On the Borderline

The Soviet 139th Rifle Division – 20,000 troops supported by 147 artillery pieces and 45 tanks – crossed the border on all available roads leading to Tolvajarvi, a key road junction defended by 4,200 scattered Finnish reservists. Cavalry Reserve Lt. Toivianen was celebrating his forty-fifth birthday that grim …

1939-11-30

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A016

The Soviet 139th Rifle Division – 20,000 troops supported by 147 artillery pieces and 45 tanks – crossed the border on all available roads leading to Tolvajarvi, a key road junction defended by 4,200 scattered Finnish reservists. Cavalry Reserve Lt. Toivianen was celebrating his forty-fifth birthday that grim morning in Artahuhta, near the border post of Myllyjarvi. His men had gathered to congratulate him and present him with a new fountain pen. He had just made his acceptance speech when the sound of heavy artillery echoed from the direction of the border. Mounting immediately, Toivianen and his squadron galloped to join the fifteen border guards defending the post.

Artahuhta, Finland

The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union (USSR) and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940. Despite superior military strength, especially in tanks and aircraft, the Soviet Union suffered severe losses and initially made little headway. The League of Nations deemed the attack illegal and expelled the Soviet Union from the organisation.

Russian

Finnish

Scenario Type = Standard