Forest Bastion ETO (id:#62360)

(ASL 14 - Hakkaa Päälle! ID: 168)   [next]   [previous]

Niiniselkä, west of Prääzä, Russia 1941-09-08 (2 others)

Overview:

As part of the general attack aimed at the Karelian capital of Petrozavodsk, the Finnish 11th Division was ordered to take the village of Prääzä, an important road junction over which the two sides had been fighting for a while. The division devised a three-pronged attack: Infantry Regiment 50 would outflank the Soviets from the north while Infantry Regiment 8 was sent on a southern route. Meanwhile, to keep the Soviets busy while both flanking units got into position, Infantry Regiment 20 would attack Prääzä along the road from the west. On 7 September the attack of Infantry Regiment 29 stalled in the front of the forested ridge of Niiniselkä, which the Soviets had fortified with pillboxes, trenches, and prepared fire zones. A second attack was planned for 8 September. This time, plentiful mortar support was available, including a smoke mortar platoon from the Corps reserve.

Defender: Russian (1063rd Infantry Regiment)  

Errata (source)