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Western Front Koivisto: 2000 Hours 1/27/40

We have been ordered back to the front lines. The Finns still have some life in them. I dont think my men relish the thought of having to root them out again. Our orders are to find and destroy any and all of the enemy we can.

Our advance will be hampered some what by visability and the heavy woods again. Vis is about 400 yards even tho the weather is clear. There is three hills to the front of us. The south VH sits about 100 yards in front of the first hill. The center VH is again on the east slope of the second hill. The third Vh is about 100 yards behind the north hill. Each hill runs about 600 yards long with about 150 yards between each one.

Behind the south hill about 50 yards a small river starts. This runs NE from map edge to map edge. The north part of the river is about 1200 yards behind the north hill. The rear VH sits almost dead center of the map behind this river. Directly north of the VH a swamp area runs along side of this river for about 2000 yards. About 150 yards south of map edge in this swamp is a corridor about 100 yards wide.

I believe i can cross this dry area thru the swamp and get around to the rear of the Finns. I have placed 2 plattoons of infantry on the north map edge. They will have in support 3 sections of T-28s and 1 section of KV1. There prime purpose in life is to exploit this break in the swamp. Move to the rear VH capture it then move west to the rear of the enemy in the center.

I have placed 2 companies in the woods to the west of the center and southern hills. There main purpose is to hold the enemy from advancing to the our rear. They are to hold off on capturing any VH until our boys in the north have accomplished there mission.

I have placed 3 plattoons of engineers back some from the north hill in an ambush set up. They must hold here are we will be lost. Just hope not too many of the enemy discover we are weakest there. I have givin them the scouts and all the armored cars i have left over.

Once the enemy has begun to congregate on the center hill all hell will open up on them. My 82MM, 107MM mortars, 76.2s and 203 off board are sighted in on this hill. It is a daring plan i know it all depends on my strike force in the north. I trust them with my life they are all good men.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

Western Front Koivisto; 2025 Hours 1/27/40

My strike force is moving fairly well so far. They have run into none of the enemy so far.They have made it about half way to the swamp. I have my infantry riding on the tanks and scouts out in front. Will take another 25 minutes or so before there in the swamp and crossing the river. Once thru the swamp they will turn SSE to wards the rear VH. Then they will move west and come up on the rear of the Finns in the center. Should be a heck of a surpprise for them to say the least.

I have near a company of men holding a grave yard west of the center hill. It has been a ferocious fight there. So far we have held and repulsed all invaders at this point. The left flank tho thin has held as well. There has not been much seen of the enemy in this area. Maybe 4 or 5 squads has tried to break thru at this point.

About 150 yards south of the grave yard has seen most of the action. We have been forced to give up some ground there. Several of my squads moved back 50 yards or so. We are inflicting heavy losses on the enemy as well. We have lost 2 GAZ AA in this area as well as couple recon patrols.

Have seen no tanks as yet thank heaven. This has allowed my tanks to move along the rear of our lines to where ever they have been needed at. Our heavy MG have been raking the Finns with a murderous fire.

The Finns have taken the VH on top of the center hill. The south VH is still in no mans land about 150 yards in front of our right flank in the south. Every time any Finns appear, to try and take it they are cut down. They havnt even tried to take the north VH as yet.

We have lost some men but not near as many as them. This battle is no where near over.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

Western Front Koivisto: 2045 Hours 1/27/40

Finally some tanks appeared trying to get the southern VHs. At least four tanks engaged ours in about a 15 minute battle. After the smoke had cleared we had lost one of our brave tank crews. He had been in a fight with 2 of the aggressors. He had taken out one of them but the other had snuck around to his blind side. The dog never gave him a chance to swivel around. Took some time about 10 minutes to move his comrades to his rescue. Needless to say they made the scum pay with there lifes. Although the Finns hold one of the south VH the other three are still up for grabs.

In the center our brave boys still hold the grave yard. The enemy has been held at the east side of the yard. The enemy has thrown a lot of man power in trying to take it. So far the deepest they have penatrated is about 50 yards in one spot. The north West slope of the hill is held by our men. Our line runs from the grave yard in a NE direction to the slope of the hill. The VH sits on top of this hill on the east side.

Our strike force has still not been detected yet in the North. They still have quite a way to go to the swamp. Movement is slow thru the dense woods. Maybe about 150 yards every 5 minutes. I underestimated the time it would take for them to make the swamp. The land clears up some after the river so should make good time once they reach it.

The far north flank has saw very little of the enemy. I am thankful for this as my troops there are thin. A few forays by scouts and maybe 3 squads at the most. They were delt with rather harshly by the tanks that are screening the left flank of center.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

Western Front Koivisto: 2135 Hours 1/27/40

My strike force has cleared the swamp and is now in the open. Lost one recon while fording the west fork of the river. The tanks had to cross an east and west fork of the river. They all made it thru with troops on board. The rear Vh is about 500 yards away. No enemy sighted so far although saw some smoke from there guns about 500 yards away to the south west. About 300 yards in front of the VH.

The south flank has taken there objectives and is begining the pincer move towards the center. They have begun to move in a NE direction towards the center hill.

The center has taken the grave yard and has begun there advance on the hill. There left flank has reached the summit of the hill just in front of the center VH.

The far north flank is still holding due to the lack of man power to move out towards there objectives. As soon as the center has been taken will try and move some help there way.

We again have lost a considerable amount of men. But i was given orders to take this ground no matter what the cost.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

Weatern Front Koivisto: 2235 Hours 1/27/40

We fought them to a draw this time. They held the per turn VHs too long. We tore them up tho for some staggering losses. That makes one draw and one deciseive victory so far. They are tough to whip. Just dont seem to want to give up at all. The visability hurt us a lot what with the woods and the snow.

Our losses were men 314 Art 3 and 10 AFV. Theres were 1618 men Art 13 mostly 50MM mortars and 3 tanks. They just dont seem to have a lot of armor. Which we were very thankful for.

We have been ordered to the rear for rest and recuperation. After we repair and get replacements we are to entrain and move towards Kemijarvi. It will be another big push against the dam Finns again. At least it wont be till next month before we are back in the front lines.

Our outfit recieved several promotions and awards from high command. At least they think we did a good job. Makes the men more eager to fight again. We held a memorial for our fallen comrades last night. I drank too dern much vodka, now i have a roaring headache today.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

Keep the letters coming Comrade colonel. the Soviet peopels want to hear about our glorious peasants pushign back the Bougouise Finnish invaders.


(knock knock)

damm who could that be at 2 in the morning?

last letter of Vladimir Estonov of Lennigrad beleived taken into NKVD custody and never heard from again.