The defeat of the partisan detachment

[igor_verh]

Hello! I am looking some information about destruction of partisan detachment near Tipinitsa (Типиница) village on west side of Onego Lake at 5-7.02.1942. It was a detachment №5 from 1st Partisan brigade. CO Krutchkov I.V. (Крючков И.В.), komissar - Voronov F.V. (Воронов Ф.В.), total number of partisans - 91 men and women. They went from the east сoast of Onego at 29.01.42.
Soviet version what happened: purposes of the unit were an attacks on Kirovsk railway, roads Shunga-Medvezhegorsk (Шуньга-Медвежьегорск) and Shunga-Tolvuya (Шуньга-Толвуя) and village Polya (Поля), where probably was a finnish HQ. But in Polya wasn't any HQ, it was an intelligence mistake. In the village were some soldiers, who had to call in reinforcements. First combat was near village Sholomki (Шоломки) against small finnish squad (about 40 soldiers), then at Hmelozero lake (Хмельозеро). Krutchkov made a decision to turn back. Between Markovstchina (Марковщина) and Tipinitsa partisans were blocked by big finnish unit (about 200 men), but broke out of encirclement. Detachment began moving to the Leinavolok (Лейнаволок) - сape on the lake. Recon squad went ahead, came out on the ice and has reached an east coast. But main part of detacment stopped to rest on the west bank. Finns found them, and made an ambush on partisans ski way. After short firefight most part of partisans were killed by enemies MG fire. Krutchov was wounded and with small group of partisans returned to soviet rear. Komissar Voronov was killed, total losses - 66 partisans were KIA and MIA. Krutchkov reported, that during the raid from 1 to 6 February more then 100 finnish soldiers were killed.
Finnish version here: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=4466575 (VII AK).
But it is a common information and I would like to know, which one finnish unit from VII AK took part in this operation, may be somewhere in archives there is more detailed report about actions of finnish units.
Thanks in advance.
Battle area:

[ML]

At least Hämeen Ratsurykmentti (HRR) took part in these actions:
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3528075
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3599584

[Juha Tompuri]

Hi Igor,

A memory from the past for a starter:

Not always were the raids succesful. On 28th January 1942 a strenghtened company from the 181st Border-Guards Rifle Battalion went to a raid into the enemy rear. On eighth day the group was discovered and had to battle with a company of Finns whom supported 6 airplanes. The commander of the group estimated that the enemy lost 90 men killed and wounded. The group lost 25 killed and 36 wounded. Then the partisans tried to escape and for that the unit was split into several smaller groups. One of the group was ambushed by the Finns and it was almost completely destroied – 42 men were killed. The commander of this destroied group escaped, but was then shot at home.

This resembles the events described at Äänisen Rannoilla by N. Lappalainen:
Finns found out traces of two enemy units (ca. 100 and 50 men) near Tipinitsa village (Cape Onega) 30th Dec-42. Finns tracked down the units and made several ambushes (main one 6/7 Feb, killing one officer, four women and 45 men). Soviet total casualities at that operation were 95 KIA and 6 POW (one was a Finnish traitor who was later executed) Finnish casualities 1 KIA and 8 WIA

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... sa#p207440

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

At least Hämeen Ratsurykmentti (HRR) took part in these actions:
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3528075
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3599584

Also URR and JP 1 are mentioned later in HRR's diary.

Also according to Lappalainen book the commander of af fortification Battalion (10th ?) at that area, Capt Paavo Kankkunen, led the final battles against the partisans at the Leiniemi (Leinavolok ?).

Regards, Juha

[ML]

Diary of Linnoituspataljoona 10 here:
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=2937396
Diary of 3./Lin.P 10:
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=2937765

[Juha Tompuri]

Thanks ML.

According to this https://sotapolku.fi/henkilot/husu_juho ... -11_rautu/ Private Husu from Os.K (Osasto/Detachment/Brigade Kuussaari) was fallen at Tipinitsa on 06.02.1942.

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

Os.K (Osasto/Detachment/Brigade Kuussaari)

The war diary of the Aunuksen heimosoturipataljoonan esikunta (Aunusian Volunteer Battalion HQ) under Brigade Kuussaari:
Lei Navolok = Leinavolok ?
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3742026 on.

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

Aunuksen heimosoturipataljoonan esikunta (Aunusian Volunteer Battalion HQ)

The 5th Company of the Battalion: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=24915955
6th Coy: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3257857
7th Coy: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=4495659
Mortar platoon: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=4496347

Regards, Juha

[Lotvonen]

Mounted riflemen in action ! The last cavalry charge in our history! The header refers to the music piece "The march of the Finnish Cavalry in the 30 year war", the honour march of Finnish Cavalry. I hope I got right most of the horsemanship included in the original.

Heikki Pohjanpää
"In the Northern snow drifts"
Journal Kansa Taisteli vol 02, 1965, pp. 46-60, (map p. 48)

The second year of war, 1942, started with intense cold. In Eastern Carelia, Sungunniemi peninsula, where the Cavalry Brigaed was stationed having taken the peninsula, the cold weather was felt quite intensely as we were lodged in the badly insulated local houses.

HRR (Häme Mounted Rifles Regiment) was stationed in the middle and southern parts of Sungunniemi, their HQ and 1. and 4. Squadrons were stationed in the village of Velikaja-Niva (Suurkylä). Each Platoon had a house of their own, two Platoons were billeted in a church. Heating the houses was an important daily task. We did sentry duty, brief patrols, weapons training, trained skier towing and tended our horses.

The Squadron was set in winter setup, meaning that each rider would tow two skiers. When the enemy patrol activity was intense, we often had to move to the threatened section on poor and narrow winter roads. (=impassable when the ground was not frozen and there was no snow, tr.rem). When alert was sounded, the horses were saddled and the riders in white camo, hauling their skiers, vanished in the dark night like ghosts. We would trot to the target, to enable the skiers to arrive to the battlefield rested and in good shape. The horses were left in charge of a few men – one per three horses – as most of the riders joined the fighting.

The horses were placed in temporary stables, often in the cattle barn situated downstairs of the local farmhouses. The crop had been bad, and lack of victuals was felt here – maybe just here – in Eastern Carelia. Frozen potatoes or turnips and thin soup, “miracle gruel” constituted our daily bread. The horse fodder, too, was rationed: in addition to hay ration the animals were given fodder
pulp that swelled up their bellies and made them feel well fed.

At times we managed to barter food to tobacco with the local population. It is true that their bread was partly made of sawdust but eggs were authentic. And one could trade a small packet of tea for as much as half a kilo pork!

Solitary villages constituted a kind of fortress in the open snow fields. The distance between the villages was about five kilometers of either dense forest or undulating open ground. In a starry night a sentry may have heard a wolf howl far in the wilderness.

The service in our outfits was brisk, mainly due to the need to tend the horses. The most enjoyable moments were when one received a letter or a parcel from home, and sauna baths which were frequent. In the billets we used to play poker or “vingt-et-un” (blackjack) and in the canteen we listened on the radio the sentimental war time popular songs.

Our Squadron also had to do field fortification work, to dig trenches in the solid-frozen ground. Due to treeless terrain and heavy snowfall we had to plow open the road that was the only communication between the Squadrons and the HG village.

Each Squadron command post was marked by a pennant, different in colour for each oufit. The pennants had been used in peacetime in the camp grounds of the garrison town and they had followed the Regiment in war.

*
At the end of January 1942 the enemy gets active, sending large patrols across lake Onega. The patrols have excellent equipment, including white fur coats and white skis, their ammo is hauled in toboggan style sleds. We have been set in alert readiness for a few times and the regimental shore securing units have been engaged by the enemy.

Then the Regimental Commander Col. G. Ehrnrooth orders on 3. Jan. 1941 Lt. Lasse Putkonen, the commander of the 4th Squadron of HRR to strengthen the field stronghold in Markovstchina village with two Squads. The unit's task is to secure the Northern shore of lake Jandom-järvi and reconnoitre and check the villages in the promontories of Lake Onega.

Net morning (1st February) the entire Squadron is alerted and we start riding on the narrow sleigh roads to Polja, towing skiers. The men are carrying their weapons and backpacks, the horse packs include haversacks on the front bow of the saddle, grooming kit and tethers. Hay is requisitioned from the locals and later provided by the supply train following us.

At an unnamed village we dismount and proceed on skis to the direction of the detected enemy. We are leaving signs at places for the troops following us. Judging by the ski track the enemy strength may be at least one company.

At about 1500 hrs in the afternoon we established contact with the enemy, surprising some of their trailing men mining the ski track. They were destroyed and passing them we admired the “stiffs'” warm clean fur coats. Our leading men are time and again subjected to LMG fire. Tenacious enemy delaying patrols are trying to hamper our advance and we often have to eliminate them in hand to hand combat. During the chase we find they enemy has split in two parts, one heading for North and the other one to South.

After a night spent in searching and tracing, engaging most of the Regiment in the terrain of lake Jandom, we continue the pursuit in the dusk of the dawn until at about 0600-0800 we find the enemy scattered and heading for home using various routes. Only 3./HRR is ordered to continue chase while the other Squadrons return to their billets.

On 3 February however, the enemy is found to be active at lake Jandom with new forces.

Lt. Putkonen recives orders at 1800hrs to set up a stronghold for the 4th Squadron in Komlevo north of lake Jandom, and patrol also to west and north. The 3rd Squadron has already engaged the enemy.

Next morning we again leave Velikaja-Niva. The Platoon ordered to man the stronghold has left before us and the rest of the Squadron is to proceed to Markovstchina, a miserable little village in the northern promontory of lake Jandom.

Again our route proceeds along horse-trodden paths with two skiers trailing every rider. The horses are breathing out steam and sweat vapour in the frosty morning air. The Commander with his communications squad is riding in the lead. The Regiment has been split in different directions, some securing, some in combat with the enemy, and we are advancing to unknown destination, guided only by poor maps and the skill of our commanders. A single rider does not have any clear idea of the situation, the important thing is to be going somewhere. When attack is ordered a man's personal fighting skills and warrior's luck shall take care of the rest.

Hooves are clicking and clods are flying from them. At first the men try to crack jokes but in the course of the time they become taciturn. We have seen many of our own pals, dead cold, being hauled back in sleds, we have seen pitiless winter fighting. A man has to attack and stick to his outfit because the enemy is skilled and well trained. The horses are another source of worry: what would happen if one's horse would be killed and the rider had to err around in the snow without skis? A man has to keep his cool and follow his commander! The men trust their Commander, who knows the terrain and some of the enemy language. He has trained these men into fighters in the grounds of Lappeenranta . He loves tough going and aggressive spirit, like a true hussar shall!

Somewhere near Zemlova north of the lake the first shots ring out. We dismount and the skiers form a line. Forward! Shouts the platoon commander and by assaulting courageously the enemy is pushed back after a few shots.

In the afternoon we reach the village of Markovstchina. There are no civilians but judging by traces visitors have been there. The horses are taken under cover, the saddle belts are loosened but the saddles are not taken off. Recce patrols are sent to each side of the lake. The men light up and start chattering again. After initial tension as so often happens the nerves are relieved spontaneously.

The sentry placed on the shoreline suddenly gives alarm. A group of skiing enemies are approaching from somewhere behind a promontory. Nobody can say where they appeared from but there they are skiing, not noticing us. The skiers are ordered on the skis and take positions on the shoreline. The enemy is allowed to get closer and then fire is opened at them. The enemy takes cover on the ice, spreads out and tries to outflank us, but as our Platoon launces a counterstrike they are pulling back.

At the very moment the man in charge of the horse tenders – I do not know who he was – makes a decisive move. We are ordered to mount which we do in a flash and then we are charging in a sort of formation after the enemy skiers heading for the nearest shore of the lake. We must have been a grand sight: the fleeing enemy ahead of us, pursued by riders and skiers. Snow is billowing as we are cantering on the ice past our line of riflemen. The fleeing enemy is not able to fire one single shot at us but as they reach the edge of the forest we prefer to turn back to avoid bursts of LMG fire that starts as soon as we are back in cover.

The skiers have to withdraw, too, open ice is not a pleasant place for your positions. We are ordered to bypass the enemy with our entire Squadron via the southern tip of the lake, resulting in a decisive battle at Tipinitsa.

Was the quick decision to charge mounted the retreating enemy wise or not, there cannot be but one opinion of that afterwards. However it proved what our peacetime training had built in every rider. A quick decision in a battle may produce temporary results, the enemy may have believed there were more of us. This reckless attack, the last one in our wars, is a colourful and historical memoir for every participant. Its memory cannot be dimmed by criticism of younger generations because in its foolhardiness it may be among the smallest errors committed in our war.

( 1749 words)

[Juha Tompuri]

Lotvonen, thank you very much for sharing us that.

Heikki Pohjanpää
"In the Northern snow drifts"
Journal Kansa Taisteli vol 02, 1965, pp. 46-60, (map p. 48)

[John Hilly]

Then Captain Heikki Pohjanpää tried to court my eldest sister when I was little, but with no bigger success. He looked very handsome walking in his uniform on our streets, though. This happened in the middle of the fifties.

With best, J-P

[JTV]

Photo number 79991 from SA-kuva.fi photo archive showcasing use of horse-towed ski troops. Insignia added to corner of photo is that of URR (Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment).