Finnish Blitzkrieg ETO (id:#67027)

(From The Cellar #13 ID: FT55)   [next]   [previous]

Alakurtti, Finland 1941-08-24 (3 others)

Overview:

Part of the Barbarossa plan, the overly-ambitious operation “Siberfuchs” (Silver Fox) aimed at no less than taking Murmansk and some localities south of it on the strategic railroad leading from the Arctic port to the heart of the USSR. It was just one hundred kilometers on the map, but it led through damp and wooded areas, across many streams and very few trails. The central attack groups, with two German divisions, including one Waffen-SS, and the 6th Finnish Division, soon encountered strong resistance. Trying to outflank the defenders, Axis troops finally met with success and arrived, in August, near Alakurtti, one of the largest towns before the railroad. When the Russian defense of the Enianjoki river checked the advance to Alakurtti, Finnish sappers built a bridge five kilometers down the river and fifteen panzers crossed with some infantry. No less than twelve tanks then bogged but the last three gave decisive support to the Finns.

Defender: Russian (88th Rifle Division)  

Errata (source)