Chrismas in Winter War on Kollaa front

[Juha Hujanen]

From book Erkki Palolampi-Kollaa kestää.


"For Chrismas celebrations were prepared on that sense,that Chrismas will be celebrated on whole fronts and hymm "angel in heaven..." will be sung,whatever neighbor says.There was even an order of that hymm,atleast in II Battalion... Even before coffey,the "legion" was assembled for field church service.Orderlys gathered free men from tents to nearby slope.

Afternoon sun gave light from treetops and snow was slighly red in its light.Juutilainen organized his Company.It was a rugged lot:different chlothes,snowsuits gray and torn,men bearded and dirty,even if many had had time to clean up.From quiet movement and calm faces one could see that it was battlehardened elite unit that would't be jumpy for little things.

Pastor walked to the front and behind him went tall 1st Liutenant with limp,stick with nob in his hand.He was wearing familiar fur-coat and Colt pistol hanging from sling.Row of men was fevouted when they waited.In front was almost quiet,only occasionally rifle shot or angry burst from machine gun breaked the silence.

"Angel from heaven sayed..." Chrismas hymm went strongly towards sky when men sung.Echo of that and words send mens throughts to home.Mäy by enemy heard it too,they were only 200-300 meters away.

"Even if thousands will fall from your left and tens of thousends from your right,you will be safe,because you have taken Lord,your god to your saviour"-Pastor preached.He talks just like one have to talk to men who have felt Lords saviour.During pray Russian Battalions gun starts to shoot from near in fast pace.Shells go over from low and explode 200 meters behind in the forest.Shells could hit to the treetops,just behind the boys and send splinters to them.Some one of boys raises his head but calm look of Company commander eases their mind.Mens heads stay in bow"

[kuuskajaskari]

Kollaa 30.11.2019


A very memorable event, new snow and frosty trees.