Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 5

Maantie on Kova Kävellä Part 5
The state of the Finnish Front, February 15th 1940.

Nonessential units who took part in Operation Silver Fox are disbanded and sent home on temporary leave due to our lack of manpower.

These men are eager to return to their families, even if it is only for a few weeks. These men will be the backbone of our manpower reserves and the first to replace any casualties.

A thrust towards the Western White Sea is led by a cavalry division and a mountain division. The hope is that they will be able to cut off the Soviets in the North from their headquarters to the South.

We trade blows with the Soviets as we try to make progress with Operation Arctic Fox.

We are slowly pushed back around Leningrad but our men hope to retreat to more defensible positions.

The Finnish flag still flies high over Leningrad and the surrounding areas despite our losses!

The Soviets are split into two pockets, but we do not know how long we will be able to hold them.

We continue to go back and forth with the Soviets over every piece of land.

Our brave cavalry continues to shatter the Soviet infantry standing in their way!

It's at this time we realize we are encircled by Soviets, with our reinforcements being over 75 Km away. We decide to advance towards the White Sea as our cavalry does not have the strength needed to push its way back to Finnish territory.

Our men will ride to the sea and make its way Northwards hoping to link up with friendly divisions.

The 1st Mountain Division takes almost 8,000 prisoners and links up with our trapped cavalry.

Our cavalry is ordered to hold until they are relieved however they prove to be incapable of holding back the Soviets.

The relief is now only 24 Km away so they meet the infantry half way near the town of Kamenka.

Our mountain infantry takes over front line duty, letting the cavalry rest and recuperate.

In another section of our lines 17,000 Soviets are encircled.

Our updated support weaponry has aided us immensely in bleeding the Soviets.

The Soviet pocket surrenders, adding to our number of POWs however our men in the south are in threat of being encircled themselves.

In Germany, the invasion of the Low Countries is launched to bypass the Maginot Line.

German troops enter Amsterdam and other important Dutch cities.

The trap slams shut and suddenly it is us, not the Soviets, encircled. Over 23,000 Finnish troops are stuck in this pocket.

In the outskirts of the encirclement, dead Soviet soldiers are propped up to scare the attackers. Our men know relief is on the way and continue to fight like true Finns.

Two divisions of German infantry and one division of Finns will attempt to breakout our men.

Our men are attacked by Soviet T-34s. Hundreds of Cavalrymen die charging these tanks, trying to hold them off. The infantry continues to hold firm.

Just North of the pocket, a victory is achieved and it appears our men might be able to save their comrades.

However, they suffer a devastating loss in Soroka which grinds the breakout to a halt. Our men surrounded now know they face either death or capture since relief is nowhere to be seen.

After a week of encirclement men begin to surrender by the hundreds. Some men attempt to escape while other intend to dig in and wreak havoc from behind Soviet lines.

In the end, over 23,000 Finnish troops surrender to the Soviets. This is a devastating blow to manpower and morale throughout the country.

News of this mass surrender spreads and utter chaos erupts in the ranks all over Finland but are quickly brought under control by Mannerheim and the top brass. We have gotten this far and we shall continue to fight!

A massive victory is achieved in the south near Lake Onega with the Soviets losing 700 to our 17. This gives a much needed morale boost after that devastating loss.

The Germans continue their invasions of the Low Countries. Luxembourg formally surrenders on the 11th of April.

By losing two divisions and having 3 tied up in their relief, the Soviets manage to punch open a hole in our lines. With no divisions in reserve to plug the gap, men from around Leningrad will need to be pulled back to defend Finland. The weak underbelly of Finland has been exposed and the Marshals of the Soviet Union are eager to exploit it. For the first time in the war, the tide has turned against Finland and the Soviets may occupy Finnish land. In spite of this, Mannerheim is confident that our men will prevail over the Soviets. Hakkaa Päälle!