordian) and a friend (with violin) entertaining the troops. I guess they didn't have a "Bob Hope".

Bruce

[Bruce MacMillan]

first picure

[Bruce MacMillan]

even the civies went to the front

[Bruce MacMillan]

when I saw this picture I thought "Himmell, they're Germans!"
I think this, and a few others we have, were taken during the "Continuation War", when Finland was an "ally?" of Germany.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bruce MacMillan
when I saw this picture I thought "Himmell, they're Germans!"
I think this, and a few others we have, were taken during the "Continuation War", when Finland was an "ally?" of Germany.

Thank you for those interesting pictures Bruce!

Yes, in fact a German officer. The girls I think are field-artists.

The Finns were allways very clear in stating that they were not allied with Germany. They just fought a separate war against a common enemy.

The first picture is probably later than spring 1940. The second is post June 1941 and in northern Finland.

Picture:
The Germans operated in N Finland.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bruce MacMillan
even the civies went to the front

I think the girls are field-artists. The officers seems to be Finnish.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

The Womens Auxilliary Corps "Lotta Svärd" in 1939 had some 60.000 members with basic training and 40.000 with advanced training.

On outbreak of war the organization mobilized 9 mobile field hospitals each with 150 beds.

The 34 Districts mobilized numerous field kitchens and canteens aswell as tailor units and social welfare.

The women also run the air warning services and telephone switchboards.

The young girls aged 8-17 were given easier tasks. Those that had talents were trained as field artists entertaining the troops.

Picture:
A 14-year old "Lotta" in air-warning service. The fur coats were during the war also made by dog furs.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The Finns were allways very clear in stating that they were not allied with Germany. They just fought a separate war against a common enemy.

I think that the word 'co-belligerent' is correct here, just as the USA was a 'co-belligerent' and not 'ally' in The Great War.

Am I right in suggesting that the Germans also pressed the Finns to seek a peace with the USSR, given that the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact had parcelled-up Poland, and that after the partition folowing the Soviet invasion of Poland the resolution of the Winter War was essential?

I find the 1944-45 Soviet thrust towards northern Norway also fascinating.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Am I right in suggesting that the Germans also pressed the Finns to seek a peace with the USSR, given that the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact had parcelled-up Poland, and that after the partition folowing the Soviet invasion of Poland the resolution of the Winter War was essential?

Yes David, I think so.

But Germany changed foot summer 1940 and secretly began giving aid to Finland. With equipment delivered from Germany the Finnish Army was expanded from 12 to 16 Divs and the number of Arty Bns increased from 34 to 77.

On 30th Jan 1941 the Finnish Chief of General Staff, LtGen Heinrichs, visited Berlin. This was followed up by a conference in Salzburg 25th May 1941.

Finland mobilized on 20th June 1941. The Finns wanted to wait a week before joining "Barbarossa" but the German troops in N Finland created a fait accompli by assaulting in direrction Petsamo on June 22nd 1941.

Photo:
Mobilization in Helsinki 20th June 1941.