I wish you all a happy New Year. I wish you all good health and all the best in the new year. (What an old line!) I lack the language, so please make do with it! ! ! ! !
Of course, the Soviet army also used some new combat methods to speed up the pace of the attack. Some small-scale Soviet troops adopted tactics that the Finns called "Marmot". Under the cover of tanks and aircraft, the small-scale Soviet troops crawled along ditches into bushes and craters created by grenades. The metal sheet from the tank was tied to the front of the skis and moved forward, trying to use this method to build a small and thin position in the snow in order to station surveillance posts and reconnaissance units in the Finnish army's fortification area. This "nail placement" tactic Because of the lack of good organization and the low combat quality of the Soviet infantry, it did not have much effect. Instead, it caused serious casualties to the Soviet army.
The Finnish army did not wait to be beaten in the defense line. They discovered that the Soviet army was afraid of the night, so they sent patrols through the woods to attack the enemy's campsites at night. These patrols were wearing thick underwear, sweaters, trousers and Field jackets, then covered with snow camouflage clothing made of white sheets, the British observer Sir Walter Citrine described the Finnish patrols with only two eyes exposed and white bodies as "looking very much like the American Ku Klux Klan". The Soviet soldiers called them the "White Death"! Most of these patrol members who used skis as their main mobility tools were professional hunters. They shuttled silently through the ice and snow fields, and they shot at the Soviet infantry from the flanks. , either they fired a round with a Sumi 1931 submachine gun and then mysteriously disappeared into the dense forest, or snipers killed hundreds of Soviet soldiers who were tightly packed together. The Soviet army tried to send ski troops mainly from similar environments in Siberia to compete with them, but the initiative was still in the hands of the Finns. They were even often ambushed and inexplicably "evaporated" on the Finnish land.
However, on February 20, the Soviet Red Army finally broke through the Muola Lake defense area, and the intensity of the attack in Suma Village did not weaken at all. Several divisions of the Soviet Red Army took turns taking turns to fight in the form of wheel battles, constantly exerting pressure on the Northern Combat Group. The Northern Combat Group, whose nerves were always under pressure, had to work together to fight hard.
After the Lake Muola area was broken through, the Soviet Red Army's frontal attack expanded again, and the Finnish 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division and other units also began to engage in frontal exchanges of fire with the Soviet Red Army. The Soviet army has launched a full-scale attack on the Finnish 2nd Army along the entire "Mannerheim Line of Defense" and is trying to use tanks, infantry and cavalry to detour from the ice on the Finnish flanks in the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.
And concentrated more than 150 artillery batteries to bombard the Lehed area not far north of Suma. In just a few hours, tens of thousands of artillery shells were fired here. The defense line was blown to pieces, the machine gun positions were reduced to rubble, and almost all firepower points near the front of the positions were captured by Soviet infantry. Although the Finnish soldiers resisted desperately, when the fanatical Soviet Red Army poured in like a tide, the resistance of the Finnish soldiers seemed so insignificant.
"The Lehde area in the north was captured by the Soviet Red Army! The situation is not good, we must take it back!" Michelle Gabermeier, who had not slept for two days, said with a pair of rabbit eyes.
"Yes, after the Lehed area is captured, we will be attacked from two sides, and we must drive the Soviets back! But which troops are we afraid of sending there?" Randall Bellev asked.
Michel Gebermeier touched his unshaven chin and said slowly, "Let the 4th Grenadier Regiment, which has never suffered any losses, go over and take over from the Finnish troops there."
"That's a good suggestion." Randall Bellev gave his partner a small compliment, "It's time to spread our strength out a little bit. The frontal defense line of Suma Village is only eight kilometers. We should concentrate all our strength." It is obvious that something is not suitable here, so it is better to let them support other places."
At this time, the situation of the Finnish army in the Lehde area was already very bad, and they could no longer stop the tanks from driving over the top of their trenches. The Finnish army, which had run out of ammunition and food, was unable to carry out a counterattack. While the casualties were heavy, many people were so exhausted that even the roar of Soviet tanks could not stop them from dozing off.
Just when the Fourth Grenadier Regiment rushed to the Lehde area, most of Lehde had been captured by the Soviet Red Army. Fortunately, Mannerheim transferred a unit from the Finnish 5th Division to relieve the urgent need here. , giving the Fourth Grenadier Regiment time to get here.
But the situation has not changed at all. The Soviet Red Army, which has already seen the hope of victory, will never let victory slip away from its eyes so easily. The Soviet 123rd Motorized Infantry Division concentrated on tanks and armored vehicles to break through. After finding the Finnish basic position in the Lehde area, they immediately pursued the victory and did not give the Finnish Third Division any chance to breathe. The Fifth Division, which came to support, could not resist the coordinated operations of the Soviet Red Army.
The Finnish 3rd Infantry Division suffered heavy losses and could no longer withstand high-intensity combat and had to withdraw to the rear for repairs. The front line was temporarily replaced by the 5th Division, and the Finnish Army High Command mobilized 3 regiments from the navy and the 21st Division based in Taipal to assist the 5th Division in strengthening the defense of the Lehde area. The 4th Grenadier Regiment, which soldiers came to support in turn, began to tentatively recover the area occupied by the Soviet Red Army in Lehde. After several tentative attacks, the 4th Grenadier Regiment first stopped this stupidity. attack, and persuaded the officers and soldiers of the 5th Finnish Division: "It can be said bluntly that your weapons are barely adequate for defense, and attacking is even more wishful thinking. What we are thinking about now is how to defend the rest. area, rather than carrying out unnecessary attacks. As for recovering lost territory, we should wait for the reinforcements mobilized by the headquarters to act together."
The Finnish Army High Command mobilized three regiments from the navy and the 21st Division stationed in Taipal. The soldiers of these troops marched hard, facing the harsh conditions of bombing by Soviet aircraft and heavy snow on the ground, slowly heading towards Laos. Heading into the Heard area. It is estimated that it will take at least two days to reach the Lehed area.
While the reinforcements were still on the way, the 123rd Motorized Infantry Division of the Soviet Red Army received news from the Air Force that the Finnish High Command had mobilized reinforcements. After discussions with the division headquarters, they decided to attack instead of defend and immediately launched an attack. The unsecured Finnish army attacks.
At this time, the Soviet Red Army had already established a foothold in the Lehde area and had opened a breakthrough with a depth of 5 to 6 kilometers. In order to develop victory, the Soviet army consisted of 2 tank battalions with about 100 tanks and 2 rifle machine gun battalions. The speed-defining (tank) cluster was put into battle and the victory was advanced to the depth of the battle. This was the first example in the history of land warfare that tanks were organized into rapid clusters and put into use.
After receiving the battle report from the Lekhd area, Timoshenko finally put aside his depressed mood for many days and said confidently, "Send a report to Moscow that our 123rd Motorized Infantry Division of the Red Army is in Mannar." The Lehde area of the Heim Defense Line successfully broke through and now controls most of the basic positions, and the Mannerheim Line of Defense has begun to be torn apart!"
The short telegram followed the radio waves and conveyed this crucial news to Moscow. After learning about it, Beria did not dare to neglect and immediately handed the good news into the hands of Stalin. Stalin opened the telegram excitedly and could not believe it. Said, "Is this true? Timoshenko really broke the Finns' tortoise shell?" No wonder Stalin was so happy. The Mannerheim Line has blocked the Soviet Red Army for three months. During these three months, , the Soviet Red Army was helpless and tried its best to break through the Mannerheim Line defended by the Finnish army. Stalin knew very well that this was not to say that the Mannerheim Defense Line was impregnable, but when it finally began to break through the Mannerheim Defense Line that had blocked the Red Army for a long time, Stalin still could not conceal his excitement.
"Yes, General Secretary!" Beria also said happily, "As long as the Mannerheim Line of Defense is breached, Finland will no longer be able to defend. By that time, the Red Army will definitely be able to occupy the entire Finland in one fell swoop!"
"I hope so!" Stalin replied noncommittally. In fact, the Finns' resolute resistance has forced Stalin to face up to the Finns' determination to resist. Psychologically, he has already prepared for his earlier plan to occupy the entire Finland. doubt. At least it's not that firm anymore.
In the Lehde area, the 4th Grenadier Regiment of the Northern Combat Group, the 5th Finnish Division, and the Finnish reinforcements that arrived later began to try to regain the positions occupied by the Soviet Union in the Lehde area. However, once the gap was formed, it was difficult to remedy it. Timoshenko ordered the 123rd Motorized Infantry Division of the Soviet Red Army to be on standby. He also ordered the Soviet Red Army in other areas to increase their attacks, especially the village of Suma, the core of the Mannerheim Line of Defense. Being attacked non-stop.
In the forward position of Suma Village, the corpses of countless Soviet Red Army soldiers were lying densely packed. But at this time, the Soviet Red Army once again made Michel Gebermeier see what it means to "see death as if it were home". Starting from the 22nd, The Soviet Red Army began a large-scale collective attack by the entire regiment and entire battalion. They did not dodge at all, or even thought about dodging the bullets of the Northern Combat Group. One tank was destroyed, and another tank immediately appeared to take its place. One battalion fought hard. If it's all gone, change the camp.
There were several times when the defense line of Suma Village was already crumbling. Later, when he saw that the Soviet Red Army had no intention of stopping, Michel Gabermeier had to rotate the three grenadier regiments to give them enough time to carry out the attack. rest. Michel Gebermeier's heart was also bleeding. The grenadier regiments were now experiencing serious attrition. Although they killed several times their enemies, they were of no consequence to the hundreds of thousands of Soviet Red Army troops on the opposite side. , and one of his own troops actually died.