Battle of Suomussalmi

Battle of Suomussalmi
Part of the Winter War
Date30 November 1939 – 8 January 1940
Location64°53′18″N 28°53′20″E / 64.88833°N 28.88889°E / 64.88833; 28.88889
Result Finnish victory
Belligerents
 Finland  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Finland Wiljo Tuompo
Finland Hjalmar Siilasvuo
Finland Paavo Susitaival
Finland Kaarle Kari
Soviet Union Mikhail Dukhanov
Soviet Union Vasily Chuikov
Soviet Union Ivan Dashichev
Soviet Union Alexei Vinogradov
Soviet Union Andrei Zelentsov
Strength

North Finland Group
9th Infantry Division (Finland)
Susi Group (Ryhmä Susi)
Siilasvuo Group (25 December) 6,645 [1]

9th Infantry Division (9 January) 13,190 [1]

47th Rifle Corps / 9th Army

163rd Rifle Division 13,562[2]
47th Rifle Corps units 3,238[2]
44th Rifle Division 11,416[2]
3rd NKVD regiment 1,600[2]
Total: 29,816
Casualties and losses
2,700 killed, wounded, or missing [3] 22,500 killed [3]
Battle of Suomussalmi is located in Finland
Battle of Suomussalmi
Location within Finland
Battle of Suomussalmi is located in Karelia
Battle of Suomussalmi
Battle of Suomussalmi (Karelia)

The Battle of Suomussalmi was fought between Finnish and Soviet forces in the Winter War. The action took place from 30 November 1939 to 8 January 1940. The outcome was a Finnish victory against superior forces. This battle is considered the clearest, most important, and most significant Finnish victory in the northern half of Finland.[4] In Finland, the battle is still seen today as a symbol of the entirety of the Winter War itself.

  1. ^ a b FNA: Perus-3529/3 folder, #10
  2. ^ a b c d Klio scholarly journal, 2014, #9(93), pp.109-120. Author Oleg Kiselev. Data for the 3rd NKVD regiment -> Battle of Raate Road. Oleg Kiselev, time 1:11:33
  3. ^ a b Fighting the Russians in the Winter: Three Case Studies, p. 29.
  4. ^ Trotter, William (January 2000). A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940. Algonquin Books. p. 171. ISBN 1565122496.

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