Art wrote:PBlitz wrote:Where did you get this information?
From the archive. Does Kilin provide a different information?
Art, getting a cohesive overview of the situation from Finnish sources was not an easy task. While I was able to get, although only after reading a dozen books or so, a good understanding of the Finnish units at Kuuterselka, it was another thing with the Russian units.
The situation must have been very chaotic from Finnish point of view, which should not be a surprise given for an example the order for elements of Armoured Division to counter attack and take back the VT line, although at that time the Red Army was present in overwhelming numbers.
As for Kilin's summary at "Sodan taisteluja", it is not a detailed view at all. There are maps of the area, but he goes on to describe events at very high divisional level. He does not really talk of any armoured elements supporting the various divisions, he just talks about divisions.
The most detailed description came from Tapio Tiihonen's book, but I am not familiar with him enough to be able to determine how credible writer he is. On the other hand he writes with perhaps too much passion, with an agenda he wants to deliver, at the same time he seems to really have done his homework.
Even Tiihonen, though, lists that according to one source, and according to other source, and then giving a different picture of Red Army units in battle. This is why I was interested to learn whether the sources you've got would be available to me too.
Let us take Tiihonen's more controversial claim and try to get a picture of his credibility via comparing his research to archive sources you have available:
Tiihonen makes a comment there was a big tank battle between to Red Army units, by having looked at the battle reports and casualty reports of the Red Army units at Mustamaki on night between 14. and 15 of June 1944. He claims there were no Finnish units there at times, so the casualties must have been the outcome of the said two Soviet divisions.
I will take his comment of having no Finnish units in Mustamäki at the time by face value, as the movements of friendly units are (quite) well documented.
Can you see what casualties and battles are reported at Mustamäki on nighg of 14/15 june at Mustamäki? We can then draw our own conclusions.
Thanks, Petri
