Tomorrow, the 6th of December, will be Finland's 88th Independence Day. To celebrate the occasion, we are having a 1-frame special event, the battle of Tali-Ihantala (
Event info), in the SEA today, starting at 14EST (20CET) and running for 3 hours.
This is a walk-on event, everyone's welcome & remember to bring your friends too. Most of the Finns here will want to fly as Finnish, so what is needed are pilots willing to fly Russian planes and the Stukas and 190's of Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey (battle unit Kuhlmey). See you there!
If someone would like to volunteer as the CO of the Soviets, please report here.
Background:
On June 9, 1944 Soviet Union started an all-out attack on the Karelian Isthmus (it was timed to accompany the Allied attack on Normandy). The massive attack was able to breach the Finnish defence in Valkeasaari on June 10, and the front retreated rapidly on to secondary defence line (Vammelsuu-Taipale -line). The fighting was furious as Soviet tanks and infantry supported by massed artillery and ground-attack airplanes pounded the Finnish defenders who tried to keep the defensive line intact and stop the attack.
As the fighting continued the VT-line was breached in Sahakylä and Kuuterselkä on 14.6 and after a major counter attack in Kuuterselkä by the Finnish armored division failed the defense had to be pulled back again. After this followed roughly two week period of retreat and delaying battles. Major loss (psychologically) during this period was the capture of the city of Viipuri by the Soviets on June 20.
Finnish troops were able to stop the Soviet attack on Tali-Ihantala area where the largest military battle in Nordic history was fought from June 25 to July 6. By this time Finnish army had been able to concentrate enough artillery and troops equipped with new german anti-tank weapons and were able to ground the attack down in favorable defensive positions. Soviet losses in tanks and manpower on this killing ground were enough to break off the attack. For example, during 48 hours on June 30 - July 1, 44 Soviet tanks were destroyed, most with Panzerfausts.
More info on the event:
Event info.
