Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 8

Finland- 1941. The front lies quiet after Operation Jääkäri. Stalin and his STAVKA hope they have halted the Finnish advance for good but unbeknownst to them, Mannerheim has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

In Belgium, a storm is brewing. Over 400,000 German soldiers have assembled all across the region to take part in Unternehmen Seelöwe (Operation Sea Lion). The Field Marshals of Germany pour over every map and document relating to Britain hoping to deliver a swift knock out blow.

Due to the abysmal strength of the Kriegsmarine in relation to the Royal Navy, flat-bottomed invasion barges will be used to transport hundreds of thousands of men across the English Channel.

The first of many attacks are launched near Lake Onega by German infantry.

Due to a shortage of proper anti-tank weapons "Molotov Cocktails" have become the choice weapon of the standard rifleman. When lit on fire, these can do considerable damage to Soviet armor.

A front wide assault is ordered to soften the Soviets defensive positions and put them on their heels. The Tuvans up North crumble under the might of Finnish riflemen!

The Soviets prove to be no match for our men, however our manpower is running dangerously low. The division commanders do not believe they can advance too much longer before running out of reinforcements.

We trade a win for a loss near Lake Onega. Our German loaned bomber wing has proved to be very effective at loosening up Soviet defenses.

The Soviets continue to be driven back as our lines grow thinner and thinner with every province we take.

Supplies become an ever increasing issues as we have no convoys or infrastructure to supply our divisions.

Our advances slow down to let our men rest for a few days.

A second series of assaults is launched against the exhausted Soviets.

Mannerheim is delivered a plethora of victories on the 18th.

Back at home, 100 license-built Italian fighters are finished. These are the first semi-modern planes in the Finnish air force and we can now hope to prevent Soviet bombings on our lines, whereas we were powerless to stop them before.

Our planes take flight to retake the skies of Finland!

In addition to these Italian planes, an order is put in to purchase some very modern German fighters. When these are complete the Soviets will stand no chance against us.

More victories are won all along the Northern front.

Our men are some of the finest fighters in the world, as they fight with true passion and love for their homeland.

The front lines as of the end of March. We have made tremendous progress against the Reds.

We are now only 100 Kilometers from Arkhangelsk. Taking this city would open up massive amounts of supplies for our men.

We suffer a devastating loss at Plesetsk which all but drains our remaining manpower. Any man that is killed can no longer be replaced.

A small incursion is launched to try and secure Lake Onega, but it seems unlikely we can hold these areas.

We win battle after battle but simply cannot sustain these casualties. A serious crisis is developing.

We lose a battle down south but launch an attack near Arkhangelsk. A victory here would put us right at the gates.

Our lines are stretched too thin and our men are exhausted.

In Belgium the last preparations are made for Operation Sea Lion. Tens of thousands pack onto the barges as the Luftwaffe relentlessly bombs the beachheads. The Kreigsmarine secures naval superiority over the Royal Navy rather quickly.

Hitler himself arrives at Bruges to inspect the men who will invade England. He has dreamed of this since November of 1919 when the Britons mercilessly brought Germany to her knees at Versailles.

A breakthrough is achieved and our men rush to reach the outskirts of Arkhangelsk.

Our ski troops are perfect for this arctic fighting, as they can exploit gaps in the enemy lines very quickly.

The first German marines land in Dover and Southend. All over Britain church bells ring out warning of the invasion. This is the beginning of the end for the United Kingdom.

We win a very important victory in Lekshmozero, which prevents the Soviets from busting a gap in our lines.

The division and army commanders now realize the front cannot be held and new plans are needed urgently.

If we hold these positions, the Soviets will surely bleed us dry and manpower is a commodity we do not have.

Mannerheim travels to the front by plane and meets with the army commanders. Mannerheim would usually never consider falling back but in this case, the front is simply unsustainable.

Instead of an all out retreat, Mannerheim orders the Southern flank to collapse in and consolidate against the Soviets. This allows us to beef up our defenses while still remaining in striking distance of Arkhangelsk.

Our men are true veterans, as the average Finnish soldier has fought in 6 battles and killed a dozen Soviets. Man for man, the Russians stand no chance against us.

Our brave rear guard in Lekshmozero hold back any Soviet advances against the retreat.

The 250 man strong "Swedish Battalion" in General Sundman's 9th Division play a pivotal role in holding back the Russians. These men are all Swedish volunteers. Most enlisted before the war began and almost all have National Socialist leanings. We hope to use their bravery as propaganda to try and recruit more Swedish volunteers.

The Soviets lose 1,000 men finally driving out the rear guard. The Soviets truly do pay for every meter in blood.

In England, the Germans surround London on three sides. More and more German infantrymen are brought in every day to fight the British.

German superiority in the English channel allows them to move almost 400,000 in total to England.

The tactical fall back is completed according to plan. Mannerheim orders the divisions to dig in and give up no further ground to the Soviets.

Trenches are dug and the front becomes quiet once again.

The 9th Division is disbanded and its men are sent to various divisions needing replacements.

The Swedish Battalion is sent to von Pfer's division outside Arkhangelsk. These hardened veterans will be of great use when we attack the city.

The Germans continue to enlarge the British front, slaughtering thousands in every battle. A path of hell lies behind them from Dover to Plymouth.

The Wehrmacht shows no mercy and does not falter in their attacks. Prisoners are not taken.

The Soviets attack our dug in positions for the first time, trying to crack them open. A victory here is desperately needed to allow our men time to recuperate and reinforce.

We kill another 1,000 Soviets. The lines are safe once again.

The front as of June 6th.

The British only hold Slough on the South bank of the Thames River. All else has been captured by the Germans. A massive attack on London is launched, spearheaded by the feared SS divisions who captured Denmark.

The Home Guard and some Danish exiled forces are all that remains in the city, as many government officials and the bulk of the armed forces already evacuated. The Germans will make short work of this rabble.

The swastika flies high over Buckingham Palace. SS soldiers march through Downing Street singing "Sieg Heil Viktoria" and Leicester Square becomes a parade ground for Panzers. The United Kingdom is on its last leg.

In just over one month, London has fallen and the rest of Britain is soon to follow.

Arkhangelsk must be taken, for it is the next piece towards victory. Advance! Hakkaa Päälle!