Battle of Tolvajärvi

Battle of Tolvajärvi
Part of Winter War
Plan of the Finnish attack
Date 12-24 December 1939 (1 week and 5 days) Location Tolvajärvi and Ägläjärvi, north of Lake Ladoga, Finland (today Republic of Karelia, Russia) 62°17′17″N 31°29′18″E Result Finnish victory
Belligerents
Finland	Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Paavo Talvela Aaro Pajari	Nikolai Belyaev
Units involved
Group Talvela	16th Rifle Division
Strength
4,000 men	20,000 men
Casualties and losses
100+ killed 250 wounded 150 captured	4,000–5,000 killed 5,000+ wounded 20 tanks destroyed 39 armoured vehicles destroyed 30 guns destroyed
class=notpageimage| Location within Karelia Battle of Tolvajärvi (Finland)

Soviet attacks in Ladoga Karelia

The Battle of Tolvajärvi (['tol.va.jær.vi]; Finnish: Tolvajärven–Ägläjärven taistelu, Russian: Битва при Толваярви) was fought on 12 December 1939 between Finland and the Soviet Union. It was the first large offensive victory for the Finns in the Winter War.

The battle took place on territory of so-called Ladoga Karelia (Finnish: Laatokan Karjala) which today is part of the Republic of Karelia.

Background

On 2 December, the Red Army captured Suojärvi, threatening the railroad to the Karelian Isthmus and the rear of the Mannerheim Line. On 6 December, the IV Army Corps was reorganized by Mannerheim into a Group commanded by Talvela. Pajari was immediately ordered by Talvela to defend the western shore of Lake Tolvajärvi, while Per Ole Ekholm was ordered to continue the defense of Ilomantsi. On 10 December, Talvela issued counteroffensive orders to both Pajari and Ekholm for the next day.

The Finnish plan was to encircle the Soviet division by two pincer-attacks over the frozen lakes Hirvasjärvi and Tolvajärvi. The northern attack over Hirvasjärvi was to begin at 08:00 and the second would start when the first had brought results. This was later changed and both attacks were to begin at 08:00. Preparations for the attack were slowed by a skirmish with two Soviet battalions at the Battle of Varolampi Pond on the night of 10–11 December.

The Soviet main effort was to make a front assault with two regiments 609th and 364th over the Tolvajärvi lake onto the Finnish positions of the 16th regiment near Tolvajärvi village, while the Soviet 718th regiment was to make a 20 km (12 mi) flanking maneuver from the north to the Finnish rear across thick wooded areas.

There was a thick fog over a single narrow unimproved rural muddy road towards Tolvajärvi that was winding amongst some dozens of small lakes. Just before the battle a big snow storm brought some 40–50 cm (16–20 in) of snow. Due to thick fog, aviation did not take part in the battle. Due to mud, many tanks got stuck and also did not actively participate in the battle and were lost during withdrawal.

Composition

• Finnish side (4,000):
  • Talvela Group of the 4th Corps (16th Infantry Regiment)
  • Räsänen detachment (4 separate battalions and one artillery battalion of the 6th Artillery Regiment)

The Finnish side consisted of 7 infantry battalions and 30 pieces of artillery.

The Finnish 16th Infantry Regiment was composed of workers out of Tampere city and headed by the chief of police of Tampere.

• Soviet side (20,000):
  • 139th Rifle Division of the 8th Army (718th, 609th, 364th Rifle regiments)

The Soviet side consisted of 9 infantry battalions, 60 artillery pieces, one scout battalion, one signal battalion, one sapper battalion, 30 tanks, and 376 planes.

Battle

The northern group consisting of two battalions soon met Soviet resistance. In fact, they met the Soviet 718th Rifle Regiment of the 139th Rifle Division, which was preparing to make its own attack on the Finnish flank. By noon, the Finnish troops withdrew to their own lines. Although this attack did not fulfill its objectives, it prevented the 718th from attacking the Finnish flank, and also from sending reinforcements to the south.

While the second battalion of the Finnish 16th (infantry) Regiment (II/JR 16) was preparing to attack along the road, it was interrupted by an attack from the Soviet 609th Regiment. The Finns were still able to attack after they got some artillery support. The Finnish attack continued towards a hotel located on a thin isthmus between the two lakes. Pajari decided to commit his reserves in a pincer attack at the Soviet troops around the hotel. In the end, the hotel was captured and in it were found a dead Soviet regimental commander and all the regiment's papers.

The Finns withdrew over the lakes for the night. In the morning, Colonel Talvela demanded a new attack and the Soviet 139th Rifle Division was pushed back and later (20–22 December) destroyed around Ägläjärvi (now Yaglyayarvi in Russia) (some 20 km (12 mi) east from Tolvajärvi). Contact was also made with the Soviet 75th Rifle Division, which had been sent as reinforcements.

Aftermath

Mannerheim called a halt to the advance along the Aittojoki River, and ordered defensive positions prepared. The the Red Army's losses along the Tolvajärvi-Aittojoki road included 4000 dead, 580 prisoners, 59 tanks, and 220 machine guns. Yet, by this time the Finnish losses were also accumulating, especially after the frontal attacks at Tolvajärvi and Ägläjärvi. According to Allen Chew, for the Finns, "Proportionally, these were the heaviest losses of the entire war," with 630 killed and 1320 wounded. Yet despite the Finish losses associated with their first offensive victory, according to Chew, "It would be difficult to exaggerate the significance of the Finnish victory," eliminating the threat to Ladoga-Karelia, and ensuring national survival with a sense of optimism. The arrival of Talvela and Pajari, according to Erik Heinrichs, "...overturned the depressed mood and fatigue...a fascinating example of what, in a war, can be accomplished by strong will power and strong mind." During the battle, Talvela was promoted to Major General and Pajari to full Colonel.

General Belyaev was dismissed from commanding on 16 December 1939, but preserved his rank. In June 1940 after re-attestation he was granted the rank of major general.

Gallery

• 
  Aaro Pajari in Tolvajärvi
• 
  Two burning Soviet T-26s
• 
  Finnish skiers of the Talvela Group
• 
  Destroyed Soviet armoured car is inspected by Finnish officers.

See also

• List of Finnish military equipment of World War II
• List of Soviet Union military equipment of World War II

Sources

English

• Chew, Allen (1971). The White Death: The Epic of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War. Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-087-013-167-7.

External links

• (in Russian) How did the USSR lose a battle to Finland because of a sausage? – Politics and Weapons (Как СССР проиграл битву Финляндии из-за колбасы? - Политика и Оружие). Ukrlife (YouTube video). 12 December 2017.