Edited map from the work Raunio, Ari, Sotatoimet – Suomen sotien 1939−45 kulku kartoin (Military Operations – The Course of Finnish Wars in 1939–45 with Maps). 3rd edition, Karttakeskus 2013.

Six enemy divisions in the Kollaa area in March

In its east wing in the Kollaa area, the Soviet 8th Army (8th A) prepared to defeat the Finnish forces (12th D) at the Kollaa River and take Loimola (Loymola) with at least six divisions (75th RD,

56th RD, 87th RD, 164th RD, 128th MoRD and 24th MoCaD). The offensive started on 2 March. The battles continued until the end of the war. On 12 March, the enemy achieved a small breach of the Finnish defensive positions at the Kollaa River, along the road. The counteroffensive planned by the Finns was never carried out, as the war ended on 13 March.

The 15th Army launched its offensive in March

The Soviet army (15th A) operating in the area around the Salmi–Kitilä (Kitelya) road launched an attack on the islands near the large-scale motti of Kitilä at the beginning of March and succeeded in securing its ice road route to the rifle division (168th RD) that was trapped in the motti.

The beginning of March also saw the start of a powerful offensive in the area between Lake Ladoga and Nietjärvi, launched by the army corps (8th RC) that operated in the area around the road. The aim of the offensive was to destroy the Finnish forces deployed between the corps and the motti. Before the end of the war, the Finns were forced to withdraw by a few kilometres.

Edited map from the work Raunio, Ari, Sotatoimet – Suomen sotien 1939−45 kulku kartoin (Military Operations – The Course of Finnish Wars in 1939–45 with Maps). 3rd edition, Karttakeskus 2013.

The Soviets opened an ice road route to the large-scale motti of Kitilä

At the end of the war, Soviet forces had secured an ice road route to the large-scale motti of Kitilä. Two other mottis (Siira and Uomaa) were still fighting on the Käsnäselkä (Kyasnyaselkya)–Kitilä road. Hägglund’s corps (IV C) was making plans for a partial withdrawal from the motti battle areas and the Kollaa River. The Mantsinsaari Fort in Lake Ladoga operated deep in the enemy’s rear, and plans were made to evacuate it.

The IV Corps was forced to send troops to the Karelian Isthmus

The strength of the enemy forces had grown enormously, whereas the strength of Hägglund’s corps decreased when the General Headquarters started to transfer troops (CaBde and 23rd D) from Ladoga Karelia to the Karelian Isthmus in February. In the final phase of the war, the corps had two battle-worn divisions (12th D and 13th D) and two infantry regiments (64th IR and 69th IR), which it had received as reinforcements. Within the area defended by the corps, the enemy had eleven divisions at its disposal at the front line or in its vicinity. Furthermore, two new motorised divisions (144th MoD and 119th MoD) had arrived in the area.

After the peace treaty came into effect, the forces of the IV Corps had to withdraw behind the new national border.

Ari Raunio