Finland September 1944 - one war ends, another begins
The Continuation War between Finland and Soviet Union ended in September 1944. After the Finnish army repulsed the Soviet offensive, "The Fourth Strategic Offensive", both nations stepped back into the negotiations table. By stopping Stalin's strategic offensive, the only one of those that were stopped during WW2, Finland got much better offer for peace unlike in spring 1944, when Soviet Union's "peace offer" practically meant total surrender with impossible terms.
The decisive battles of 1944 changed that. Now one war was over - and next one began. First Winter War (1939-1940), then Continuation War (1941-1944) - and now began the Lappland War against the Germans. Peace treaty with Soviet Union meant that Germans had to pull out - but Soviets were not satisfied with Germans just withdrawing, they had to be pushed out with weapons. An unneeded, useless war began.
But a look into the battles of summer 1944 shows that the impossible had been done. Tiny Finland had beaten Soviet juggernaut, standing victoriously on its own turf.
Battles of the "summer war":
Valkeasaari 9.6.1944
The Soviet offensive started. Finnish defensive line crumbled under one of the heaviest artillery barrages of whole WW2. Withdrawal battle begins with Finnish front line units at Karelian isthmus giving ground to Soviet army.
Kuuterselkä 14.6.1944
Red Army chases the retreating Finns. Finnish army forms temporary defensive positions at Vammelsuu-Taipale-line, but the defensive new breaks at Kuuterselkä. The counterattack by the armoured division fails.
Siiranmäki 15.6.1944
Lietnant-colonel Adolf Ehrnrooth forces are under extreme assault at Siiranmäki. His regiment fought four days against superior enemy, losing 164 dead, 760 wounded and 49 lost. Soviet losses are estimated 5000 men and 20 tanks. Erhnrooth orders retreat when Kuuterselkä falls to avoid encirclement. By keeping Siiranmäki for the crucial 4 days Erhnrooth buys time for the rest of the Finnish army to retreat.
Viipuri 20.6.1944
The Soviet forces capture town of Viipuri in just matter of hours, when Finnish defence lines rout. Mistaken rumours about ordered withdrawal spread in the troops, who paniced and abandoned the defence lines without any real fight. Unbelievable bureaucracy happened in the rear - ammo depot commander refused to deliver ammuniation to the Finnish artillery units without written order. Loss of Viipuri, one of the major towns in Finland, came as a shock to the whole nation, signalling that the enemy is really serious and is advancing fast.
Tali-Ihantala 28.6.1944
Soviet advance is stopped at the battle of Tali-Ihantala. A 10x10 kilometers area is crammed with about 200 000 soldiers, fighting the largest battle ever in the history of the Nordic countries. The defensive victory of Tali-Ihantala boosted spirits of the Finnish soldiers, who knew that they're fighting for the survival of the whole nation.
Viipurinlahti 5.7.1944
While the battle is raging at Tali-Ihantala the Red Army launches seaborne invasion across Bay of Viipuri with the intention of landing forces on the rear of Tali-Ihantala defenders, to their west side, cutting supply lines and quickening advance into Finnish rear. The invaders are beaten back and remaining Soviet forces retreat back to the other side of the gulf.
Äyräpää-Vuosalmi 7.7.1944
When the Soviet advance is checked at Tali-Ihantala the Red Army changes priority to east, advancing to the river Vuoksi. Finnish forces fight delaying action on the south side of the river, keeping a beachhead for remarkable time. This allows Finnish forces to build better defensive positions to the north side of the river. Soviet forces break finally into the Finnish positions and force themselves across the river, establishing beach head to the north side. The major battle continues and is now already the second biggest battle of the whole war. Soviet beach head is under constant artillery and bomber attacks, with Finnish ground forces finally stopping the Soviet offensive. Soviets change into defensive positions after so much casualties that they couldn't continue the attack.
Nietjärvi 15.7.1944
Finnish forces started retreating from eastern Karelia in middle of June. The retreating forces were transported into Karealian isthmus and they took part at the battles of Tali-Ihantala and Äyräpää-Vuosalmi. Soviet forces follow on the heels of the smaller Finnish forces left to fight delaying action. The Finnish retreat stops north-east of the Lake Ladoga, where Finnish forces dig in the "U-line" and halt Soviet attack at the battle of Nietjärvi.
Ilomantsi 2.8.1944
The last major battle of summer 1944 was the only one that happens in the post-war Finnish territory, inside the borders of 1940. General Raappana, expert in wilderness warfare, pockets and routs two Soviet divisions trying to advance and cut Finland to two in the deep forests of Ilomantsi.
3.9.1944 - peace treaty with Soviet Union.
Finland agrees to pay war reparations and cedes some land to Soviet Union. Massive re-housing operation begins - all the population from Karelia lost to SU must be housed again, their property compensated. Finland lost the most fertile soil of the nation but retained its own government, kept its independence and had its armed forces standing unbeaten, better equipped than ever before. If Soviet Union had wanted they could have brought new reinforcements and simply wear the Finnish army down, but that would have been too costly - and would have required large part of those resources needed for the drive towards Berlin. In addition - Soviet army would have faced a guerrilla war. Therefore Stalin saw it better to give up a bit of the previous requirements, and actually offer peace terms that Finland could accept.
But now started the war against Germans. Heavy, bloody war fought primarily with ground forces, in the thick wilderness of Lappland, against heavily fortified, well trained and well equipped enemy. "The German mountain forces were much worse enemy than Russians", said a Finnish veteran this summer.
The war reparations were paid in full in the following eight years, last payment delivered by 18.9.1952. During same time Finland had housed the refugees, rebuilt Lappland as practically whole northern Finland was burned down to the last building (literally) in the fighting against Germans, built whole new industries and was finally able to look forward, to a new future.
