No Vacancy ETO (id:#67072)

(BFP 6: Mannerheim Cross ID: BFP-152)   [next]   [previous]

Hirvasharju Peninsula, Finland 1939-12-12 (12 others)

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Overview:

Talvela planned to launch an attack on 11 December to seize the Hirvasharju Peninsula and the hotel. However, the Russians attacked first which led to bloody fighting. Talvela was forced to delay his plan until 12 December. The plan called for two pincer movements to isolate the Hirvasharju Peninsula, and then a frontal assault by the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment led by Pajari. The Pincer movements did not succeed, and Pajari delayed the frontal assault waiting for artillery to fire. The artillery was limited and ineffective. The Finns battled through heavy Russian fire and neared the tourist hotel. The hotel was a fortress with a granite first floor and thick log walls on the 1st and 2nd levels, reinforced with sandbags and surrounded by gun pits. Intermingled Finnish forces, well led, continued to attack. Bloody hand-to-hand fighting ensued at the gravel pits 200 meters west of the hotel. The Finns regrouped in the afternoon and stormed the hotel with grenades. Reinforcements were able to surround the hotel and eventually the ground floors were controlled by the Finns. The remaining Russians had retreated to the upper levels. Lieutenant Siukosaari, the 6th Company Commander, wanted to burn the Russians. Instead, Siukosaari led the assault, meeting a Russian officer with a pistol in the doorway and getting the first shot off to kill him. Commissar Balakhanov, acting Commander of the 609th Rifle Regiment after Major Litvin had slipped out before the last Finnish attack, was among the dead. The Finns seized the upper level along with 28 wounded Russians ready to surrender.

Defender: Russian (609th Rifle Regiment, 139th Rifle Division)  

Errata (source)