Battle of Suomussalmi
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| Winter War |
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| Tolvajärvi – Suomussalmi – Taipale – Summa – Raate-Road – Kuhmo – Honkaniemi – Kollaa – Salla – Petsamo |
The Battle of Suomussalmi ['suo.mus.sal(a).mi] was fought between Finnish and Soviet forces in the Winter War. The action took place from around December 7 1939 to January 8, 1940. The outcome was a decisive Finnish victory against vastly superior forces.
The battle
On November 30, the Soviet 163rd division crossed the border between Finland and the Soviet Union and advanced from the north-east towards the village of Suomussalmi. The Soviet objective was to advance to the city of Oulu, effectively cutting Finland into half. In the sector was only one Finnish battalion (Er.P 15), that was placed near Raate, outside Suomussalmi. Suomussalmi was taken with little resistance December 7 (only two incomplete companies of covering forces led a holding action between the border and Suomussalmi), but the Finns destroyed the village before this, to deny the Soviets shelter, and withdrew to the opposite shore of lakes Niskanselkä and Haukiperä. The first really hard and extensive fight started on December 8, when Soviet forces began to attack across the frozen lakes to the west. Their attempt totally failed. The second part of Soviet forces led the attack to the northwest on Puolanka, that was defended by the Er.P 16 battalion, that had just arrived. This attempt failed too.
On December 9 the defenders were reinforced with a newly founded regiment (JR 27). Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo was given the command of the Finnish forces and he began immediate counter-measures to regain Suomussalmi. The main forces advanced on Suomussalmi but met resistance that caused the Finns serious losses.
On December 24 the Soviets counter-attacked, but failed to break through the surrounding Finnish forces.
Reinforced with two new regiments (JR 64 and JR 65) the Finns again attacked on December 27. This time they took the village and the Soviets retreated in panic over the surrounding frozen lakes.
During this time the Soviet 44th Division had advanced from the east towards Suomussalmi. It was entrenched on the road between Suomussalmi and Raate. Between January 4 and January 8 the division was divided into isolated groups (known as motti) and destroyed by the Finnish troops. In Finland, this fight is still seen today as symbol of the entire Winter War itself.
Outcome
The battle resulted in a major victory for the Finns. If the Soviet Union had captured the city of Oulu, the Finns would have had to defend the country on two fronts and an important rail link to Sweden would have been severed. The battle also gave a decisive boost to the morale of the Finnish army. In addition, the Finns captured a large amount of military supplies, including tanks (43), field-guns (71), trucks (260), horses (1170), anti-tank guns (29) and other weapons which were greatly needed by the Finnish army.Analysis
The Battle of Suomussalmi is often cited as an example how a small force, when properly led and fighting in familiar terrain, can defeat a numerically vastly superior enemy. Factors which contributed to the Finnish victory include:
- Much greater mobility of Finnish troops afforded by skis and sledges; and in contrast, Soviet heavy equipment being confined to roads.
- Flexible and often unorthodox strategy: Finns made Soviet field kitchens a prime target, greatly demoralising the enemy fighting in frigid sub-arctic winter.
- Failure of Soviet intelligence: The Soviets relied on telephone lines for communication, from which the Finns could easily eavesdrop, making almost every movement known to the Finns John Hughes-Wilson, "Snow and Slaughter at Suomussalmi," Military History, January/February 2006, 50..
- Clothes and other equipment well suited for warfare in deep snow and freezing temperatures.
- The Soviet objective was to cut Finland in half across the Oulu region. While this idea looks good on a map, it was inherently unrealistic. The region was mostly forested marshland, with road network consisting of mainly logging trails. Mechanized divisions had to rely on roads, becoming sitting ducks for the Finnish ski troops.
Footnotes
External links
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