The Winter War 1989

On 13 October 1939, Finnish Army reservists are called up as the threat of a Soviet invasion grows. Paavo Hakala and Martti Hakala, two farmer brothers from Kauhava in Southern Ostrobothnia, join a half-platoon under Second Lieutenant Jussi Kantola. After mustering at the local school, they ride the train to Seinäjoki to join the Finnish Army’s 23rd Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Matti Laurila.

After weeks of practice, the regiment heads to the Karelian Isthmus, where Kantola’s men assist civilians as they evacuate from the threatened villages. The unit then marches to the Taipale River to set up defenses ahead of the anticipated Soviet assault.

On 6 December, the Battle of Taipale begins on Finnish Independence Day, and the Finns face shelling from Soviet artillery as the frontline tightens. The Red Army masses outside the Finnish trenches, and the next day the Finns are strafed by Soviet air power as the Red Army mounts a human-wave assault with T-26 tanks, but the defenders hold their ground. Paavo Hakala is wounded and sent home, attending the funeral of four Kauhava men killed in the attack. He later returns to the front, but is soon killed by a direct Soviet artillery hit in front of Martti.

Several times, the Soviets attack and enter the Finnish trenches, but the Finns push them back. Kantola is ordered to retake a casemate captured by the Soviets when he left it unattended, with the Finns driving out the Soviets but suffering high casualties in the assault and destroying the casemate. On 27 December, the Soviets halt their attack on the Taipale front and Kantola’s men go to Yläjärvi for rest and recuperation, and Martti manages to get home leave.

When Martti returns, the unit moves to Vuosalmi near the village of Äyräpää to prevent the Soviets from crossing the Vuoksi River. The Finns attempt to fend off Soviet human-wave attacks but are overwhelmed, and Martti is almost killed when a Soviet soldier butt-strokes him, forcing the Finns to retreat. On 5 March, Martti, Kantola, and the surviving Finns cover a counterattack by the men of Nurmo, but a delay allows the Soviets to gain an advantaged position. The Finns face more human-wave attacks and are overwhelmed. On the morning of 13 March, the fighting stops as the Moscow Peace Treaty takes effect.