Continuation War

The Continuation War was fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II, from the Soviet bombing attacks on June 25, 1941, to cease-fire September 4, 1944 (on the Finnish side) and September 5 (on the Soviet side). The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on December 6, 1941, but did not participate actively. Material support from, and military cooperation with, Nazi Germany was critical for Finland's struggle with its larger neighbour. The war was formally concluded by the Paris peace treaty of 1947.

Finnish Offensive 1941

Mobilized units started moving towards the border on June 21, and they were arranged into defensive formations as soon as they arrived at the border. Finland was able to mobilize 16 infantry divisions, one cavalry brigade, and two "Jäger" brigades, which were practically normal infantry brigades, except for one battalion in the 1st Jaeger Brigade (1.JPr), which was armored using captured Soviet equipment. There were also a handful of separate battalions, mainly formed from Border Guard units and used mainly for reconnaissance. Soviet military plans has estimated that the Finns would be able to mobilize only 10 infantry divisions, as they had done in the Winter War, but they failed to take into account materiel the Finns had purchased between the wars and the training of all available men. In northern Finland there were also two German Mountain Divisions at Petsamo and two German Infantry divisions at Salla. Another German infantry division was en route through Sweden to Ladoga Karelia, although one reinforced regiment was later redirected from it to Salla.

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When the war started, the Soviet Union had 23rd Army in Karelian Isthmus consisting of 50th and 19th Corps and 10th Mechanized Corps, together 5 Infantry, 1 Motorized and 2 Armored divisions. At Ladoga Karelia there was 7th Army consisting of 4 Infantry divisions. In Murmansk-Salla region the Soviet Union had 14th Army with 42nd Corps, consisting of 5 Infantry divisions (1 as reserve in Archangelsk) and 1 Armored division. Also the Soviets had around 40 battalions, separate regiments and fortification units which were not part of their divisional structure. In Leningrad there were 3 Infantry divisions and one Mechanized Corps.

Related Topics:
23rd Army - 50th - 19th Corps - 10th Mechanized Corps - 7th Army - 14th Army - 42nd Corps - Archangelsk

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The initial German strike against the Soviet Air Force had not touched air units located near Finland, so the Soviets could field nearly 750 Air Force planes and part of the 700 planes the Soviet Navy had against 300 Finnish planes.

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The Soviet war against Germany did not go as well as pre-war Soviet wargames had envisioned, and soon Soviet high command had to take units from wherever they could, so although Soviets had started the war against Finland, they could not follow the initial air offensive with a supporting land offensive. They also had to withdraw the 10th Mechanized Corps with two armored divisions and 237th Infantry division from Ladoga Karelia thus stripping reserves from defending units.

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Reconquest of Ladoga Karelia

Initially the Finnish army was deployed in a defensive formation, but on June 29 Mannerheim created the Army of Karelia, commanded by Lt. Gen. Heinrichs, and ordered it to prepare to attack Ladoga Karelia. The Army of Karelia consisted of VI Corps (5th and 11th Divisions), VII Corps (7th and 9th divisions) and Group O (Cavalry Brigade, 1st Jaeger Brigade and 2nd Jaeger Brigade). Also later when 1. division and two regiments of German 163. division arrived to the area they were given to the Army of Karelia.

Related Topics:
June 29 - Army of Karelia - VI Corps - 5th - 11th Divisions - VII Corps - 7th - 9th divisions - Group O - Cavalry Brigade - 1st Jaeger Brigade - 2nd Jaeger Brigade

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Opposing them were the Soviet 7th Army with 168th Division near Sortavala and 71st Division north of Jänisjärvi ("Hare Lake"). Soviets had prepared field fortifications along the border across Sortavala and to the important road crossings at Värtsilä and Korpiselkä.

Related Topics:
7th Army - 168th Division - 71st Division - Jänisjärvi

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On July 9, the order for offensive was given. The duty to break through the Soviet defences was given to VI Corps, commanded by hero of Battle of Tolvajärvi, Maj. Gen. Paavo Talvela. He had borrowed as much artillery as possible from other units of the Army of Karelia and even 1st Jaeger Brigade. (Col. Ruben Lagus) from Group O. With strong artillery support he unleashed 5th Division (Col. Koskimies) to Korpiselkä July 10 and the defenders were overwhelmed by next morning. Talvela wasn't satisfied with aggressiveness of Koskimies, and he relieved him from the command and gave 5th Division to Col. Lagus.

Related Topics:
July 9 - Battle of Tolvajärvi - Paavo Talvela - Ruben Lagus - July 10

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Lagus pursued retreating Soviet IR 52 eastward with his light units and reached Tolvajärvi July 12. Then he turned southwards and advanced using small roads, some in such worse shape that men had to carry their bicycles. On July 14 his forces cut Sortavala-Petrozavodsk railroad, and next day they reached shores of Lake Ladoga, cutting Soviet routes around the lake. Soviets had to transfer two regiments and separate battalions from Karelian Isthmus to close down the hole on the eastern side of Lake Ladoga.

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The 11th division (Col. Heiskanen) had already July 4 found that Soviet forces had temporarily abandoned their trenches across the border, and they used the opportunity to capture them. When the general offensive began, they had already pushed July 9 eastward from their captured positions over the roadless terrain and cut the road running from Korpiselkä to Värtsilä and Suistamo, on the eastern shore of Jänisjärvi. From there they threatened to encircle Soviet forces south of Korpiselkä and those fortified in Värtsilä, so to prevent encirclement, they had to leave their positions and retreat eastward. Soviet IR 367 was able to hold its positions north of Jänisjärvi until defenders of Värtsilä had retreated there July 12. Heiskanen continued pressing Soviet IR 367 around the eastern side of Jänistärvi, and reached Jänisjoki, running from Jänisjärvi to Lake Ladoga July 16, where they set on defensive.

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Lagus continued his offensive immediately along the north-eastern coast of Lake Ladoga. Soviet Mot. IR 452 was coming from Karelian Isthmus and its first parts set to defensive at Salmi, where Tulemajoki reaches Lake Ladoga. Finns arrived there on July 18, and early next morning Finns started the battle by crossing the river 5km north of Salmi and managed to cut the roads leading to Salmi by afternoon. Next day Finns were able to push into the village and only small units were able to escape the encirclement. Salmi was finally captured by early hours of July 21.

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The strenghtened 5th division continued it's advancement as fast as possible and crossed the old border July 22 at Rajakontu. Meanwhile battle detachment Järvinen (Col. Järvinen) has secured the left flank of the main thrust by crossing the old border at Känsäselkä and captured July 19 the villages of Kolatselkä and Palalahti by Tulemajärvi where they secured north and east leading roads and continued their advance to the south. And July 23 5th division from the west and detachment Järvinen from the north started their attack to Vitele village, which was captured next morning. Lagus unsuccessfully tried to encircle retreating Soviet forces and had by the evening reached Tuuloksenjoki but Soviet tanks and artillery managed to stop the advance of his light forces there.

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The 1st division(Col. Paalu) had arrived and was given to VI Corps July 16, but it was until July 20 when they reached fast moving frontline and released attachment Järvinen to their attack towards Vitele. From there they continued attack north towards Hyrsylä and east toward Vieljärvi which it captured few days later.

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The Soviet North Front reorganized it's forces at July 21 by transferring 168th division and one regiment from 71st division to 23rd Army, which was responsible for defence of Karelian Isthmus. The same day 7th Army was reorganized to two operative groups, Petrozavodsk Group (Lt.Gen. M. Antonjuk) with infantry regiment, two motorized regiments, one armored regiment and separate units and South Group (Lt.Gen. V. Tsvetajev) with marine brigade, two motorized regiments and number of smaller units.

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Also Mannerheim had recognized the situation and had already at July 19 ordered that attack must be stopped at Vitele-Vieljärvi line, as strong enemy formations were still on the southwestern side of Jänisjärvi and the fast advance had opened the Lake Ladoga coastline at the right flank of the 5th division and the defence has to be arranged.

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The fears of Mannerheim were real, as July 19 Mj.Gen. Pavlov, commander of coastal defence of Lake Ladoga has ordered 4.Marine Brigade to conduct invasion behind Finnish defences. At early hours of July 24 they landed successfully to Lunkulansaari and Mantsi, two islands right beside Salmi. All 11th, 5th and 1st divisions were committed at the time so Talvela had to scrape whatever forces he was able to get (including bridge building company) to throw attackers back to the lake. With the help of heavy artillery, which destroyed four of the fifteen ships Soviets were using, Finns were able to push marines to three separate mottis, and the attempt to reinforce these forces at the morning of July 25 was repulsed. One by one remaining mottis were destroyed. July 26 Soviets landed to Mantsi and this time they almost managed to capture whole island before Talvela managed to reinforce forces there, and figting continued to the late night of July 27 when the last Soviet resistance ended.

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Finnish VII Corps (Mj.Gen Hägglund) was ordered to attack at the right flank of VI Corps to Sortavala. The isthmus between Lake Ladoga and Finnish border was quite narrow and the inportant rail juction of Matkaselkä was only ten kilometers from the border. So it was no wonder that Soviets had started to fortificate border region in depth right after the Moscow Peace. These fortifications were the weakest at the northern section of the front, so Hägglund decided to put main thrust there. There were concentrated 7th division strengthtened with pioneer units and all Corps' artillery. The 19th division south had to manage with only it's internal artillery.

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At the evening of July 10 the attack began. As heavy thunderstorm was raging at the area, it was decided that infantry would attack without artillery support so that surprise could be achieved. The plan succeeded and most Soviet forces were encircled to their pillboxes, which were then eliminated with artillery support. During the next day 7th division advanced encircling Soviet strongpoints and by the morning of July 12 they managed to break through the region were Soviets had prepared minefieds and fortifications.

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This proved to be only a short relief, as defending Soviet 168th division (Col. A. Bondarev) proved to be very capable in defence. Time after time again it created new minefields, dug strongpoints and trenches and skillfully evaded encircling Finnish units many times. The fight of the 168th division was later used as a textbook example for defensive fight in Soviet military schools.

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The 7th division reached the western shore of Jänisjärvi July 13 and turned southward. July 15 they managed to reach Sortavala-Petrozavodsk railroad at Pirttipohja and encicrcled defenders there.

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The 19th division (Col. Hannuksela) had the unenvied duty to assault the best defended section of the 168th division. Hannuksela decided to create very narrow and deep breach at Niinisyrjä village, only 2-300 meter wide and four kilometer deep to breach fortified border region. IR58 (Lt.Col. Juva) was to spearhead the assault which began late evening of July 10. IR58 fought all the night and next day advancing one and half kilometers. It became evident that they had insufficient amount of artillery so they had to loan artillery from II Corps. IR58 continued attack and reached the end of border fortifications July 12. The Soviet 168th division counterattacked to close the breach and encircle the IR58, but Finns managed to hold corridor although Soviets managed to close it's usage with artillery fire. Finnish IR16 (Col. M. Laurila), which followed IR58 managed to open the corridor by the morning of July 15.

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The 7th division continued it's attack July 15 eastward along the railroad. At July 17 they managed to breach Soviet defences at isthmus between Jänisjärvi and Vahvajärvi. While IR30 and IR51 of the 7th division advanced east towards Jänisjoki, where they contacted the 11th division at the same day. IR30 and IR51 cleaned the western shore of Jänisjoki and reached the Lake Ladoga by July 20 and started to clear islands at the front of Sortavala.

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The IR37/7th division was ordered to advance westward at the southern coast of Vahvajärvi and trying to contact the 19th division, trying to encircle enemies between the divisions. Bondarev recognized the situation and ordered retreat of the IR402. The 19th division had continued it's attack southeast, and between July 18-25 the fierce encirclements and counter-encirclements raged before Finns managed to capture the main road and cut the railroad between Sortavala and Matkaselkä, which was captured July 18. Soviet managed to hold IR37 at Särkisyrjä village between July 18-19 and again at next Ilola village July 20-22, securing the retreat route of IR402.

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Reconquest of Karelian Isthmus

Occupation of East Karelia

Advancement from Northern Finland

Political Development

On July 10, the Finnish army began a major offensive on the Karelian Isthmus and north of Lake Ladoga. Mannerheim's order of the day, the Sword scabbard declaration, clearly states that the Finnish involvement was an offensive one.http://www.mannerheim.fi/10_ylip/e_mtuppi.htm By the end of August 1941, Finnish troops had reached the pre-war boundaries. The crossing of the pre-war borders led to tensions in the army, the cabinet, the parties of the parliament, and domestic opinion. Military expansionism might have gained popularity, but it was far from unanimously championed.

Related Topics:
July 10 - Karelian Isthmus - Lake Ladoga - Sword scabbard declaration

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Also, international relations were strained — notably with Britain and Sweden, whose governments in May and June had learned in confidence from Foreign Minister Witting that Finland had absolutely no plans for a military campaign coordinated with the Germans. Finland's preparations were said to be purely defensive.

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Sweden's leading cabinet members had hoped to improve the relations with Nazi Germany through indirect support of Operation Barbarossa, mainly channelled through Finland. Prime Minister Hansson and Foreign Minister Günther found however, that the political support in the National Unity Government and within the Social Democratic organizations turned out to be insufficient, particularly after Mannerheim's Sword Scabbard Declaration, and even more so after Finland within less than two months undeniably had begun a war of conquest. A tangible effect was that Finland became still more dependent on food and munitions from Germany.

Related Topics:
Prime Minister Hansson - Foreign Minister Günther - National Unity Government - War of conquest

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The Commonwealth put Finland under blockade and the British ambassador was withdrawn. On July 31, 1941, British RAF made an air raid on the northern Finnish port of Petsamo http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/RollofHonour/Battlehonour_crewlists/Petsamo_Kirkenes_1941.html. Damages were limited since the harbour was almost empty of ships.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth - July 31 - 1941 - RAF - Petsamo

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September 11, the U.S. ambassador Arthur Schoenfeld was informed that the offensive on the Karelian Isthmus was halted on the pre-Winter War border (with a few straightened curves at the municipalities of Valkeasaari and Kirjasalo), and that "under no conditions" Finland would participate in an offensive against Leningrad, but would instead maintain static defence and wait for a political resolution. Witting stressed to Schoenfeld that Germany, however, should not hear of this.

Related Topics:
September 11 - Leningrad

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On September 22, a British note was presented (by Norway's ambassador Michelet) demanding the expulsion of German troops from Finland's territory and Finland's withdrawal from East Karelia to positions behind the pre-Winter War borders. Finland was threatened by a British declaration of war unless the demands were met. The declaration of war was exacted on Finland's Independence Day, December 6.

Related Topics:
September 22 - East Karelia - December 6

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In December 1941, the Finnish advance had reached River Svir (which connects the southern ends of Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega and marks the southern border of East Karelia). By the end of 1941, the front stabilized, and the Finns did not conduct major offensive operations for the following two and a half years. The fighting morale of the troops declined when it was realized that the war would not soon end.

Related Topics:
River Svir - Lake Ladoga - Lake Onega - East Karelia

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It has been suggested that the execution of the prominent pacifist leader Arndt Pekurinen in November 1941 was due to fear of army demoralization being exacerbated by such activism.

Related Topics:
Pacifist - Arndt Pekurinen

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