Laatokka-Karelia

Photos from Laatokka-Karelia, Aunus, and Viena

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Kurkijoki was a town in the western corner of Lake Laatokka.

Huuhanmäki garrison near Lahdenpohja. Viipurin Rykmentti was located here. Built in the 1930s, site where the movie "Rykmentin murheenkryyni" was filmed. After the war the Red Army used these buildings as a garrison, but nowadays they are abonded. A few years back the buldings were full of all kinds of material left behind by the military.

The house of pharmacist Juselius near Sortavala. Nowadays a resting home for members of the Musicians' Union.

Läskelä, Jänisjoki and the paper mill.

Impilahti, monument on the site where the church used to be and the soldiers' cemetary on the other side of the road. The monument on the cemetary, erected by the Finns, was repeatedly knocked over by the locals, until it was decided to leave it like it is, half buried on the ground.

Murheen risti - the Cross of Sorrow at Lemetti. This area is famous for the large mottis (encirclement battles) of the Winter War. The text says "1939 - 1940. Russia and Finland - two sisters. Finland and Russia, two mothers. Now they form this Cross of Sorrow. Of themselves. Their heads have merged into one and their hands joined together in hope. That love will win. It depends on us. Each one of us."

The Pitkäranta - Käsnäselkä road. In the Winter War the Soviet 18th Division was on this road, encircled, split to nine different mottis and gradually reduced to shatters. Only about 1,200 men were able to break through the encircling troops and make it to safety.

U-asema, the U Line of the Continuation War at Nietjärvi near Pitkäranta. This is where the Soviet advance was stopped in Laatokka-Karelia in summer 1944.