Tolvajarvi

Early December Finnish forces where pushed back on every front. Only the Mannerheim line stood firm. Russia seems undefeatable with their superior numbers in men and equipment. The situation was especially critical north of lake Ladoga where Russian forces flooded …

1939-12-12

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Early December Finnish forces where pushed back on every front. Only the Mannerheim line stood firm. Russia seems undefeatable with their superior numbers in men and equipment. The situation was especially critical north of lake Ladoga where Russian forces flooded across the roads into Finland. General Mannerheim ordered a counterattack to stabilize the front and give new hope to the troops. This attack had to take place at Tolvajarvi. A small place where the Finnish retreat was stopped en the situation was most desperate. The objective was to capture the peninsula with a hotel where a major road was located. Because of open ground the frontal attack was supported from the sides where extra troops would help in the attack. Early in the morning of December 12, Finnish forces got underway. Unfortunately the left wing of the attack met a group Russian just underway with their own attack. The right wing also met with heavy Resistance. The center attack thus had to attack without enough support and resulted in heavy fighting and many losses on both sides. When the forces came in the vicinity of the hotel they met heavy Resistance. The hotel was transformed into a well-defended position and could not be overwhelmed easy. It was already in the afternoon when forces from the left wing arrived and the hotel could be captured. Russian forces where pushed back for kilometres before the attack was stopped. The success of the attack gave Finnish forces new hope and courage. Russian forces could be beaten!

Tolvajarvi, Finland

The Battle of Tolvajärvi was fought on 12 December 1939 between Finland and the Soviet Union. It was the first large offensive victory for the Finns in the Winter War. The battle took place on territory of so-called Ladoga Karelia which today is part of the Republic of Karelia. The Finnish plan was to encircle the Soviet division by two pincer-attacks over the frozen lakes Hirvasjärvi and Tolvajärvi. The northern attack over Hirvasjärvi was to begin at 08:00 and the second would start when the first had brought results. This was later changed and both attacks were to begin at 08:00. The Soviet main effort was to make a front assault with two regiments 609th and 364th over the Tolvajärvi lake onto the Finnish positions of the 16th regiment near Tolvajärvi village, while the Soviet 718th regiment was to make a 20 km (12 mi) flanking maneuver from the north to the Finnish rear across thick wooded areas. There was a thick fog over a single narrow unimproved rural muddy road towards Tolvajärvi that was winding amongst some dozens of small lakes. Just before the battle a big snow storm brought some 40–50 cm (16–20 in) of snow. Due to thick fog, aviation did not take part in the battle. Due to mud, many tanks got stuck and also did not actively participate in the battle and were lost during withdrawal.

Wikipedia: Battle of Tolvajärvi

Finnish

Russian

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Winter

Website Access: Available