How far did finnish long range patrols penetrate behind Russian lines.
Were there any cases of Finnish para drops?
Cheers
Long range patrols
As far as current location of Plesetsk Cosmodrome, south of Archangel. Hundreds of kilometres behind the lines. Late summer 1942.
In air-transport Finns preferred landings on remote lakes over paradrops. PLENTY of remote lakes in that region, and patrol could be planted as one unit without uncertainties of parachute jump. Also wounded men could be evacuated and many times the entire patrol was evacuated by air from some lake. He-115s, He-59s and sometimes Ar-196s were used. Germans supplied many of the aircraft, as Finn recce missions served their intelligence also (one company of Separate Batallion 4, unit responsible of patrols under high command, operated all through Continuation War on German front responsibility area in northern Finland).
Summertime missions were somewhat different than winter patrols on skis, winter patrols were larger, shorter in duration, and sometimes had some offensive goals.
There were paradrops in heavily defended areas, like Karelian Isthmus late in War, but mostly just reinforcements, like invidual men delivering radio batteries to patrol already out there - Finnish long range patrols were dedicated and highly trained reconnaissance force ***. Not guerillas, or saboteurs. Fresh batteries for radio were more important than ammunition.
Mark V
*** many Olympic level athletes participating - their performance was especially needed during winters when survivability of patrol was in direct relation to how high speed they could maintain on skis, during summers it was more about head of patrol leader, than the physical peak performance of men
In air-transport Finns preferred landings on remote lakes over paradrops. PLENTY of remote lakes in that region, and patrol could be planted as one unit without uncertainties of parachute jump. Also wounded men could be evacuated and many times the entire patrol was evacuated by air from some lake. He-115s, He-59s and sometimes Ar-196s were used. Germans supplied many of the aircraft, as Finn recce missions served their intelligence also (one company of Separate Batallion 4, unit responsible of patrols under high command, operated all through Continuation War on German front responsibility area in northern Finland).
Summertime missions were somewhat different than winter patrols on skis, winter patrols were larger, shorter in duration, and sometimes had some offensive goals.
There were paradrops in heavily defended areas, like Karelian Isthmus late in War, but mostly just reinforcements, like invidual men delivering radio batteries to patrol already out there - Finnish long range patrols were dedicated and highly trained reconnaissance force ***. Not guerillas, or saboteurs. Fresh batteries for radio were more important than ammunition.
Mark V
*** many Olympic level athletes participating - their performance was especially needed during winters when survivability of patrol was in direct relation to how high speed they could maintain on skis, during summers it was more about head of patrol leader, than the physical peak performance of men
The Finnish nickname for the long-range patrol radio was "kyynel", which means a teardrop.
You can listen to the weepy sound, which gave its nickname, by following the link on this page:
http://hkkk.fi/~yrjola/war/finland/intel/kyynel.html
You can listen to the weepy sound, which gave its nickname, by following the link on this page:
http://hkkk.fi/~yrjola/war/finland/intel/kyynel.html
Some additional info about radio equipment used by Finnish LRPs:
http://www.tp.spt.fi/~ekko/kyynel.htm
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/antero.tan ... tarad.html
(in Finnish language only - sorry)
Mark V
http://www.tp.spt.fi/~ekko/kyynel.htm
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/antero.tan ... tarad.html
(in Finnish language only - sorry)
Mark V
Re: Long range patrols, personal accounts
Patrolmen's personal accounts constitute a large part of the stories in "KansaTaisteli", this old topic looks like a good place for them from now on.
Here is one:
The author was an officer in 14.D Long range patrol detachment. Their only digitized war diary is from the year 1944.
Toivo Korhonen
Journal “Kansa Taisteli”, vol. 6/7 1959
Map on p.163.
During early winter of 1943 a major raid at Lehto town, (Lehta) situated about 90 km NE of Rukajärvi (Rugozero) was being planned by 14.D. Since there was not enough data on the town, the 14.D long range reconnaisance unit was tasked to acquire the needed information. The main task was to get a prisoner and bring it alive to the Division HQ. The order defined that the outfit that I led was to start off on 10. February 1943.
The GHQ reconnaisance units had tried a couple of times to get to the vicinity of the town to find out about the enemy troops in it and at its vicinity but the efforts had failed due to Russian counteractions. The GHQ men had approached N of Tunkua (Tunguda) road. My mission was to approach between this road and the Russian main supply road Rukajärvi – Venjärvi – Tunkua . From the very beginning it was recognised that the success of the operation depended on rashness and speed; the mission had to be carried out “in one go”, so rest periods were not considered. The mission was expected to last 24 hours
In the afternoon (10.2.?) I moved my 50 men with buses to the front line N of Rukajärvi. There was also the Jaeger Platoon of I/JR19 in the command post at the front line. They had just arrived after trying to penetrate in Koivuniemi village that was situated in the same direction that my outfit was to take. They had bumped at the enemy and returned without getting to their objective.
We left the field stronghold at 2200 hrs heading for the target. It was mercilessly cold: -42 deg C., the snow was one meter deep. After midnight we passed the Russian field stronghold at Kompakka river line, many a patrol had had to return here with mission unaccomplished .
Next day 11 February at noon I received a radio message from the Division. I was infomed that an intercepted Russian message had revealed that the Russians had spotted our track. Due to the information received we did not make any break that day but skied 40km without eating till dusk. During the contact time next day another message was received, informing that the Russkies were in pursuit and ordering: “ Return, Paukku” (the Intelligence officer of the Division). I responded “I have seen only searching and securing ski tracks, continuing to target”. The same day we passed an old forced labour prisoner camp. A strong Russian patrol was skiing through it. Their bearing was the same as ours. Since we had not been spotted I decided to make use of the enemy track. Skiing on a fresh track we approached to a point 6 km from the target where we made campfires and had a meal. I knew that the Russians were on our track and we were on the Russian track.
On 13 February I briefed my outfit on the situation and ordered 2nd Lt. V. to advance with his platoon to the W side of Lehto town and with some men reconnoitre the town and with the rest of his men to stay at the road to Tunkua and catch a prisoner.
I and the other platoon passed the town by S heading to the E side of it. Having skied for 1 km we arrived at the top of a high ridge, and the dale on its E side was covered by thick forest. The dale was wide and appeared to be calm as we were watching there. However it appeared to be as if shrouded in something like smoke but I believed this was due to the frost, and smoke coming from the town.
I slid downhill with a squad and then an entire shantytown made up of fir bough huts was revealed to our eyes. We had skied downhill by the squad and every man was there before the camp was spotted. It was out of question to return up the hill because climbing uphill in thick snow would have taken so much time that the Russians would have had time to man their positions. The very same moment the camp burst into life, men started running from one hut to another. Afterwards I thought: where were the Russian sentries as nobody fired one single shot.
I ordered my outfit: “South double quick!” All of us had to ski past two huge racks for skis full of skis. I directed the patrol on a trodden path between two fir bough shanties where men in wadded garments were moving about.
Having passed from the dale to another ridge we spotted another shantytown S of it blocking our route. We had to head for E. We had skied less than one km as we came to a road. The same moment I was told that a horse convoy was approaching from Kotskoma direction. I ordered my men to take a prisoner and in emergency to disengage East across the road . As I had completed the preparations a five horse convoy arrived at us. We took one Corporal as prisoner and noiselessly killed the rest of them, including their horses. Our patrol had only one pair of reserve skis, it was not possible to take any more of them with us, and we could not let them go.
Quickly interrogated the prisoner admitted he was a man of a ski brigade: so we were in the middle of the said brigade. Their I Btn was 1 km behind us, the II Btn was the one whose camp we crossed and III Btn was situated on the opposite side of the road . We had to get out fast if we wanted to stay safe. At the very moment we spotted a skiing Russian outfit approaching us. Obviously they were searching for us.
At our rallying point we saw two Russians 100m away from our course. They were leaning on their ski sticks and their rifles were slung on their back. “Shoot them?” the lads asked “ No shooting, just hurry up” I told them.
The prisoner complained that he was unable and powerless to ski. But very soon he picked up the skill of skiing. Our rallying point was manned and secured by 2nd Lt. V: s Platoon. They had not been successful.
We headed right W from our rallying point by my order. We mined our ski track well and it did not take long until the first mine went bang. We were being pursued.
In the evening of the same day we bumped into a Russian securing unit in its camp which immediately became active. There was a horse with sleigh laden full of dead pine trunks. Fortunately the terrain was so forested that the Russian fire did not make any casualties. They fired at us with every possible weapon, it was a miracle that I succeeded in pulling my patrol out unscathed.
We kept skiing the entire 13 February without eating or drinking. The patrol appeared to be extremely tired and hungry, so I ordered an one hour break. It was about 18.00 hrs as we had made fires and started our meal. We did not build any lean-tos but every man tried to get some sleep while squatting on boughs next to a campfire.
At about 21.00 hrs a sentry reported noises of skiing to N. I ordered every man to the predefined positions where we kept waiting for the course of events. Soon we caught sight of a long line of skiers in moonlight heading just for our camp. At a distance of 100m from us they stopped and changed their course more to W, bypassing a small open bog and again veered for S.
We let them go peacefully but I admitted to myself that we were not able to get any more rest there, but had to go on. As we were preparing for departure we again heard a mine that we had planted to go off. At the same moments Russians started shooting flares at our incoming track. They were responded by similar ones to S and to N.
A general search and pursuit seemed to be going on. Therefore I changed our course more to N. My intention was to get close to the road to Tunkua where I expected the searching would be less intense.
Next morning 14.Feb.) at 05.00 hrs we heard intense shooting from our old camp area. We had left the campfires burning and now the abandoned fires were being attacked heavily.
In the afternoon as we approached Tunkuanjärvi lake we spotted a Russian patrol that was skiing on an opened ski track. They spotted us but did not shoot, instead they increased their speed. Maybe they were spooked by the size of our outfit. As we crossed their track they started shooting flares, however.
I selected a bay on the E shore of Tunkuanjärvi for our meal break. There was an island off the bay where I left two squads to secure.
As soon as we had got started with our meal a Russian skiing outfit appeared on the ice following our track, but they did not dare to cross the bay. Instead they chose to go round the bay. Their manouver was cut short by our men left on the island. They opened an intense fire at the enemy patrol, killing the men in the van. The rest took refuge in the forest.
In spite of the incident we completed our meal. Late in the evening we passed Kompakka village at a distance of 100m. It appeared to be well manned. Earlier it had been abandoned but now also this isthmus had been occupied by the enemy searching for us.
Having crossed Kompakanjärvi lake I had to give a break to my patrol because everyone was very tired. I told the lads to make fires and eat. As the fires had been lit and the meal started there was a loud explosion on the shoreline. Our minelayers had boosted a ski track mine with one kg of TNT. We could hear furious commands and loud wailing at the point of explosion. I increased our securing but we finished our meal. From that point on we were heading for our front line, and were left alone.
On 15 February at 02.00 hrs we reached our securing line that was situated 5km from a field stronghold. As the Sissis found that they were no more chased and we had made it to our securing line everybody went slack. The tension of being chased had driven us to the end of our tether, and now as we know that it was safe men started collapsing in the snow and many of them were unable to get up unassisted. This final 5 km was for many of us a painful journey that took more than four hours.
Our mission had been carried out in extremely difficult circumstances and it was a sample of the guts and endurance of Finnish Sissis. We had skied about 200 km in less than 5 days without proper rest in very cold weather.
Later in the same winter a Russian Lieutenant was taken prisoner and he recounted the following incident about our mission:
“A Russian Captain had been tasked to chase the Finnish skiers with a Company and destroy them. An entire Battalion was involved in the chase. The Captain returned from his mission and told that he had surprised the Finns at their campfires, and attacked them with his Company whereby he had killed the entire Finnish patrol, including the leaders and the prisoners.”
The process of this mission started in Riihimäki in January 1946 and ended in Maneesikatu street in Helsinki in November 1947. The presumed criminals were the author and one Corporal, who was exemplary courageous. The many Sissi operations made me and my men inseparable friends. Only one veteran of 1941 denounced us. The rest were witnessing for their superior and their number was more than 100 faithful Finns.
The traitor received a bounty of 50 000 FIM for his false denouncement, but the defendants had to incur more in debt to get justice.
( 2051 words)
The author had been arrested by the Communist controlled “Red Valpo” intelligence service after the war. The patrol must have needed some “Pervitin” to make it home lthough is not mentioned. He also honestly told what the patrol did to the unnecessary prisoners.
Here is one:
The author was an officer in 14.D Long range patrol detachment. Their only digitized war diary is from the year 1944.
Toivo Korhonen
Journal “Kansa Taisteli”, vol. 6/7 1959
Map on p.163.
During early winter of 1943 a major raid at Lehto town, (Lehta) situated about 90 km NE of Rukajärvi (Rugozero) was being planned by 14.D. Since there was not enough data on the town, the 14.D long range reconnaisance unit was tasked to acquire the needed information. The main task was to get a prisoner and bring it alive to the Division HQ. The order defined that the outfit that I led was to start off on 10. February 1943.
The GHQ reconnaisance units had tried a couple of times to get to the vicinity of the town to find out about the enemy troops in it and at its vicinity but the efforts had failed due to Russian counteractions. The GHQ men had approached N of Tunkua (Tunguda) road. My mission was to approach between this road and the Russian main supply road Rukajärvi – Venjärvi – Tunkua . From the very beginning it was recognised that the success of the operation depended on rashness and speed; the mission had to be carried out “in one go”, so rest periods were not considered. The mission was expected to last 24 hours
In the afternoon (10.2.?) I moved my 50 men with buses to the front line N of Rukajärvi. There was also the Jaeger Platoon of I/JR19 in the command post at the front line. They had just arrived after trying to penetrate in Koivuniemi village that was situated in the same direction that my outfit was to take. They had bumped at the enemy and returned without getting to their objective.
We left the field stronghold at 2200 hrs heading for the target. It was mercilessly cold: -42 deg C., the snow was one meter deep. After midnight we passed the Russian field stronghold at Kompakka river line, many a patrol had had to return here with mission unaccomplished .
Next day 11 February at noon I received a radio message from the Division. I was infomed that an intercepted Russian message had revealed that the Russians had spotted our track. Due to the information received we did not make any break that day but skied 40km without eating till dusk. During the contact time next day another message was received, informing that the Russkies were in pursuit and ordering: “ Return, Paukku” (the Intelligence officer of the Division). I responded “I have seen only searching and securing ski tracks, continuing to target”. The same day we passed an old forced labour prisoner camp. A strong Russian patrol was skiing through it. Their bearing was the same as ours. Since we had not been spotted I decided to make use of the enemy track. Skiing on a fresh track we approached to a point 6 km from the target where we made campfires and had a meal. I knew that the Russians were on our track and we were on the Russian track.
On 13 February I briefed my outfit on the situation and ordered 2nd Lt. V. to advance with his platoon to the W side of Lehto town and with some men reconnoitre the town and with the rest of his men to stay at the road to Tunkua and catch a prisoner.
I and the other platoon passed the town by S heading to the E side of it. Having skied for 1 km we arrived at the top of a high ridge, and the dale on its E side was covered by thick forest. The dale was wide and appeared to be calm as we were watching there. However it appeared to be as if shrouded in something like smoke but I believed this was due to the frost, and smoke coming from the town.
I slid downhill with a squad and then an entire shantytown made up of fir bough huts was revealed to our eyes. We had skied downhill by the squad and every man was there before the camp was spotted. It was out of question to return up the hill because climbing uphill in thick snow would have taken so much time that the Russians would have had time to man their positions. The very same moment the camp burst into life, men started running from one hut to another. Afterwards I thought: where were the Russian sentries as nobody fired one single shot.
I ordered my outfit: “South double quick!” All of us had to ski past two huge racks for skis full of skis. I directed the patrol on a trodden path between two fir bough shanties where men in wadded garments were moving about.
Having passed from the dale to another ridge we spotted another shantytown S of it blocking our route. We had to head for E. We had skied less than one km as we came to a road. The same moment I was told that a horse convoy was approaching from Kotskoma direction. I ordered my men to take a prisoner and in emergency to disengage East across the road . As I had completed the preparations a five horse convoy arrived at us. We took one Corporal as prisoner and noiselessly killed the rest of them, including their horses. Our patrol had only one pair of reserve skis, it was not possible to take any more of them with us, and we could not let them go.
Quickly interrogated the prisoner admitted he was a man of a ski brigade: so we were in the middle of the said brigade. Their I Btn was 1 km behind us, the II Btn was the one whose camp we crossed and III Btn was situated on the opposite side of the road . We had to get out fast if we wanted to stay safe. At the very moment we spotted a skiing Russian outfit approaching us. Obviously they were searching for us.
At our rallying point we saw two Russians 100m away from our course. They were leaning on their ski sticks and their rifles were slung on their back. “Shoot them?” the lads asked “ No shooting, just hurry up” I told them.
The prisoner complained that he was unable and powerless to ski. But very soon he picked up the skill of skiing. Our rallying point was manned and secured by 2nd Lt. V: s Platoon. They had not been successful.
We headed right W from our rallying point by my order. We mined our ski track well and it did not take long until the first mine went bang. We were being pursued.
In the evening of the same day we bumped into a Russian securing unit in its camp which immediately became active. There was a horse with sleigh laden full of dead pine trunks. Fortunately the terrain was so forested that the Russian fire did not make any casualties. They fired at us with every possible weapon, it was a miracle that I succeeded in pulling my patrol out unscathed.
We kept skiing the entire 13 February without eating or drinking. The patrol appeared to be extremely tired and hungry, so I ordered an one hour break. It was about 18.00 hrs as we had made fires and started our meal. We did not build any lean-tos but every man tried to get some sleep while squatting on boughs next to a campfire.
At about 21.00 hrs a sentry reported noises of skiing to N. I ordered every man to the predefined positions where we kept waiting for the course of events. Soon we caught sight of a long line of skiers in moonlight heading just for our camp. At a distance of 100m from us they stopped and changed their course more to W, bypassing a small open bog and again veered for S.
We let them go peacefully but I admitted to myself that we were not able to get any more rest there, but had to go on. As we were preparing for departure we again heard a mine that we had planted to go off. At the same moments Russians started shooting flares at our incoming track. They were responded by similar ones to S and to N.
A general search and pursuit seemed to be going on. Therefore I changed our course more to N. My intention was to get close to the road to Tunkua where I expected the searching would be less intense.
Next morning 14.Feb.) at 05.00 hrs we heard intense shooting from our old camp area. We had left the campfires burning and now the abandoned fires were being attacked heavily.
In the afternoon as we approached Tunkuanjärvi lake we spotted a Russian patrol that was skiing on an opened ski track. They spotted us but did not shoot, instead they increased their speed. Maybe they were spooked by the size of our outfit. As we crossed their track they started shooting flares, however.
I selected a bay on the E shore of Tunkuanjärvi for our meal break. There was an island off the bay where I left two squads to secure.
As soon as we had got started with our meal a Russian skiing outfit appeared on the ice following our track, but they did not dare to cross the bay. Instead they chose to go round the bay. Their manouver was cut short by our men left on the island. They opened an intense fire at the enemy patrol, killing the men in the van. The rest took refuge in the forest.
In spite of the incident we completed our meal. Late in the evening we passed Kompakka village at a distance of 100m. It appeared to be well manned. Earlier it had been abandoned but now also this isthmus had been occupied by the enemy searching for us.
Having crossed Kompakanjärvi lake I had to give a break to my patrol because everyone was very tired. I told the lads to make fires and eat. As the fires had been lit and the meal started there was a loud explosion on the shoreline. Our minelayers had boosted a ski track mine with one kg of TNT. We could hear furious commands and loud wailing at the point of explosion. I increased our securing but we finished our meal. From that point on we were heading for our front line, and were left alone.
On 15 February at 02.00 hrs we reached our securing line that was situated 5km from a field stronghold. As the Sissis found that they were no more chased and we had made it to our securing line everybody went slack. The tension of being chased had driven us to the end of our tether, and now as we know that it was safe men started collapsing in the snow and many of them were unable to get up unassisted. This final 5 km was for many of us a painful journey that took more than four hours.
Our mission had been carried out in extremely difficult circumstances and it was a sample of the guts and endurance of Finnish Sissis. We had skied about 200 km in less than 5 days without proper rest in very cold weather.
Later in the same winter a Russian Lieutenant was taken prisoner and he recounted the following incident about our mission:
“A Russian Captain had been tasked to chase the Finnish skiers with a Company and destroy them. An entire Battalion was involved in the chase. The Captain returned from his mission and told that he had surprised the Finns at their campfires, and attacked them with his Company whereby he had killed the entire Finnish patrol, including the leaders and the prisoners.”
The process of this mission started in Riihimäki in January 1946 and ended in Maneesikatu street in Helsinki in November 1947. The presumed criminals were the author and one Corporal, who was exemplary courageous. The many Sissi operations made me and my men inseparable friends. Only one veteran of 1941 denounced us. The rest were witnessing for their superior and their number was more than 100 faithful Finns.
The traitor received a bounty of 50 000 FIM for his false denouncement, but the defendants had to incur more in debt to get justice.
( 2051 words)
The author had been arrested by the Communist controlled “Red Valpo” intelligence service after the war. The patrol must have needed some “Pervitin” to make it home lthough is not mentioned. He also honestly told what the patrol did to the unnecessary prisoners.
Re: Long range patrols, personal accounts
Another GHQ long range patrol story by a familiar author.
URPO ARHOSUO
Long range patrol in wireless control
Journal “Kansa Taisteli”, vol.05, 1959
The evening dusk was setting in one of the early days of 1943 as we were proceeding on skis towed by riders across lake Onega for its enemy occupied E shore. Despite the dusk we kept glancing at the open ice to spot anything suspicious.
There was no risk of the enemy in general but the patrolling motor sleds were awkward companions in case one such would have spotted us. We had engaged them sometimes and we did not wish to repeat the experience. Of course we had no possibility to escape from these fast monsters if we would have caught sight of any but at least we would have had a chance to disperse decently and seek cover in the pack ice zone in the vicinity.
Our task was to reconnoitre the large enemy supply centers on the spot at the mouth of Vodla river. Also the motor sleds were based there and from there they patrolled the open ice. Our outfit comprised ten men and we had been given an equal number of escorts. In case of meeting motor sleds we had an AT rifle with us, an “elephant gun” (20mm Lahti) else we could not have any means against these armoured devils.
We were approaching the shoreline and we left the horses and riders far from the shore because a horse would be too a conspicuous target for any patrol possibly sneaking at the shoreline, and we did not want to risk the beasts. We continued by skiing up to the packed ice near the shore and two of us set out to check our chances to land, soon they disappeared in the cover of the forest.
Some 15 min later the lads returned and told that the route ahead was clear and they had not spotted anything suspicious. Enemy securing ski tracks ran about 100m from the coastline and our escorters would cover up our ski track, so we could go on.
But we had just managed to heave up our backpacks as enemies began to emerge to the ice from the forest. We retreated between the hummocks of pack ice and waited. There were now 30 men in our view. They began to fan out while approaching to surrender us. The enemy was not aware of our total number. We had 16 men as 4 were left to tend the horses, and probably the enemy had not seen all of us, else they would not have dared to engage us with such a small number. We were already savouring the situation. The enemy kept approaching until we opened fire with every weapon. In the dark there is always the risk of aiming too high and so it happened that just 10 enemies fell on the ice while the rest hurried back to the cover of the forest.
We had to abandon the idea of crossing the lines, it would be futile to try the same night, the pursuers would be at our heels at once. Our important recce mission might fail. We were disappointed as we returned to the waiting horses. We returned to our side to wait for the next night.
Enemy had paid a visit on our side some days earlier, and they obviously were alert expecting a
countervisit, as courtesy dictates.
This time we selected a spot 20km S of the previous attempt and crossed over next night without any mishap at all. The shores seemed to be deserted. Actually the pursuers began chasing us at once, and we were unaware of it.
Two days had passed. We were approaching our main target, the mouth of Vodla river that was as busy as a major village. We were unaware of being pursued. We had already radioed our data to our commanders and our speed was still high.
Only now we would have to linger because catching a prisoner would in the worst case take a day because the enemy apparently was moving about in large numbers in their tasks on their area. It would not be easy to catch one man to provide information.
The weather turned into thaw. Strong wind shook the trees and scattered wet snow on our backs and we got thoroughly wet. It was late at night as we found ourselves less than 2km short of our target. We decided to stay overnight there and dry ourselves a little. The leader of our patrol and his runner set out to have a look at our target from the top of the hill by the river.
We completed the lean-to. A couple of hours later the patrol leader returned and told us that we shall have a hard job in observing our objective, it is busy and populated. Now we should have a decent rest and get dry, too, because we may have a tough time ahead of us before we are back at home. He told us that there is a prisoner camp on top of a high hill cut clean of trees, about half a kilometer from an enemy camp. The camp is abandoned and if we dare to take the risk we could stay overnight there. It would not be such a great risk as long as we would burn dry wood avoid sending sparks in the night and smoke that would be seen in the enemy camp. But if the pursuers should come, we would be trapped because the area was surrounded by a 3 meter high wire and the only entrance was a narrow gate. Shouild we be surprised we would already find ourselves in a prisoner camp already.
Most of us at first preferred to stay the night under the lean-to, to be free to act in the worst case. But soon the damp strong wind, green firewood smouldering without flame, wet clothes and other discomforts made us change opinion.
We left for the camp. We were joking: the Vanya would be spared the trouble of catching us as we are coming voluntarily . We made the sort-of-kitchen of the prisoner camp our good abode. There was even a kind of stove and the room so small that it warmed up quickly. Now we were able to get ourselves dry. We also could fix our meal on the stove. We were enjoying our sissi life blessedly ignorant of the fact that our pursuers were struggling on our tracks to catch us.
At the dusk of dawn after a good night's sleep we were well rested as we set out. We had good chances to be successful. When in the forest we reported our data and location home. But the countermessagfe baffled us. We were told that the enemy has been on our tracks from the very beginning and we were likely to be engaged by them soon. There were good grounds to be extremely careful and watchful.
We glanced at each other. Surely everyone was thinking about the night that we had carefree spent in the prisoner camp. The coordinates of the enemy sent to us indicated that they were less than two kilometers from us. Now we had to act fast. What are the Ivans thinking when they find that we have spent the night in the prisoner camp? Our humorous ideas were almost turned into facts.
Quicky we mined our track because our mission was still being carried out and we had no reason to bumble. Carefully we approached the enemy camp and began observing. We heard the mine explode behind us which meant that the enemy was close to us. From now on they would not ski on our track and that would slow them down. We were not in danger yet. We were in good condition and we knew we would be able to out-ski them if needed, we did not worry about that.
We skied around the camp. We had found out what was going on in there but we would have to get a prisoner to confirm our observations. That was a tough task because the enemies were often close to us but in so large groups that it was impossible to separate one man to get him. Moreover, our pursuers might find out that we were about and they might alert the camp and make their men attentive. Although we had made some distractive action to throw the pursuers off our track at the enemy camp we could not be totally sure.
In the afternoon as we had already given up all hope to catch a prisoner we suddenly found a chance. We managed to catch two men. Soon we pumped the facts out of them and then we had no reason to linger on any more. We were wondering why the enemy following us had not been able to engage us. Maybe we had distracted them more successfully than we had dared to hope.
Again we contacted home and found that they are monitoring not only our but the enemy movement, too. We were told that the enemy had alerted one battalion of skiers and they were approaching us. Now it was getting interesting. We on the spot were ignorant while the
ones far back home were updated all the time and guided our movements. The age of technology is miraculous and all means are allowed.
The weather had turned colder. Skis were sliding well, our pursuers had enough work if they wanted to get us. We did not pause until in small hours and made fires, because some rest was necessary. We also had to eat if we wanted to stay fit. A sentry was placed in a suitable spot whose task was to discourage the pursuers, should they succeed in catching up with us. Then we turned in after meal to wait for dawn.
We were on our way home, and we would be there in less than two days. Now we were able to slow down and spare our forces for the worst case. Again the base radioed us the data about the enemy manouvering behind us. We were able to act according to their advise, but we were surprised when given a compass bearing to use. It would take us 15 km South of our agreed point of return. But it was a clear order and we had to comply. Once more we had to change our direction abruptly, and we started cursing at these constant changes. Our schedule would not hold but the order was so compelling that we knew there was a reason for it.
Indeed there was a good reason for it, because later we learned that as the pursuers found it useless to chase us, they had requested assistance. A ski battalion was directed in our assumed future course reported by the pursuers. This was the reason to the abrupt changes in direction, because our own ideas would have lead us in an ambush. We managed to avoid it thanks to our alert commanders, although we at first swore at anything not conforming with our own plans, in a typical Finnish manner.
It was a moonlight evening as we arrived at the Onega coast. We had been hoping for more cloudy weather, instead it was moonlight on a clear sky. Again we remembered the motor sleds. No pack ice was in sight and in case of having to fight we would be helpless. The distance over the ice was nearly 30 km but we counted on our luck.
We reached the coastline at the bottom of a narrow bay sticking deep in the mainland, less than one kilometer wide. Athough the enemy had weapons nests and sentries on the mainland on both sides we did not want to try another spot because we already had crossed the enemy securing path. Immediately we found ourselves in a minefield, because the leg of our scout was tangled with a trigger wire. Fortunately nothing else happened and our Engineers started cutting the trigger wires. We managed to pass the minefield without any major problems. Fortunately there were no passers-by on the enemy footpath because it took time to pass the minefield that was more than 100m deep. We secured the path while the Engineers were working. As soon as the trail was opened we soon found ourselves on the open ice, expecting fire from the dugouts on the coastline.
It would not be very dangerous anymore, because in a matter of minutes we would be out of range of machine guns.
At home we learned what a thrilling time they had had during our mission. The most amusing fact was that two days after our return the enemy was still securing some areas between forking roads waiting for us. They, too, had not got their act together over there.
( 2143 words)
URPO ARHOSUO
Long range patrol in wireless control
Journal “Kansa Taisteli”, vol.05, 1959
The evening dusk was setting in one of the early days of 1943 as we were proceeding on skis towed by riders across lake Onega for its enemy occupied E shore. Despite the dusk we kept glancing at the open ice to spot anything suspicious.
There was no risk of the enemy in general but the patrolling motor sleds were awkward companions in case one such would have spotted us. We had engaged them sometimes and we did not wish to repeat the experience. Of course we had no possibility to escape from these fast monsters if we would have caught sight of any but at least we would have had a chance to disperse decently and seek cover in the pack ice zone in the vicinity.
Our task was to reconnoitre the large enemy supply centers on the spot at the mouth of Vodla river. Also the motor sleds were based there and from there they patrolled the open ice. Our outfit comprised ten men and we had been given an equal number of escorts. In case of meeting motor sleds we had an AT rifle with us, an “elephant gun” (20mm Lahti) else we could not have any means against these armoured devils.
We were approaching the shoreline and we left the horses and riders far from the shore because a horse would be too a conspicuous target for any patrol possibly sneaking at the shoreline, and we did not want to risk the beasts. We continued by skiing up to the packed ice near the shore and two of us set out to check our chances to land, soon they disappeared in the cover of the forest.
Some 15 min later the lads returned and told that the route ahead was clear and they had not spotted anything suspicious. Enemy securing ski tracks ran about 100m from the coastline and our escorters would cover up our ski track, so we could go on.
But we had just managed to heave up our backpacks as enemies began to emerge to the ice from the forest. We retreated between the hummocks of pack ice and waited. There were now 30 men in our view. They began to fan out while approaching to surrender us. The enemy was not aware of our total number. We had 16 men as 4 were left to tend the horses, and probably the enemy had not seen all of us, else they would not have dared to engage us with such a small number. We were already savouring the situation. The enemy kept approaching until we opened fire with every weapon. In the dark there is always the risk of aiming too high and so it happened that just 10 enemies fell on the ice while the rest hurried back to the cover of the forest.
We had to abandon the idea of crossing the lines, it would be futile to try the same night, the pursuers would be at our heels at once. Our important recce mission might fail. We were disappointed as we returned to the waiting horses. We returned to our side to wait for the next night.
Enemy had paid a visit on our side some days earlier, and they obviously were alert expecting a
countervisit, as courtesy dictates.
This time we selected a spot 20km S of the previous attempt and crossed over next night without any mishap at all. The shores seemed to be deserted. Actually the pursuers began chasing us at once, and we were unaware of it.
Two days had passed. We were approaching our main target, the mouth of Vodla river that was as busy as a major village. We were unaware of being pursued. We had already radioed our data to our commanders and our speed was still high.
Only now we would have to linger because catching a prisoner would in the worst case take a day because the enemy apparently was moving about in large numbers in their tasks on their area. It would not be easy to catch one man to provide information.
The weather turned into thaw. Strong wind shook the trees and scattered wet snow on our backs and we got thoroughly wet. It was late at night as we found ourselves less than 2km short of our target. We decided to stay overnight there and dry ourselves a little. The leader of our patrol and his runner set out to have a look at our target from the top of the hill by the river.
We completed the lean-to. A couple of hours later the patrol leader returned and told us that we shall have a hard job in observing our objective, it is busy and populated. Now we should have a decent rest and get dry, too, because we may have a tough time ahead of us before we are back at home. He told us that there is a prisoner camp on top of a high hill cut clean of trees, about half a kilometer from an enemy camp. The camp is abandoned and if we dare to take the risk we could stay overnight there. It would not be such a great risk as long as we would burn dry wood avoid sending sparks in the night and smoke that would be seen in the enemy camp. But if the pursuers should come, we would be trapped because the area was surrounded by a 3 meter high wire and the only entrance was a narrow gate. Shouild we be surprised we would already find ourselves in a prisoner camp already.
Most of us at first preferred to stay the night under the lean-to, to be free to act in the worst case. But soon the damp strong wind, green firewood smouldering without flame, wet clothes and other discomforts made us change opinion.
We left for the camp. We were joking: the Vanya would be spared the trouble of catching us as we are coming voluntarily . We made the sort-of-kitchen of the prisoner camp our good abode. There was even a kind of stove and the room so small that it warmed up quickly. Now we were able to get ourselves dry. We also could fix our meal on the stove. We were enjoying our sissi life blessedly ignorant of the fact that our pursuers were struggling on our tracks to catch us.
At the dusk of dawn after a good night's sleep we were well rested as we set out. We had good chances to be successful. When in the forest we reported our data and location home. But the countermessagfe baffled us. We were told that the enemy has been on our tracks from the very beginning and we were likely to be engaged by them soon. There were good grounds to be extremely careful and watchful.
We glanced at each other. Surely everyone was thinking about the night that we had carefree spent in the prisoner camp. The coordinates of the enemy sent to us indicated that they were less than two kilometers from us. Now we had to act fast. What are the Ivans thinking when they find that we have spent the night in the prisoner camp? Our humorous ideas were almost turned into facts.
Quicky we mined our track because our mission was still being carried out and we had no reason to bumble. Carefully we approached the enemy camp and began observing. We heard the mine explode behind us which meant that the enemy was close to us. From now on they would not ski on our track and that would slow them down. We were not in danger yet. We were in good condition and we knew we would be able to out-ski them if needed, we did not worry about that.
We skied around the camp. We had found out what was going on in there but we would have to get a prisoner to confirm our observations. That was a tough task because the enemies were often close to us but in so large groups that it was impossible to separate one man to get him. Moreover, our pursuers might find out that we were about and they might alert the camp and make their men attentive. Although we had made some distractive action to throw the pursuers off our track at the enemy camp we could not be totally sure.
In the afternoon as we had already given up all hope to catch a prisoner we suddenly found a chance. We managed to catch two men. Soon we pumped the facts out of them and then we had no reason to linger on any more. We were wondering why the enemy following us had not been able to engage us. Maybe we had distracted them more successfully than we had dared to hope.
Again we contacted home and found that they are monitoring not only our but the enemy movement, too. We were told that the enemy had alerted one battalion of skiers and they were approaching us. Now it was getting interesting. We on the spot were ignorant while the
ones far back home were updated all the time and guided our movements. The age of technology is miraculous and all means are allowed.
The weather had turned colder. Skis were sliding well, our pursuers had enough work if they wanted to get us. We did not pause until in small hours and made fires, because some rest was necessary. We also had to eat if we wanted to stay fit. A sentry was placed in a suitable spot whose task was to discourage the pursuers, should they succeed in catching up with us. Then we turned in after meal to wait for dawn.
We were on our way home, and we would be there in less than two days. Now we were able to slow down and spare our forces for the worst case. Again the base radioed us the data about the enemy manouvering behind us. We were able to act according to their advise, but we were surprised when given a compass bearing to use. It would take us 15 km South of our agreed point of return. But it was a clear order and we had to comply. Once more we had to change our direction abruptly, and we started cursing at these constant changes. Our schedule would not hold but the order was so compelling that we knew there was a reason for it.
Indeed there was a good reason for it, because later we learned that as the pursuers found it useless to chase us, they had requested assistance. A ski battalion was directed in our assumed future course reported by the pursuers. This was the reason to the abrupt changes in direction, because our own ideas would have lead us in an ambush. We managed to avoid it thanks to our alert commanders, although we at first swore at anything not conforming with our own plans, in a typical Finnish manner.
It was a moonlight evening as we arrived at the Onega coast. We had been hoping for more cloudy weather, instead it was moonlight on a clear sky. Again we remembered the motor sleds. No pack ice was in sight and in case of having to fight we would be helpless. The distance over the ice was nearly 30 km but we counted on our luck.
We reached the coastline at the bottom of a narrow bay sticking deep in the mainland, less than one kilometer wide. Athough the enemy had weapons nests and sentries on the mainland on both sides we did not want to try another spot because we already had crossed the enemy securing path. Immediately we found ourselves in a minefield, because the leg of our scout was tangled with a trigger wire. Fortunately nothing else happened and our Engineers started cutting the trigger wires. We managed to pass the minefield without any major problems. Fortunately there were no passers-by on the enemy footpath because it took time to pass the minefield that was more than 100m deep. We secured the path while the Engineers were working. As soon as the trail was opened we soon found ourselves on the open ice, expecting fire from the dugouts on the coastline.
It would not be very dangerous anymore, because in a matter of minutes we would be out of range of machine guns.
At home we learned what a thrilling time they had had during our mission. The most amusing fact was that two days after our return the enemy was still securing some areas between forking roads waiting for us. They, too, had not got their act together over there.
( 2143 words)
-
subskipper
- Member
- Posts: 772
- Joined: 09 Mar 2002, 18:16
- Location: Sweden
- Contact:
Re: Long range patrols
Your tireless translation efforts are much appreciated! The Finnish long range patrol stories are some of the most interesting of the war.
Re: Long range patrols
The Long range patrol missions did not always succeed, here is a case of one that was cut short.
Sulho Kivimäki
Forced landing in terrain
Journal “Kansa Taisteli” vol. 6/7, 1959
The dusk was falling in August (1944)as we again arrived at the beautiful lake Pälkjärvi. We had attempted to set out on two nights already but the engines of our old transport aircraft (He-59 on loan from Luftwaffe in German markings, tr.rem.) had malfunctioned and had not been able to take off. What would happen this time, would she run or would we have to return once again?
The enemy invasion that had started in June 1944 was still going on and now the focal point was in Ilomantsi. The GHQ Long distance patrols, our unit, was sent out to reconnoitre what the enemy was up to and find out about matters that were of interest to our commanders. The aircraft was to take us over the front line to the vicinity of our actual operation area.
The mechanics were busy as bees with the aircraft and the engines were howling as the experts were tinkering with them. We were watching them doing their job. An in-flight engine problem is undesirable even over the friendly side, let alone over enemy territory. Finally it appeared that the mechanics were happy with their accomplishment and everything was ready for takeoff. The pilot climbed on his seat to check his gauges and meters to see that everything was OK.
We were permitted to get on board with our backpacks and other gear. Finally we would set out and this torturing waiting would be over, our minds were full of desire for action. We were packed indeed because 13 men plus gear and three airmen would take space that was scarce in our aircraft. We packed in sideways like pickled herrings in a barrel, and our gallows humour made us deduce that now we found ourselves in a “flying coffin.” We had no idea how close to truth our jokes would be.
Ot was at 23.00 on 13 August 1944 as our aircraft turned her nose at the open lake, and the rumble of engines and noise of water assured us that we would be on our way. Of course we saw nothing in the dark and crowded aircraft hold. We trusted the experienced pilots but less the old aircraft.
Heavy load resulted in long takeoff run and although Pälkjärvi is a large lake we managed to take off not until close to the opposite shore, and finally were airborne while the floats were sweeping treetops. Our aircraft took altitude and headed for the objective.
We were enjoying our transport because we had avoided crossing the front line on foot, which alwaus includes risks, enemy minefields and securing troops were far below us. Most important that we would arrive at our objective fully rested and so having the best condition to fulfill our task. That is whyt we liked air transport. About half an hour later we knew we were in the enemy airspace.
To our horror we suddenly heard as one of the aircraft engines started spluttering ominously. Would the old kite start acting up and get us in trouble ? The airmen had their parachutes but only well functioning engines would protect us. Tensely we were listening to the sound of the engines. It is easy to guess what we were thinking about. A this heavily loaded aircraft is not able to fly with one engine only, and unless we found ourselves above a lake, it would mean landing in forest with a floatplane with less than pleasant outcome.
The engine went on spluttering and the tension increased to an almost intolerable level. The pilot did his best, but to our horror we soon heard how one of the engines died. Despite his efforts the pilot was not able tor restart it. The other engine was working fine at full rate but it would not help us.
We had been airborne for thirty minutes as the pilot informed:
-We are going down in the forest, all of us, we are not going to bail out.
The airmen were wonderfully heroic. They had a chance to bail out and survive but they did not do it. Another piece of bad news: we are above an enemy camp and we were already sweeping treetops.
At the same moment a hellish crashing and banging started as the props hit the treetops.
We clenched our teeth and closed our eyes, this was an earnest moment. Would this be the end for us ? A few loud thuds and we were thrown about like mitts in the fuselage. I felt terrible, and there was only one idea flashing about in my mind: What is going to happen? The pilot did his utmost to make his damaged kite land in the most favourable manner. But the dense forest did not provide any alternatives and the heavy plane was uncontrollable even for the best pilot. One crunch more and we were thrown somewhere. I had losr my consciousness like everyone else.
We found ourselves on the ground in a scrapheap. Obviously my unconsciousness had not lasted for long. As I came to more or less knocked about men started emerging out of the wreckage. I was surprised to find that I had not broken any bones although I felt like having taken a beating all over my body. I started helping the more knocked about men and tried to find out if anybody had died. The sad truth emerged: nobody was unhurt, many of us had broken limbs or ribs. One of us was paralysed from waist down, and totally unable to move.
Yet the worst was to come yet. A sentry from the enemy camp arrived. We had crossed the enemy camp at treetops and of course they were interested to see our landing spot. We made quickly up a plan. As the enemy sentry arrived we never gave him a chance to say anything but our Russian speakers told him to go and get us help, as he enquired who we might be. The enemy had not detected the nationality of our aircraft. Quickly the enemy sentry left to do what he was told to do.
We were given a respite and we tried to act fast because the enemy camp was frighteningly close by, and enemies would soon be here to help us. We tried to find our backpacks in the plane wreckage but not all of us had found them before the enemy was approaching in a great hurry. We sent a man toward the enemy and as he bumped on the enemies a firefight ensued and our man Cpl. Kortelainen was killed.
Now we were in a hurry. We had found our weapons but several backpacks were left behind as the enemy came rushing. Our pal who was paralysed from waist down refused to follow us as we offered to carry him. He asked for and was given a SMG and some satchel charges, he promised to use them to delay the enemy to the utmost to enable us to disengage. This heroic man fully understood how serious the situation was and that it was impossible for him to be saved.
The aircraft gunner (or mechanic?, tr.rem.), an elderly staff Sgt whose leg was crushed also remained there. (This man did indeed return with the other POWs, with a healed leg.).
The arduous journey for home started while the enemy furiously tried to catch us.
Our situation was made immensely more difficult by the fact that we did not have the slightest idea about the location of the front line. Fighting in the wilderness was raging and the lines were shifted back and forth several kilometers a day. The enemy also employed dogs pursuing us and that increased our speed.
We had had hardly time to think how we survived the crash of forced landing with such a small damages. Only now we credited our pilot for his skill.
At the dusk of the next dawn we arrived at an isthmus between lakes. After a brief counsel we agreed that there was enemy manning or at least securing ahead of us, because the terrain was opportune for one. We spread out into a line in case there would be a surprise. There was a brook, dry at this season, connecting the two lakes. Tall grass was growing on the bank on our side only. We were approaching in a line the edge of the grassland as we were greeted by angry bursts of SMG fire, and the sound was somehow familiar (=rate of fire, tr.rem.). We were not able to react correctly but took cover and retaliated. At the same time we withdrew to the direction of a dry patch of land in the middle of a small open swamp on our left, trying to get there. We could not withdraw any farther because our pursues might intercept us as they most likely were nearby.
Our pilort had been killed in this skirmish. We tried to traverse the open swamp as fast as possible for the forest covered patch. We were already being fired at, and the man running ahead of me got a bullet in his backside. The bullet ignited the tracer ammunition in his pocket and they went off like fireworks.
We reached the spot of forest and found it free of enemies and an ideal place for defence.
We secured it quickly and began to assess our casualties. The pilot was gone, as well as our leader 2nd Lt. Pekuri. Two of us were wounded, one in the thight and another in the arm. Most had been knocked about in the forced landing and two men only were without visible damage; the plane observer, a young 2nd lt, and one of our patrolmen.
We were indeed in a sorry state. Yet we decided to defend our site to the utmost because we were unable to march on in the state we found ourselves. This point of terrain was the best possible to be defended with a small force. There was open ground to every direction and the small grove of trees in the middle of a swamp was a good place for wounded men.
This situation would soon be over if we only had had our radio. However it was broken by the crash landing and as the enemy was coming we had dumped it in the swamp together with the code sheets. There was no way to contact the base and our commanders. Again we had a counsel and the undamaged man promised to cross the swamp and pass the lake to find our own because the front line could not be very far. We wished him good luck as this brave men set out to get help. We did indeed need help.
Our situation was bleak. We could hear how dogs were whining and barking beyond the open swamp. Our pursuers were there, and we expected that we would soon be seeing them. It was light by now and sounds of artillery fire enabled us to deduce where the front line might be.
We had bandaged our wounded and stayed there passing for the day in a nerve wracking wait. We planned our defence and every detail associated with it. Our fighter aircraft were searching for our missing transport aircraft. We knew that the message they took to our commanders were not encouraging. We were likely written off as casualties.
The day crept to night and it was dusk again while nothing special had happened. Our pursuers appeared to have ended their effort, for understandable reasons which we then were ignorant about. There was nothing we could do but to wait for rescue from our misery. At nightfall our sentry came to report that a squad of men was approaching our hideout. We quickly prepared for the worst and manned our positions. In the dusk of the August night we spotted something familiar about the gear of the approaching men and let them get closer. There was no hurry to open fire, in our good positions we knew we would be able to wipe out such a small detachment as soon as we were sure about them. Now they were quite close already.
One can guess how happy we were as we recognized them as friends. Our challenge was responded in clear Finnish. It was only now that we found out, bitterly, that last night we had bumped into a Finnish securing post. The sentry had no idea that we would be coming, so they had opened fire with dire results. As the dawn had broken they had seen the body of our pilot and they had to admit that they had fired at friends. We, too , had fired in return without realising that the familiar sound of a SMG had been a correct observation. Facts cannot be undone, however bitter it may be. We also enquired about our patrol leader's body, but they had not seen him. The men guided us to their stronghold while helping the wounded.
We set out to look for the body of our CO. We found him in the tall grass a few dozen meters from the point of skirmish last night. The muzzle of his SMG was in his mouth and the back of his head had been blown off. He had been badly wounded in belly and ended his suffering. The man who had set out to reconnoitre yesterday also returned and learned that we had made it back to our lines.
The mindless war had again taken heavy sacrifice, although we had to be gratetul to have got away with it with casualties this small. It could have been worse.
(2337 words)
( Source “Kohtalokkaat lennot” provides the following information:
He-59
Pilot W/O Viljo Nuutio
Observer 2nd Lt. Kaila, Niilo
Mechanic Viljo Tammi
Shot down near Korpiselkä by infantry arms fire from a Soviet field stronghold on 13.8.1944 when flying at a very low altitude. )
Sulho Kivimäki
Forced landing in terrain
Journal “Kansa Taisteli” vol. 6/7, 1959
The dusk was falling in August (1944)as we again arrived at the beautiful lake Pälkjärvi. We had attempted to set out on two nights already but the engines of our old transport aircraft (He-59 on loan from Luftwaffe in German markings, tr.rem.) had malfunctioned and had not been able to take off. What would happen this time, would she run or would we have to return once again?
The enemy invasion that had started in June 1944 was still going on and now the focal point was in Ilomantsi. The GHQ Long distance patrols, our unit, was sent out to reconnoitre what the enemy was up to and find out about matters that were of interest to our commanders. The aircraft was to take us over the front line to the vicinity of our actual operation area.
The mechanics were busy as bees with the aircraft and the engines were howling as the experts were tinkering with them. We were watching them doing their job. An in-flight engine problem is undesirable even over the friendly side, let alone over enemy territory. Finally it appeared that the mechanics were happy with their accomplishment and everything was ready for takeoff. The pilot climbed on his seat to check his gauges and meters to see that everything was OK.
We were permitted to get on board with our backpacks and other gear. Finally we would set out and this torturing waiting would be over, our minds were full of desire for action. We were packed indeed because 13 men plus gear and three airmen would take space that was scarce in our aircraft. We packed in sideways like pickled herrings in a barrel, and our gallows humour made us deduce that now we found ourselves in a “flying coffin.” We had no idea how close to truth our jokes would be.
Ot was at 23.00 on 13 August 1944 as our aircraft turned her nose at the open lake, and the rumble of engines and noise of water assured us that we would be on our way. Of course we saw nothing in the dark and crowded aircraft hold. We trusted the experienced pilots but less the old aircraft.
Heavy load resulted in long takeoff run and although Pälkjärvi is a large lake we managed to take off not until close to the opposite shore, and finally were airborne while the floats were sweeping treetops. Our aircraft took altitude and headed for the objective.
We were enjoying our transport because we had avoided crossing the front line on foot, which alwaus includes risks, enemy minefields and securing troops were far below us. Most important that we would arrive at our objective fully rested and so having the best condition to fulfill our task. That is whyt we liked air transport. About half an hour later we knew we were in the enemy airspace.
To our horror we suddenly heard as one of the aircraft engines started spluttering ominously. Would the old kite start acting up and get us in trouble ? The airmen had their parachutes but only well functioning engines would protect us. Tensely we were listening to the sound of the engines. It is easy to guess what we were thinking about. A this heavily loaded aircraft is not able to fly with one engine only, and unless we found ourselves above a lake, it would mean landing in forest with a floatplane with less than pleasant outcome.
The engine went on spluttering and the tension increased to an almost intolerable level. The pilot did his best, but to our horror we soon heard how one of the engines died. Despite his efforts the pilot was not able tor restart it. The other engine was working fine at full rate but it would not help us.
We had been airborne for thirty minutes as the pilot informed:
-We are going down in the forest, all of us, we are not going to bail out.
The airmen were wonderfully heroic. They had a chance to bail out and survive but they did not do it. Another piece of bad news: we are above an enemy camp and we were already sweeping treetops.
At the same moment a hellish crashing and banging started as the props hit the treetops.
We clenched our teeth and closed our eyes, this was an earnest moment. Would this be the end for us ? A few loud thuds and we were thrown about like mitts in the fuselage. I felt terrible, and there was only one idea flashing about in my mind: What is going to happen? The pilot did his utmost to make his damaged kite land in the most favourable manner. But the dense forest did not provide any alternatives and the heavy plane was uncontrollable even for the best pilot. One crunch more and we were thrown somewhere. I had losr my consciousness like everyone else.
We found ourselves on the ground in a scrapheap. Obviously my unconsciousness had not lasted for long. As I came to more or less knocked about men started emerging out of the wreckage. I was surprised to find that I had not broken any bones although I felt like having taken a beating all over my body. I started helping the more knocked about men and tried to find out if anybody had died. The sad truth emerged: nobody was unhurt, many of us had broken limbs or ribs. One of us was paralysed from waist down, and totally unable to move.
Yet the worst was to come yet. A sentry from the enemy camp arrived. We had crossed the enemy camp at treetops and of course they were interested to see our landing spot. We made quickly up a plan. As the enemy sentry arrived we never gave him a chance to say anything but our Russian speakers told him to go and get us help, as he enquired who we might be. The enemy had not detected the nationality of our aircraft. Quickly the enemy sentry left to do what he was told to do.
We were given a respite and we tried to act fast because the enemy camp was frighteningly close by, and enemies would soon be here to help us. We tried to find our backpacks in the plane wreckage but not all of us had found them before the enemy was approaching in a great hurry. We sent a man toward the enemy and as he bumped on the enemies a firefight ensued and our man Cpl. Kortelainen was killed.
Now we were in a hurry. We had found our weapons but several backpacks were left behind as the enemy came rushing. Our pal who was paralysed from waist down refused to follow us as we offered to carry him. He asked for and was given a SMG and some satchel charges, he promised to use them to delay the enemy to the utmost to enable us to disengage. This heroic man fully understood how serious the situation was and that it was impossible for him to be saved.
The aircraft gunner (or mechanic?, tr.rem.), an elderly staff Sgt whose leg was crushed also remained there. (This man did indeed return with the other POWs, with a healed leg.).
The arduous journey for home started while the enemy furiously tried to catch us.
Our situation was made immensely more difficult by the fact that we did not have the slightest idea about the location of the front line. Fighting in the wilderness was raging and the lines were shifted back and forth several kilometers a day. The enemy also employed dogs pursuing us and that increased our speed.
We had had hardly time to think how we survived the crash of forced landing with such a small damages. Only now we credited our pilot for his skill.
At the dusk of the next dawn we arrived at an isthmus between lakes. After a brief counsel we agreed that there was enemy manning or at least securing ahead of us, because the terrain was opportune for one. We spread out into a line in case there would be a surprise. There was a brook, dry at this season, connecting the two lakes. Tall grass was growing on the bank on our side only. We were approaching in a line the edge of the grassland as we were greeted by angry bursts of SMG fire, and the sound was somehow familiar (=rate of fire, tr.rem.). We were not able to react correctly but took cover and retaliated. At the same time we withdrew to the direction of a dry patch of land in the middle of a small open swamp on our left, trying to get there. We could not withdraw any farther because our pursues might intercept us as they most likely were nearby.
Our pilort had been killed in this skirmish. We tried to traverse the open swamp as fast as possible for the forest covered patch. We were already being fired at, and the man running ahead of me got a bullet in his backside. The bullet ignited the tracer ammunition in his pocket and they went off like fireworks.
We reached the spot of forest and found it free of enemies and an ideal place for defence.
We secured it quickly and began to assess our casualties. The pilot was gone, as well as our leader 2nd Lt. Pekuri. Two of us were wounded, one in the thight and another in the arm. Most had been knocked about in the forced landing and two men only were without visible damage; the plane observer, a young 2nd lt, and one of our patrolmen.
We were indeed in a sorry state. Yet we decided to defend our site to the utmost because we were unable to march on in the state we found ourselves. This point of terrain was the best possible to be defended with a small force. There was open ground to every direction and the small grove of trees in the middle of a swamp was a good place for wounded men.
This situation would soon be over if we only had had our radio. However it was broken by the crash landing and as the enemy was coming we had dumped it in the swamp together with the code sheets. There was no way to contact the base and our commanders. Again we had a counsel and the undamaged man promised to cross the swamp and pass the lake to find our own because the front line could not be very far. We wished him good luck as this brave men set out to get help. We did indeed need help.
Our situation was bleak. We could hear how dogs were whining and barking beyond the open swamp. Our pursuers were there, and we expected that we would soon be seeing them. It was light by now and sounds of artillery fire enabled us to deduce where the front line might be.
We had bandaged our wounded and stayed there passing for the day in a nerve wracking wait. We planned our defence and every detail associated with it. Our fighter aircraft were searching for our missing transport aircraft. We knew that the message they took to our commanders were not encouraging. We were likely written off as casualties.
The day crept to night and it was dusk again while nothing special had happened. Our pursuers appeared to have ended their effort, for understandable reasons which we then were ignorant about. There was nothing we could do but to wait for rescue from our misery. At nightfall our sentry came to report that a squad of men was approaching our hideout. We quickly prepared for the worst and manned our positions. In the dusk of the August night we spotted something familiar about the gear of the approaching men and let them get closer. There was no hurry to open fire, in our good positions we knew we would be able to wipe out such a small detachment as soon as we were sure about them. Now they were quite close already.
One can guess how happy we were as we recognized them as friends. Our challenge was responded in clear Finnish. It was only now that we found out, bitterly, that last night we had bumped into a Finnish securing post. The sentry had no idea that we would be coming, so they had opened fire with dire results. As the dawn had broken they had seen the body of our pilot and they had to admit that they had fired at friends. We, too , had fired in return without realising that the familiar sound of a SMG had been a correct observation. Facts cannot be undone, however bitter it may be. We also enquired about our patrol leader's body, but they had not seen him. The men guided us to their stronghold while helping the wounded.
We set out to look for the body of our CO. We found him in the tall grass a few dozen meters from the point of skirmish last night. The muzzle of his SMG was in his mouth and the back of his head had been blown off. He had been badly wounded in belly and ended his suffering. The man who had set out to reconnoitre yesterday also returned and learned that we had made it back to our lines.
The mindless war had again taken heavy sacrifice, although we had to be gratetul to have got away with it with casualties this small. It could have been worse.
(2337 words)
( Source “Kohtalokkaat lennot” provides the following information:
He-59
Pilot W/O Viljo Nuutio
Observer 2nd Lt. Kaila, Niilo
Mechanic Viljo Tammi
Shot down near Korpiselkä by infantry arms fire from a Soviet field stronghold on 13.8.1944 when flying at a very low altitude. )
Re: Long range patrols/14.D at Rukajärvi
With reference to the story of Toivo Korhonen ( Journal “Kansa Taisteli”, vol. 6/7 1959) where he stated that
A veteran interviewed by Antti Tuuri sheds some light in this cryptic case:
“Another case was that of Toivo Korhonen who had gone to Lehto and taken three prisoners but had just one pair of extra skis. The lads had to kill with an field ax two prisoners. In fact they had carried out it so that while in single file they had struck from behind so that the POW did not have any idea what was happening. Anyway, it was a case for Court Martial after the war, and it was protracted until the Supreme Court Martial. Korhonen was acquitted. He and his patrol had no other choice than this or be destroyed themselves, as he unbeknownst had penetrated the camp area of a brigade of marines, comprising 4000 men. The patrol would not have returned alive otherwise.”
(Quoted from : Antti Tuuri: “Rukajärven linja” 1992, Otava ISBN 978-951-29519-8 p.291)
““The process of this mission started in Riihimäki in January 1946 and ended in Maneesikatu street in Helsinki in November 1947. The presumed criminals were the author and one Corporal, who was exemplary courageous. The many Sissi operations made me and my men inseparable friends. Only one veteran of 1941 denounced us. The rest were witnessing for their superior and their number was more than 100 faithful Finns.
A veteran interviewed by Antti Tuuri sheds some light in this cryptic case:
“Another case was that of Toivo Korhonen who had gone to Lehto and taken three prisoners but had just one pair of extra skis. The lads had to kill with an field ax two prisoners. In fact they had carried out it so that while in single file they had struck from behind so that the POW did not have any idea what was happening. Anyway, it was a case for Court Martial after the war, and it was protracted until the Supreme Court Martial. Korhonen was acquitted. He and his patrol had no other choice than this or be destroyed themselves, as he unbeknownst had penetrated the camp area of a brigade of marines, comprising 4000 men. The patrol would not have returned alive otherwise.”
(Quoted from : Antti Tuuri: “Rukajärven linja” 1992, Otava ISBN 978-951-29519-8 p.291)
Re: Long range patrols - A short one
Here is a story of a very brief patrol mission. Since the author was a man of the GHQ long range patrol troop the story is placed here.
Urpo Arhosuo
First patrol of the new war
Journal "Kansa Taisteli", vol. 08/1959
The first thing that struck me in the beginning of our Continuation War as I arrived at the rallying base of our unit was the small size of our outfit. GHQ Long range patrols were indeed never overmanned. Now the men of our outfit could be counted with fingers. That is why the first mission had to be carried out making use of “assistants”. That is, volunteers from the front line had to make good our small number. Patrol leaders only were our men.
Intense activity started on the final days of June 1941, because the plan for the offensive of our troops called for data on the enemy and other factors immediately affecting the attack plans. We were ordered to get ready for a recon mission just for two or three days and penetrating no deeper than barely 20km in front of our front line. We would get the volunteer patrolmen at the front line. Each of us (patrol leaders) had our own tasks in our directions. Action near the front line sets great requirements to the men doing it and we did not know what “professionalism” in patrolling these volunteers would have.
That is why we were a little tense having received our orders. The Winter War patrols were still fresh in our minds so we were aware what the mission called for. Crossing the front lines, observing enemy camps, artillery positions, roads and bridges called for planned activities if one wanted to succeed.
My and Sgt. Paukkunen's objectives were situated in the same direction so we decided and were permitted to cross the front lines and the worst spots together. After that we would head for our individual objectives separately. This did a lot to relieve my tension since I knew that Paukkunen was a well experienced patrolman who had been moving about in the enemy rear in various circumstances.
We arrived at the front line S of lake Nuijamaanjärvi and got acquainted with our men. Each of us got only two men because the dense enemy camp areas and crossing the front line in a light summer night did not enable any larger patrols. I have forgotten the names of my volunteers, one of them was a 2nd Lt. And the other a Sapper Sgt, but they appeared to be brave men, although this would be their first patrol mission. Therefore I believed I could cope. Paukkunen received his men and at 22.30 we said goodbye to our escort and crossed our front line. The first patrol mission had started.
The light summer night was nerve-racking and by the time we reached the enemy wire we were looking like mulattoes because the soot of the burned forest in which we were crawling coloured our faces into an odd hue. Our movements had to be extremely careful and time consuming. Crossing the wire felt like an eternity because cutting the wires and resulting snaps were as loud as rifle shots in our ears. There were two MG nests nearby, each manned, and the sentries were puffing their mahorka. We sincerely were hoping that they should not hear our movement: being exposed now would end our war immediately.
We managed to make enough opening in the wire that by slitheirng on our backs we passed underneath it. Having crawled between the nests we found ourselves in the enemy trench which was empty, and the worst was over. We had crossed the front line.
We proceeded for one kilometer and then dared to make a break for a fag to soothe our nerves and clean up our sooty faces as sweat was flowing down our faces into our eyes, smarting. Less than one kilometer ahead of us was a road that we knew was next to large camping areas. If we managed to cross the road as successfully as the front line we would be fine.
The brief summer night was past midnight and therefore we had to move carefully in the dry cracking forest because the enemy border troops were elite units which it was advisable to avoid confronting. Carefully approaching the road we could see that the data on large camps was not exaggerated. There were tents, huts made of boughs and open fires, covering the road in an endless chain. We started seeking a gap to slip beyond the road where it would be more calm.
Our attempt was in vain because moving around at the perimeter of the camp area was so hard on our nerves that we gave up. We withdrew a little deeper in the forest to make new plans.
Our volunteers had so far proved themselves as calm men but now they were implying at returning. Sgt. Paukkunen rejected such ideas in his familiar style:
- At this time of the day, if we try to return by the same route we shall fund our remains drying on the wire. Do you lads think that the Vanya is blind? We have been somewhat lucky so far, but it does not make sense to be foolhardy.
End of discussion.
The Eastern horizon was getting red as we had completed our plan. We would seek a stretch of road with dense alder bushes on both sides and creep between tents. So far we had not spotted one single sentry in the camp area. In case of surprise we would open fire with all weapons and rush across the road.
We found a spot that we thought was feasible for our plan. Low, dense alder bushes were growing on both sides of the road, providing the best cover for a creeping man. We headed for a row of tents set up scarcely ten meters from the road. The tents were very close to each other, that is why we selected a spot where the tent entries were pointing to opposite directions, so that a man eventually coming out would not at once spot us.
We managed to get between the tents as silently as ghosts. Now our nerves were getting tense and even beyond that. There were noises of snoring and also other “night sounds” in the tents as we were inching ourselves tor the road. We had already passed the tents by some meters as we heard sounds of footsteps approaching on the road. It was a sentry, walking slowly and the gravel was scrunching under his boots. We crouched even lower in the alder bushes. The sentry was not yet next to us as there was some rustling and coughing in the tent on our left. The tent flap was lifted up and a sleepy man stepped out. We were holding our breaths because now everything appeared to be disfavouring us. Having stepped to the side of the tent the man relieved himself and then went to a pile of firewood next to the tent entry and began to cut more with an axe. Although we were very close the dense alder bushes covered us completely. Paukkunen whispered in my ear:
- If that damn man had pissed on my face I would have fired at once.
Now the sentry was there, too, and he began to chat with the man chopping wood, mentioning something about the night being chilly. We were amazed, because we were bathing in sweat. After some more words the sentry went on and the sound of his footsteps disappeared. The man chopping the wood was full of energy, swinging his axe with gusto. At every blow we inched ourselves closer to the road. Finally the wood chopper had had enough since he vanished in the tent.
Carefully we slipped over the road on which the sentry was walking. The worst was past, we thought, finding ourselves in a calmer terrain. Such a tight spot in the very first mission, maybe due to lack of experience.
At 05.00hrs we were in the point where we split. Paukkunen headed for his own objective. We found ourselves N of Pihlajajärvi village about one km off it. Since the night was gone and in daytime we had small chances to complete our task we decided to stay together for the day and continue next night. Our objectives were nearby and if we took quick action we would be ready to return next morning, together. We agreed on a meeting point where we would find ourselves twenty four hours later if no surprises.
At 19.00hrs each of us left to do their duty. The road bridge E of Pihjalajärvi village was our first objective. The bridge was situated at the perimeter of the village covered by forest so that it was almost not visible to the village. When peering at the village from the edge of the forest we saw a lot of soldiers and a sentry on the bridge. I decided to nab this man quietly for interrogation and then we would have all the time we wanted to observe the bridge. There was dense bush at the perimeter of the field, enabling me to approach the unsuspecting sentry and take him completely unawares.
The small path from the bushes to the bridge enabled me to move soundlessly, I thought this was a piece of cake. Our Sapper would stand aside. I decided to catch the man alone, the Lieut would be behind me in case I needed any help; one never knows how fast or tenaciously he is going to react. I absolutely forbade to use firearms because the border guards with their dogs in the village would not make any pleasant company. Shudl they start chasing us we would have a hard time.
Our Sapper had left himself about ten meters behind us as we were approaching the bridge. Between the twigs I could see that the sentry was also a border guard. I made up my plan. The man was holding his rifle on his shoulder by the sling. I knew I would be successful because before the man would recover from surprise and get his weapon ready everything would be over. Just a few meters more and it would happen.
I was waiting for the sentry to walk to us and signalled the Lieut behind me. Ready to bounce like panthers we were watching the approach of the sentry. I was certain of my prey as suddenly there was a pistol shot behind me.
Had we been surprised ? flashed in my mind. Now the events started rolling like a carousel. I glanced in my rear as the Lieut dropped flat, fast as a lightning, pointing his SMG ready to pull the trigger. I jumped at him,and grabbing at his arm forbade him to fire since I saw the Sarge on the path with a smoking pistol in his hand. The sentry was running toward the village for his life. Our attempt had failed and the worst was ahead of us. There was no time to swear because men and dogs were emerging from the village as the sentry was crying out alert.
We had run for a stretch down the path as I remembered that there was some “medicine” for the dogs in my pocket to throw them off from our track. Quickly we smeared the soles of our boots with the stuff and left the path. There was a big rock deeper in the forest, and there was next to it a hole just big enough for three men. There we stayed, waiting what would happen next, and my anger was greater than my fear. I was told that it was an accidental discharge which I honestly did not believe totally, it was also a case of nerves. Things done cannot be undone and now we had to act accordingly.
The forest was crunching under enemy boots and dogs were commanded as they had lost our track. So we would not have to worry about them any more. If the men did not stumble on our hideout we could soon continue our mission. Obviously the sentry, too, was among the searchers so we could check the bridge, too.
The men seeking us pushed ever deeper in the forest while we headed for the bridge. The bridge was unmanned, as I had presumed, and our mission continued without major trouble.
By acting intensely all night we had checked our last objectives by 06.00hrs and headed for the agreed meeting point. We found ourselves there a little more than two hours later and remained waiting for Paukkunen's arrival, scheduled at 15.00hrs at the latest.
We were very tired and having had our meal we lied down. The enemies had not yet abandoned searching for us because shots were heard in the forest. Therefore I gave our Sapper who had the first tour of guard duty exact instructions in case of possible arrival of an enemy patrol. A suspicious rustling in the forest, even far away, was good enough reason to wake us up. In no case should anybody trust that Paukkunen would be coming. I expressedly denied any kind of spontaneous action because careless handling of a weapon in a critical situation proved rushing, and my confidence had been swayed.
I and the Lieut were tired and soon fell into deep sleep while holding unsecured weapons within reach. As I woke up I took a glance at my watch. It was exactly 5 hrs PM. The Lieut next to me was still sleeping blissfully. I was wondering why I had not been woken up for guard duty, because we had agreed on two hour stints. Maybe the lads had taken care of the guard duty by themselves and allowed me to sleep, sleep-drunk as I was I was not able to think of another possibility. Having woken up completely I wondered at the position of the Lieut, and our weapons were just as they had been in the morning. Bad ideas entered my mind. I woke the Lieut up and enquired about the matter. He, too, had not been woken up. This decent man went pale as he realised what was up. The guard post was a little off from us, and once there we found him sleeping as deep as we had done a while ago.
It was hard for me not to chew out the man who had risked our lives, but there would not have been any time because a faint whistle was heard at our camp fireplace some 50m off. I was sure it was Paukkunen, and I was about to whistle in response but an instinct warned me against. I started creeping silently at the old campfire. We had by now gained experience in silent movement so I remained undetected until I was within seeing distance.
Three enemy soldiers were standing next to the old campfire. It was probably the whistle that brought three more of them, they started investigating our meat tins that they found under a layer of moss. I froze, not for these six men but the idea what would have happened if they had by chance surprised us in our sleep. How many patrols had passed us during the day, I wondered. My opinion of the Sapper was going lower than zero.
Having gawked at our garbage enough and having discussed by whispering the men left and vanished in the cover of the forest. I returned to the lads and by now our guard, too, was awake. It was not the time to express one's opinion, instead we headed for our lines because waiting was useless now. The forest was alive with enemies and most likely Paukkunen had already returned because we had been deceived by our sleep. We were not updated as to the situation. During our return I avoided the enemy camps with a wide margin.
Once more we were almost surprised as we were to cross the road to Joutseno.
As we were approaching the road in a sparshish pine forest we had not spotted the smallest movement until we found ourselves quite near. By surprise a grand looking Politruk riding a white steed appeared behind the bend of the road, accompanied by another riding officer. We squatted behind heather tussocks for cover. Then a company of enemies marched past, we just kept watching them. There was no risk yet, the soldiers were marching calmly behind their riding officers.
As the officers and the first ranks of the company were ahead of us there was a buzz of aircraft. The sound increased and two Finnish fighters swooped over the road. In a flash the troops were among the trees and the Politruk rode his white steed at us until he stopped under a big pine a few dozen meters from us.
For the first time in my life I was cursing at our aircraft. The Politruk had a fair chance of spotting us if he happened to look at the right way. Instead he kept observing the sky and to our good fortune the fighters did not do another swoop. The Company assembled on the road and went on. The poor Politruk had been in my sights all the time without an idea that looking the wrong way would have ended his career. Since we, too, had survived due to favourable chances I did not envy him.
Crossing the lines was now easier because there was no wire, and to our fortune and surprise we met Paukkunen on the “no-man's land”. They had arrived at the meeting point in the afternoon but the constant enemy patrols made them think that we would not be coming there. Their mission, too, had been succesful and on their return journey they had destroyed a lorry when crossing a road.
Our first patrol mission had ended, and we were several experiences richer than we could have guessed when starting out. But I had made one decision, that had been confirmed during the mission: I would never alone join a patrol made up of volunteers.
(3004 words)
Urpo Arhosuo
First patrol of the new war
Journal "Kansa Taisteli", vol. 08/1959
The first thing that struck me in the beginning of our Continuation War as I arrived at the rallying base of our unit was the small size of our outfit. GHQ Long range patrols were indeed never overmanned. Now the men of our outfit could be counted with fingers. That is why the first mission had to be carried out making use of “assistants”. That is, volunteers from the front line had to make good our small number. Patrol leaders only were our men.
Intense activity started on the final days of June 1941, because the plan for the offensive of our troops called for data on the enemy and other factors immediately affecting the attack plans. We were ordered to get ready for a recon mission just for two or three days and penetrating no deeper than barely 20km in front of our front line. We would get the volunteer patrolmen at the front line. Each of us (patrol leaders) had our own tasks in our directions. Action near the front line sets great requirements to the men doing it and we did not know what “professionalism” in patrolling these volunteers would have.
That is why we were a little tense having received our orders. The Winter War patrols were still fresh in our minds so we were aware what the mission called for. Crossing the front lines, observing enemy camps, artillery positions, roads and bridges called for planned activities if one wanted to succeed.
My and Sgt. Paukkunen's objectives were situated in the same direction so we decided and were permitted to cross the front lines and the worst spots together. After that we would head for our individual objectives separately. This did a lot to relieve my tension since I knew that Paukkunen was a well experienced patrolman who had been moving about in the enemy rear in various circumstances.
We arrived at the front line S of lake Nuijamaanjärvi and got acquainted with our men. Each of us got only two men because the dense enemy camp areas and crossing the front line in a light summer night did not enable any larger patrols. I have forgotten the names of my volunteers, one of them was a 2nd Lt. And the other a Sapper Sgt, but they appeared to be brave men, although this would be their first patrol mission. Therefore I believed I could cope. Paukkunen received his men and at 22.30 we said goodbye to our escort and crossed our front line. The first patrol mission had started.
The light summer night was nerve-racking and by the time we reached the enemy wire we were looking like mulattoes because the soot of the burned forest in which we were crawling coloured our faces into an odd hue. Our movements had to be extremely careful and time consuming. Crossing the wire felt like an eternity because cutting the wires and resulting snaps were as loud as rifle shots in our ears. There were two MG nests nearby, each manned, and the sentries were puffing their mahorka. We sincerely were hoping that they should not hear our movement: being exposed now would end our war immediately.
We managed to make enough opening in the wire that by slitheirng on our backs we passed underneath it. Having crawled between the nests we found ourselves in the enemy trench which was empty, and the worst was over. We had crossed the front line.
We proceeded for one kilometer and then dared to make a break for a fag to soothe our nerves and clean up our sooty faces as sweat was flowing down our faces into our eyes, smarting. Less than one kilometer ahead of us was a road that we knew was next to large camping areas. If we managed to cross the road as successfully as the front line we would be fine.
The brief summer night was past midnight and therefore we had to move carefully in the dry cracking forest because the enemy border troops were elite units which it was advisable to avoid confronting. Carefully approaching the road we could see that the data on large camps was not exaggerated. There were tents, huts made of boughs and open fires, covering the road in an endless chain. We started seeking a gap to slip beyond the road where it would be more calm.
Our attempt was in vain because moving around at the perimeter of the camp area was so hard on our nerves that we gave up. We withdrew a little deeper in the forest to make new plans.
Our volunteers had so far proved themselves as calm men but now they were implying at returning. Sgt. Paukkunen rejected such ideas in his familiar style:
- At this time of the day, if we try to return by the same route we shall fund our remains drying on the wire. Do you lads think that the Vanya is blind? We have been somewhat lucky so far, but it does not make sense to be foolhardy.
End of discussion.
The Eastern horizon was getting red as we had completed our plan. We would seek a stretch of road with dense alder bushes on both sides and creep between tents. So far we had not spotted one single sentry in the camp area. In case of surprise we would open fire with all weapons and rush across the road.
We found a spot that we thought was feasible for our plan. Low, dense alder bushes were growing on both sides of the road, providing the best cover for a creeping man. We headed for a row of tents set up scarcely ten meters from the road. The tents were very close to each other, that is why we selected a spot where the tent entries were pointing to opposite directions, so that a man eventually coming out would not at once spot us.
We managed to get between the tents as silently as ghosts. Now our nerves were getting tense and even beyond that. There were noises of snoring and also other “night sounds” in the tents as we were inching ourselves tor the road. We had already passed the tents by some meters as we heard sounds of footsteps approaching on the road. It was a sentry, walking slowly and the gravel was scrunching under his boots. We crouched even lower in the alder bushes. The sentry was not yet next to us as there was some rustling and coughing in the tent on our left. The tent flap was lifted up and a sleepy man stepped out. We were holding our breaths because now everything appeared to be disfavouring us. Having stepped to the side of the tent the man relieved himself and then went to a pile of firewood next to the tent entry and began to cut more with an axe. Although we were very close the dense alder bushes covered us completely. Paukkunen whispered in my ear:
- If that damn man had pissed on my face I would have fired at once.
Now the sentry was there, too, and he began to chat with the man chopping wood, mentioning something about the night being chilly. We were amazed, because we were bathing in sweat. After some more words the sentry went on and the sound of his footsteps disappeared. The man chopping the wood was full of energy, swinging his axe with gusto. At every blow we inched ourselves closer to the road. Finally the wood chopper had had enough since he vanished in the tent.
Carefully we slipped over the road on which the sentry was walking. The worst was past, we thought, finding ourselves in a calmer terrain. Such a tight spot in the very first mission, maybe due to lack of experience.
At 05.00hrs we were in the point where we split. Paukkunen headed for his own objective. We found ourselves N of Pihlajajärvi village about one km off it. Since the night was gone and in daytime we had small chances to complete our task we decided to stay together for the day and continue next night. Our objectives were nearby and if we took quick action we would be ready to return next morning, together. We agreed on a meeting point where we would find ourselves twenty four hours later if no surprises.
At 19.00hrs each of us left to do their duty. The road bridge E of Pihjalajärvi village was our first objective. The bridge was situated at the perimeter of the village covered by forest so that it was almost not visible to the village. When peering at the village from the edge of the forest we saw a lot of soldiers and a sentry on the bridge. I decided to nab this man quietly for interrogation and then we would have all the time we wanted to observe the bridge. There was dense bush at the perimeter of the field, enabling me to approach the unsuspecting sentry and take him completely unawares.
The small path from the bushes to the bridge enabled me to move soundlessly, I thought this was a piece of cake. Our Sapper would stand aside. I decided to catch the man alone, the Lieut would be behind me in case I needed any help; one never knows how fast or tenaciously he is going to react. I absolutely forbade to use firearms because the border guards with their dogs in the village would not make any pleasant company. Shudl they start chasing us we would have a hard time.
Our Sapper had left himself about ten meters behind us as we were approaching the bridge. Between the twigs I could see that the sentry was also a border guard. I made up my plan. The man was holding his rifle on his shoulder by the sling. I knew I would be successful because before the man would recover from surprise and get his weapon ready everything would be over. Just a few meters more and it would happen.
I was waiting for the sentry to walk to us and signalled the Lieut behind me. Ready to bounce like panthers we were watching the approach of the sentry. I was certain of my prey as suddenly there was a pistol shot behind me.
Had we been surprised ? flashed in my mind. Now the events started rolling like a carousel. I glanced in my rear as the Lieut dropped flat, fast as a lightning, pointing his SMG ready to pull the trigger. I jumped at him,and grabbing at his arm forbade him to fire since I saw the Sarge on the path with a smoking pistol in his hand. The sentry was running toward the village for his life. Our attempt had failed and the worst was ahead of us. There was no time to swear because men and dogs were emerging from the village as the sentry was crying out alert.
We had run for a stretch down the path as I remembered that there was some “medicine” for the dogs in my pocket to throw them off from our track. Quickly we smeared the soles of our boots with the stuff and left the path. There was a big rock deeper in the forest, and there was next to it a hole just big enough for three men. There we stayed, waiting what would happen next, and my anger was greater than my fear. I was told that it was an accidental discharge which I honestly did not believe totally, it was also a case of nerves. Things done cannot be undone and now we had to act accordingly.
The forest was crunching under enemy boots and dogs were commanded as they had lost our track. So we would not have to worry about them any more. If the men did not stumble on our hideout we could soon continue our mission. Obviously the sentry, too, was among the searchers so we could check the bridge, too.
The men seeking us pushed ever deeper in the forest while we headed for the bridge. The bridge was unmanned, as I had presumed, and our mission continued without major trouble.
By acting intensely all night we had checked our last objectives by 06.00hrs and headed for the agreed meeting point. We found ourselves there a little more than two hours later and remained waiting for Paukkunen's arrival, scheduled at 15.00hrs at the latest.
We were very tired and having had our meal we lied down. The enemies had not yet abandoned searching for us because shots were heard in the forest. Therefore I gave our Sapper who had the first tour of guard duty exact instructions in case of possible arrival of an enemy patrol. A suspicious rustling in the forest, even far away, was good enough reason to wake us up. In no case should anybody trust that Paukkunen would be coming. I expressedly denied any kind of spontaneous action because careless handling of a weapon in a critical situation proved rushing, and my confidence had been swayed.
I and the Lieut were tired and soon fell into deep sleep while holding unsecured weapons within reach. As I woke up I took a glance at my watch. It was exactly 5 hrs PM. The Lieut next to me was still sleeping blissfully. I was wondering why I had not been woken up for guard duty, because we had agreed on two hour stints. Maybe the lads had taken care of the guard duty by themselves and allowed me to sleep, sleep-drunk as I was I was not able to think of another possibility. Having woken up completely I wondered at the position of the Lieut, and our weapons were just as they had been in the morning. Bad ideas entered my mind. I woke the Lieut up and enquired about the matter. He, too, had not been woken up. This decent man went pale as he realised what was up. The guard post was a little off from us, and once there we found him sleeping as deep as we had done a while ago.
It was hard for me not to chew out the man who had risked our lives, but there would not have been any time because a faint whistle was heard at our camp fireplace some 50m off. I was sure it was Paukkunen, and I was about to whistle in response but an instinct warned me against. I started creeping silently at the old campfire. We had by now gained experience in silent movement so I remained undetected until I was within seeing distance.
Three enemy soldiers were standing next to the old campfire. It was probably the whistle that brought three more of them, they started investigating our meat tins that they found under a layer of moss. I froze, not for these six men but the idea what would have happened if they had by chance surprised us in our sleep. How many patrols had passed us during the day, I wondered. My opinion of the Sapper was going lower than zero.
Having gawked at our garbage enough and having discussed by whispering the men left and vanished in the cover of the forest. I returned to the lads and by now our guard, too, was awake. It was not the time to express one's opinion, instead we headed for our lines because waiting was useless now. The forest was alive with enemies and most likely Paukkunen had already returned because we had been deceived by our sleep. We were not updated as to the situation. During our return I avoided the enemy camps with a wide margin.
Once more we were almost surprised as we were to cross the road to Joutseno.
As we were approaching the road in a sparshish pine forest we had not spotted the smallest movement until we found ourselves quite near. By surprise a grand looking Politruk riding a white steed appeared behind the bend of the road, accompanied by another riding officer. We squatted behind heather tussocks for cover. Then a company of enemies marched past, we just kept watching them. There was no risk yet, the soldiers were marching calmly behind their riding officers.
As the officers and the first ranks of the company were ahead of us there was a buzz of aircraft. The sound increased and two Finnish fighters swooped over the road. In a flash the troops were among the trees and the Politruk rode his white steed at us until he stopped under a big pine a few dozen meters from us.
For the first time in my life I was cursing at our aircraft. The Politruk had a fair chance of spotting us if he happened to look at the right way. Instead he kept observing the sky and to our good fortune the fighters did not do another swoop. The Company assembled on the road and went on. The poor Politruk had been in my sights all the time without an idea that looking the wrong way would have ended his career. Since we, too, had survived due to favourable chances I did not envy him.
Crossing the lines was now easier because there was no wire, and to our fortune and surprise we met Paukkunen on the “no-man's land”. They had arrived at the meeting point in the afternoon but the constant enemy patrols made them think that we would not be coming there. Their mission, too, had been succesful and on their return journey they had destroyed a lorry when crossing a road.
Our first patrol mission had ended, and we were several experiences richer than we could have guessed when starting out. But I had made one decision, that had been confirmed during the mission: I would never alone join a patrol made up of volunteers.
(3004 words)