Winter War in real time

[lordroel]

Day 51 of Winter War, January 19th 1940

The weather stays chilly this day with 45°C (81°F) of frost recorded north of Lake Ladoga. Even as far south as Italy, there is 20° of frost, all of Europe is covered by a massive cold front.

Winter War Army Operations

Fierce fighting at Salla, where the Soviets are suffering in the weather more than the Finns, who are better prepared and closer to their supplies. The Soviet 122nd Division there stops a Finnish attack.

The Soviet 18th Division remains surrounded north of Lake Ladoga. It has suffered an estimated 18,000 killed and captured.

Attacks on Taipale gain no ground. Artillery bombardment of Summa continues.

Winter War Air Operations

The Swedish volunteer pilots bomb Soviet positions.

Winter War Peace Talks

Germany declines to mediate in the USSR/Finnish Winter War.

[lordroel]

Day 52 of Winter War, January 20th 1940

The weather remains frigid across Europe. London's temperature is the lowest recorded since 1881 at -11°C (-12.2° F) of frost.

Winter War Army Operations

The Soviet 122d Division at Maekaejaervi on the southern prong of the Soviet advance out of Salla attempts to make a stand against Finnish attacks. Soviet artillery bombardment of Summa continues.

The Soviet 18th Rifle Division has been encircled for a week north of Lake Ladoga. Soviet 60th Rifle Division attacks to relieve it.

Winter War Air Operations

Soviet bombers attack the ports of Turku and Hango and set massive fires with 75 incendiary and 150 explosive bombs. The Soviets also perform strafing missions.

[lordroel]

Day 53 of Winter War, January 21st 1940

The Soviet units on the Karelian Isthmus are using the month for training and reconnaissance of Finnish defenses. Starting from 10 Soviet rifle divisions, the number is growing to 23 during the month. More heavy artillery is brought in as well. The divisions are distributed between the 7th Army and the 13th Army. Seventh Army has 14 divisions, 13th Army has 9. Seventh Army is headed toward Vyborg, the key point on the Mannerheim Line.

Winter War Air Operations

Finnish Blenheim bombers, piloted by foreign volunteers, raid the Soviet naval base at Kronstadt. There are similar raids on the Soviet air base south of Tallinn and other Soviet bases in Estonia.

The Soviets bomb Finnish port Oulu.

Winter War Army Operations

The Soviets continue their artillery bombardment of Summa. They are firing 7,000 shells every day to soften the Finnish line preparatory to a full-scale assault. Otherwise, the action is quiet as the weather is still frosty.

[lordroel]

Day 54 of Winter War, January 22nd 1940

The Finnish government announces that it is forming a Foreign Legion composed of volunteers from around the world, including Estonian Lithuanian, British, French, German and Italian volunteers. Already, Swedish volunteers are flying bombing missions and others are on the front lines. Numerous British are flocking to help the Finns, including a young Christopher Lee.

Winter War Army Operations

Soviet 122nd Rifle Division of 9th Army (Chuikov) withdraws further at Salla. The Soviets continue lobbing their 7,000 artillery shells a day at Summa. The Finns are losing men in this trench warfare that they cannot afford to lose, some 3,000 during the month. The Finnish artillery is short of ammunition and under orders not to counter-fire, but only to fire against direct ground attacks. The Soviet strategy obviously is to wear the Finns down in a battle of attrition before striking a strong blow at the strongest part of the line.

[stevep]

Jan 22, 2019 4:02:16 GMT lordroel said:

Day 54 of Winter War, January 22nd 1940

The Finnish government announces on 22 January 1940 that it is forming a Foreign Legion composed of volunteers from around the world, including Estonian Lithuanian, British, French, German and Italian volunteers. Already, Swedish volunteers are flying bombing missions and others are on the front lines. Numerous British are flocking to help the Finns, including a young Christopher Lee.

Winter War Army Operations

Soviet 122nd Rifle Division of 9th Army (Chuikov) withdraws further at Salla. The Soviets continue lobbing their 7,000 artillery shells a day at Summa. The Finns are losing men in this trench warfare that they cannot afford to lose, some 3,000 during the month. The Finnish artillery is short of ammunition and under orders not to counter-fire, but only to fire against direct ground attacks. The Soviet strategy obviously is to wear the Finns down in a battle of attrition before striking a strong blow at the strongest part of the line.

  Now that I never knew.  Kudos to him.

  Unfortunately from pretty much this point on the story turns increasingly darker and we all know how it ends.

[lordroel]

Jan 22, 2019 11:33:33 GMT stevep said:

Jan 22, 2019 4:02:16 GMT lordroel said:

Day 54 of Winter War, January 22nd 1940

The Finnish government announces on 22 January 1940 that it is forming a Foreign Legion composed of volunteers from around the world, including Estonian Lithuanian, British, French, German and Italian volunteers. Already, Swedish volunteers are flying bombing missions and others are on the front lines. Numerous British are flocking to help the Finns, including a young Christopher Lee.

Winter War Army Operations

Soviet 122nd Rifle Division of 9th Army (Chuikov) withdraws further at Salla. The Soviets continue lobbing their 7,000 artillery shells a day at Summa. The Finns are losing men in this trench warfare that they cannot afford to lose, some 3,000 during the month. The Finnish artillery is short of ammunition and under orders not to counter-fire, but only to fire against direct ground attacks. The Soviet strategy obviously is to wear the Finns down in a battle of attrition before striking a strong blow at the strongest part of the line.

  Now that I never knew.  Kudos to him.

  Unfortunately from pretty much this point on the story turns increasingly darker and we all know how it ends.

According to his Wikipedia article it says:

When the Second World War broke out, Lee volunteered to fight for the Finnish forces during the Winter War in 1939. He and other British volunteers were kept away from actual fighting, but they were issued winter gear and were posted on guard duty a safe distance from the front lines. After a fortnight, they returned home.

[stevep]

Jan 22, 2019 15:49:52 GMT lordroel said:

Jan 22, 2019 11:33:33 GMT stevep said:

  Now that I never knew.  Kudos to him.

  Unfortunately from pretty much this point on the story turns increasingly darker and we all know how it ends.

According to his Wikipedia article it says:

When the Second World War broke out, Lee volunteered to fight for the Finnish forces during the Winter War in 1939. He and other British volunteers were kept away from actual fighting, but they were issued winter gear and were posted on guard duty a safe distance from the front lines. After a fortnight, they returned home.

  That sounds a bit strange given how short of manpower the Finns were although probably they thought [very likely correctly] that untrained troops without experience of the conditions could be more of an handicap that an help.

[lordroel]

Day 55 of Winter War, January 23rd 1940

Simyon Timoshenko, considered one of the "modern" Soviet Generals changes Meretskov's failed plan for the invasion of Finland. Meretskov had attempted to overwhelm the Finns by attacking all along the long border, but the terrain and weather had been too much for the Soviets to overcome. Timoshenko ends that strategy, stops the advances in the north, and pinpoints the Mannerheim Line on the Karelian Isthmus as the focus of an overwhelming assault.

inter War Army Operations

The Soviets mount another attack on the Finnish line at Taipale, but it is beaten back after hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches.

At Salla, many of the advanced Soviet troops have been pushed back to the town. A small, isolated force remains at Maerkaejaervi a few miles further down the road, but it is cut off. Supplies are being air-dropped to it.

Finnish 9th Division, the victors at Suomussalmi under (now General) Siilasvuo, arrive in Kuhmo. Their next mission is to attack Soviet 54th Division. This is one of the divisions that Timoshenko's plan leaves without a purpose, and it is to receive no reinforcement and reduced priority. Basically, the Soviet division has been left to live or die on its own where it stands and using its own resources.

The Soviet 7,000 shell daily bombardment of Summa continues.

[lordroel]

Day 56 of Winter War, January 24th 1940

Winter War

Other nations continue contributing to the Finnish war effort. Two planes full of medical supplies depart from London for Helsinki. In addition, there are reports that 30 British aircraft have arrived in Finland to help with air defense.

Winter War Army Operations

The Soviets resort to a typical tool to keep men at their guns. They create special NKVD "preventative detachments" or "blocking detachments" (zagraditelnyi otriad). These are set up in the rear of Soviet front-line units and are armed with machine guns just like regular army units. If troops retreat without orders, they are shot.

Group Talvela is at Kollaa, defending successfully against the Soviet 8th Army. The two sides throw alternating attacks at each other at Aittojoki River (joki = river in Finnish).

[lordroel]

Day 57 of Winter War, January 25th 1940

A British delegation of the National Council of Labour headed by Sir Walter Citrine sets off for Finland.

Winter War Army Operations

At Lahde, the Soviets have been scouting out Finnish positions. The Soviet 123rd Rifle Division (Col. Alyabushev) has built dugouts with stoves and engaged in a training programme in preparation for a new offensive. The three regiments of the division are kept well back from the front, approximately 2 km, with company-strength forces to keep an eye on the Finns.

Alyabushev is a taskmaster who gets his men ready. Morale is high. New guns are brought up and put into position, so many that it is difficult to locate them all to best advantage. The scouts capture some Finnish prisoners and also locate the key defensive features. One is the large "Millionaire bunker" on Tongue Hill, another the "Poppius bunker" in the center of the line. This is one of the best-fortified sections of the entire Mannerheim Line.

Two 152 mm guns are sited for the express purpose of destroying the Millionaire bunker. The Soviet troops have enough time and manpower to construct elaborate wooden casements for the guns. They are in position and ready for action by today, but there is thick fog which cancels the opening of the assault until the weather clears.

At Summa, the 7,000-shell daily bombardment continues.

Winter War Naval Operations

The weather is extremely poor, enough so that a patrol of Kriegsmarine destroyers turns back to base.

Soviet planes sink Finnish freighter Notung in a bomb attack. The crew reports that the Soviets strafed the survivors in their lifeboat.

[lordroel]

Day 58 of Winter War, January 26th 1940

Marshal Voroshilov, who has been directing the war from the Kremlin, is on his way to the Finnish front on 26 January 1940. It does not take a military genius for anyone in possession of this fact to figure out that something big is about to take place.

Winter War Army Operations

At Taipale, Finnish 7th Division calculates that it has suffered 816 men killed and 2020 men wounded since the beginning of the war. While huge for Finland, those figures are no doubt dwarfed by those of Soviet forces opposing it.

Group Talvela of Finnish 9th Division consolidates in Kuhmo and prepares to launch an assault on the Soviet 54th Infantry Division.

At Lahde, the two 152-mm guns (Lieutenant Grachev) of the 4th Battery, 402nd Howitzer Artillery Regiment, 24th Corps. Artillery Regiment opposite the Millionaire bunker open up at 12:00, along with other artillery. A Finnish observation tower on the bunker (one of three) is blown up almost at once, and the central one hit seconds later. Several rounds penetrate the bunker and explode inside. The bunker is a total write-off within minutes. The Soviet artillerymen, possessing a deep understanding of the Soviet system, immediately ask their superiors to sign a document attesting to their part in the destruction of the bunker.

At Summa, the daily 7,000 round artillery bombardment continues.

[lordroel]

Day 59 of Winter War, January 27th 1940

General Siilasvuo's 9th Division completes its deployment opposite the Soviet 54th Mountain Division. His plan is a copy of his plan to destroy the 44th Rifle Division on the Ratte road. First, his men will destroy the Soviet division's lines of communication by using mobile ski groups. Then, his men will cut the column - stretched out on the road - into the "logs" that are easier to "burn." This has become known as the "motti" strategy.

The 7,000-shell bombardment of Summa continues for another day. It has now been a continuous rain of artillery shells for two weeks.

The final preparations are now being made for a massive Soviet offensive on the Karelian Isthmus. Comrade Stalin likes to begin his offensives on days that have some larger significance. The first of the month is the nearest one available.

[lordroel]

Day 60 of Winter War, January 28th 1940

War Army Operations

At Lahde on 28 January 1940, the artillery of the 24th Corps Artillery Regiment, having destroyed the "Millionaire bunker" on the 27th, switches targets. The next most-prominent bunker is the "Poppius bunker." While not as elaborate as the other one, the Poppius bunker lies in the middle of the Finnish defenses of the Mannerheim Line and is/now was an anchor of the defense. The Soviets' two 152 mm guns open fire at 12:00, and they quickly destroy the bunker's western casemate, killing four men inside. The two bunkers remain usable, but their defensibility is impaired.

Nearby at Summa, the 7,000 shells/day artillery barrage continues, with an increase in tempo.

At Salla, small advance Soviet forces remain surrounded.

At Kuhmo, Group Talvela of Finnish 9th Division attacks the Soviet 54th Division. It cuts the Soviets' lines of communications and splits the division into three different sections ("mottis"). The Soviet 23rd Division launches a relief attempt that makes some progress. The Finns destroy the Pieni-Kelivaara motti during the day, capturing 2 field guns, 2 antitank guns, 9 mortars, 9 machineguns and 100 rifles. The West Lemetti motti, however, holds out, and the Finns continue attacking it.

[lordroel]

Day 61 of Winter War, January 29th 1940

At 05:00, the Finnish 9th Division attacks and ultimately encircles the Soviet 54th Division at Kuhmo. The Soviets had been moving forward slowly, but now the division is immobile. In any event, the division has no authority to retreat. Air drops now are the Soviets' only means of supply. The Soviet government is turning its attention further south and leaving the operations above Lake Ladoga in abeyance.

Winter War Air Operations

The Soviets launch sharp air raids along coastal towns on the Gulf of Bothnia. At Hango and Turku, two of their favorite targets, they cause extensive damage. At Hango, 50 perish and 200 are injured, whereas at Turku, 28 men perish and 46 are injured. In addition, the Soviet bombers, perhaps mistakenly, bomb the Red Cross hospital on the Karelian Isthmus, killing 23.

Winter War Peace Talks

The Soviets for the first time send a note to Alexandra Kollontai, their ambassador in Stockholm, for transmission to the Finnish government. The note indicates that they are willing to at least sit down with the Finnish government and talk about things:

The Soviet Union has no objection in principle to a possible agreement with the Ryti government.

This appears to end the Soviet pretense that their puppet government staffed by former Comintern members is the "legitimate" Finnish government, which nobody took seriously anyway. The Soviets are preparing a major offensive, so the sincerity of this offer is highly suspect - unless the Soviets consider it to be a prelude to surrender negotiations.

[lordroel]

Day 62 of Winter War, January 20th 1940

Soviet losses in the Winter War are estimated at 200,000 men. The Soviet leadership, of course, did not contemplate nearly that many losses in the entire war, but the Finns have been fighting in a steadfast and crafty fashion.

The Soviets, however, have plenty of men to spare. They are continuing their meticulous preparations for an offensive on the Karelian Isthmus, with massive and unceasing artillery barrages. At Lähde, 10 km east of Summa, the artillery pounding is wrecking the Mannerheim Line.

The Kremlin has completely lost interest in its troops further north such as the 54th Rifle Division, which has been surrounded by Finnish 9th Division. Essentially, the divisions that began the war have been written off as losers that are now on their own. The war has become a battle of attrition which the Soviets know they cannot lose.