III/JR
28 SPK 18.6.41 – 15.9.41, SARK 11121 (Military Archives of Finland file
number 11121).
Excerpt from the War Diary of the 3rd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, June 18, 1941 to September 15, 1941. The excerpt starts from the day the battalion crossed the 1939 state border (the "old border"), September 3, 1941, and continues until the end of the file.
Translated from the Finnish language.
3.9.41
04:00 Lieut. Nuotio went to the command post of I/JR 7 with four envoys to operate as a liaison officer.
05:30 Wake-up, dismantling the tents and loading up.
06:00 Early morning has been bright and moonlit, a bit of frost, puddles frozen in low places. First night-frost this autumn.
07:00 Meals in the units (cooked provisions).
08:00 A sapper squad arrived from the regiment, subordinated to the battalion.
09:45 The regiment commander called: the battalion will move to the terrain around point 123 in Valtionmetsä, where it will group for an attack. The 2nd Battalion will be on our right flank and the 1st Battalion behind. The time of departure will be separately informed.
09:50 The Jaeger Platoon left to recon the grouping area, roads leading to it and to make contact with the battalion in front of us.
10:05 Briefing: the battalion will make ready for moving to the grouping area, where it will group as follows:
11th Company 10th Company
MG Platoon + AT-rifle MG Platoon
9th Company Command
MG Platoon Signals Platoon
Mortar Platoon
Medics
Form of grouping: deep dispersed grouping. Order of transfer from the current quarters: Command – 11th C. – 10th C. – 9th C. – signals – mortars – medics. Distance between companies about 10 minutes. Medics will follow about half-an-hour behind the mortars. Packs and vehicles will be left in the current quarters. Order to leave in about one hour.
11:15 The regiment commander called: battalion on the move.
11:25 The battalion commander and the envoy officer left on bicycles to the command post of JR 7, located about 0.5 km to the north-east of Lainoja.
12:30 The battalion commander at the JR 7 command post, where Colonel Kemppi described the situation with his regiment.
13:15 At Hartonen the regiment commander gave new orders: one company from the battalion will be subordinated to Colonel Kemppi. The main part of the battalion will group in the terrain around Hippeläinen. In the offensive the battalion will advance behind the 2nd Battalion, turning to the north later, cutting the road Termola – Ohta about 1 km from Termola and securing it.
13:25 The 10th Company continued marching to Colonel Kemppi’s command post. The main part of the battalion continued to Hippeläinen.
15:00 The front end of the 11th Company arrived at the grouping area.
15:40 The grouping is ready: 11th Company in the front, then Command and the Jaeger Platoon, 9th Company, mortars and signals.
15:45 An artillery fire-control squad reported themselves, lead by Second-Lieutenant Kjällberg (6./KTR 15), strength 36 men.
17:30 The battalion commander at the 2nd Battalion command post. The front end of the 2nd Battalion started advancing towards direction 17-50. We have a continuous contact with the rear end of the 2nd Battalion (Jaeger Platoon).
18:00 Enemy artillery fire on the grouping area, no losses.
19:05 Front end of the battalion starts moving.
19:20 The front end of the battalion crossed the state border between border marks 98 and 99 by the north end of the Nikkanen field (clearing). A few trees were fallen across Rajajoki River, over which it was crossed.
20:00 Eight men from the 11th Company refused to cross the border. The men were relieved of their weapons and sent with a guard escort to the regimental command post for punitive measures.
20:30 Advance continued in direction 17-50. No contact with the 2nd Battalion.
23:00 Due to the thick forest and pitch darkness advance was stopped for the darkest time of the night, by permission of the regiment commander.
23:30 Lieut. Valtavaara returned with his patrol, having made contact with I/JR 7 and our 10th Company.
4.9.41
05:00 Advance continued.
07:45 The new road Termola – Ohta was reached at the place about 750 m to the west/north-west of point 130.
08:00 The battalion commander at Capt. Kuvaja’s (2nd Battalion com.) command post. Kuvaja is in the terrain to the south of the road at the level of the creek line. At the same level to the north of the road I/JR 7. An exchange of fire is ongoing.
08:10 The battalion is grouped behind the 2nd Battalion.
08:15 Situation report to the regiment commander by phone. The regiment commander: 10th Company is returned to the battalion (subordination revoked). It is about 1 km behind us by the roadside, where it will remain in reserve.
09:00 The regimental command post moved near the battalion’s grouping area. The regiment commander visited our command post. No new orders.
11:00 The rain that started in the morning continues, cold weather.
13:40 Regiment commander: the offensive has progressed to the west edge of the Ohajoki village clearing. The 3rd Battalion will take up defensive positions there, releasing the 1st and 2nd Battalions and I/JR 7. The battalion will move at 15:00.
14:30 The battalion commander at Capt. Kuvaja’s command post at the height of point 136. Present also the commander of the 1st Battalion Major Muller and the commander of I/JR 7 Capt. Kytömaa. Agreed on the exchange of units with front line battalions.
15.40 - The companies arrived near the Ohta clearing, readiness for exchange.
16:00 Company commanders and platoon leaders visited the positions of the troops to be exchanged, after which the exchange took place gradually. The regiment’s mortar and gun companies were subordinated to the battalion. Three fire-control officers and the fire of three artillery battalions also in use of the battalion.
16:40 Capt. Kuvaja left our command post, which is located to the south of the road, about 100 m from it at the level of point 136. The 1st and 2nd Battalions moved to about 1.5 km behind us for rest.
17:00 The enemy is firing direct-fire artillery into our positions and behind them constantly.
19:00 The exchange has been completed, new positions manned. Phone lines to company-level command posts are operational. The defensive positions (foxholes dug today) on the west edge of the Ohajoki village clearing, on both sides of the road, sector about 1.5 km, manned as follows:
On the left: 10th C. and 5 MGs, 2 artillery fire-controllers, 2 mortar fire-controllers and 3 direct-fire artillery pieces
In the center (including the road): 11th C. and 4 MGs, 1 artillery fire-controller, 1 mortar fire-controller and 2 direct-fire artillery pieces
On the right: 9th C. and 2 MGs, 1 mortar fire-controller.
5.9.41
06:30 The night has been relatively calm with the exception of light enemy artillery activity.
07:00 Situation report to the regiment commander.
07:15 Enemy artillery fire into the vicinity of our command post. The command post is located in an aboveground dugout built by the Russians.
07:30 Report from the commander of the 12th Company (Lieut. Jaarmo): the AT gun squad and the vehicles have not arrived yet and the envoy I sent to fetch them did not find them. He is now going to go out again with the company warrant officer who knows where they are and bring them here. I’ve ordered Second Lieutenant Räisänen to look after those of my duties that demand moving around because the rheumatism in my leg has become so inflamed that I can hardly move at all.
08:15 Lieut. Valtavaara returned from a patrol mission to the western parts of the Elizavetinka village. Strong manning in the village, artillery and tanks. The enemy is fortifying. On both sides of the road leading to the south-west (to Vaskisavotta) there is a clearing of about 1.5 km in width, in which there are fortified positions and ferro-concrete structures. Busy traffic on the road. Some enemy patrols had moved in the no-man’s-land.
08:20 A second patrol of the Jaeger Platoon returned. They had been in the direction of Lempaala. They had moved in the terrain, had seen four enemy patrols on the way. They heard a lot of motor vehicles moving in both directions on the road.
08:30 Reported the information from the patrols to the regiment commander. Regiment commander: troops from the 1st Army Corps have started an attack from point 156 to the direction of Lempaala. We must observe it’s movements and attempt to make contact.
09:00 Order to Capt. Pörhölä (10th C. commander) to make contact with the troops from the 1st Army Corps attacking on the left
09:30 Capt. Pörhölä: the Russians are retreating in front of us, we’re firing at it with mortars, the artillery cannot fire due to a change of positions in progress.
11:00 Weather: foggy, mist, windy.
12:30 At orders from the regiment Lieut. Valtavaara left to the regimental command post for a patrol mission.
13:45 Lieut. Jaarmo (12th C. commander) reported that due to a difficult rheumatism he has been assigned to the hospital by the doctor. Second Lieutenant Räisänen was ordered to take his place.
14:30 Weather is clearing up, still chilly.
16:00 During the afternoon the enemy has incessantly fired into our positions with artillery and mortars, especially in the center sector. They’ve also used heavy artillery. No losses reported. Not that much fire from infantry weapons.
17:15 The regiment commander at our command post. Ordered us to patrol in front of our positions at night to find out the manning of the ferro-concrete bunkers. Attempt to destroy with hand-grenades and satchel charges. The regiment’s sapper officer and a sapper squad will assist in the destruction.
Lieut. Valtavaara returned from the regimental command post. Had received an order by the division commander on a recon patrol to Elizavetinka village. Will patrol next night.
17:45 Report from the 11th Company that Lieut. Nuotio had fallen in fire from enemy heavy artillery near the road to the north of it, at about 16:00. Lieut. Nuotio had been sent by the battalion command staff to find out where exactly the front line positions were located.
20:15 The regiment’s sapper officer brought a written order from the division saying the division will dig in and set up for defense in the current line. For JR 28 the 3rd Battalion will do the planning of final defense positions, to be presented to the regiment commander by 12:00 tomorrow. The necessary field fortifications with obstacles and mine fields must be built and shooting sectors cleared out.
20:30 Unit commanders in a briefing, where told to start the above mentioned work early tomorrow by improving the current positions and building dugouts behind the lines. Order was placed for mines with the regiment’s sapper officer. He will deliver tools here by 05:00 tomorrow morning. The regiment’s sapper platoon will also take part in the work, primarily in building the obstacles and mine fields.
21:00 Calm in the front line. Enemy heavy artillery fire has ceased after having continued for several hours.
6.9.41
04:00 The battalion commander and the artillery group officer (Lieut. Viuhkonen) making inspection rounds in the front line positions. The battalion commander ordered the final course of the defense line and the location of the positions. Work on digging in and clearing the sectors was started in the units immediately after this.
06:00 The commander returned from the front line. The night was relatively calm, excluding harassment fire from enemy heavy artillery, which came in bursts throughout the night.
07:45 The battalion commander took the service road to go to the regimental command post to present the plan for defensive positions and field fortification work that has been started to the regiment commander.
08:30 Lieut. Valtavaara and the Jaeger Platoon left on a patrol mission to Elizavetinka.
09:45 The battalion commander came back. The regiment commander had approved the defense plan.
10:30 Regiment commander: Colonel Kääriäinen’s regiment is on the left flank at the height of point 156. A field guard post must be pushed to the left from the 10th Company to the terrain of the fork of the creeks, from where contact must be attempted with the field guard post of our neighbor division, which should be coming to the terrain nearby.
10:45 Order to Capt. Pörhölä about setting up the abovementioned field guard post. At the same time the left flank of the company is to be pushed forward so that the front line gets straightened out and aligned with the field guard post. Order to inform as soon as the guard is in place and contact with our neighbor’s field guard post has been made.
Pörhölä sends the field guard, led by Second Lieut. Vesalainen.
Direct hit to the tent of the mortar platoon. Luckily no men inside the tent. One horse lost. The rifles and other equipment inside the tent were destroyed, as well as the tent itself.
14:30 A liaison officer from our neighbor to the right (III/JR 58) visited our command post. He described to us where their front line goes and received corresponding information from us.
14:40 Two Russian fighter planes above us, fired at our positions.
14:50 Situation report to the regiment commander and a report on the location of the front line. A big gap left on the right flank, since the neighbor’s positions are so far away. Regiment commander promised the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon to be used as a field guard post on the north rim of Harvasinsuo, to extend the lines of the 9th Company.
15:10 Contact with Capt. Pörhölä: field guard in place on the left. Contact to it must be kept up at night by a moving patrol. Pörhölä noted that the enemy is keeping quiet in front of the lines. They have visibility up to Ohta village.
16:05 Lieut. Herve (11th Company commander): Second Lieut. Rantala has hurt his leg and is taken out of the game. Second Lieut. Räisänen from the 12th Company was ordered to the 11th Company to take the post of platoon leader.
17:00 Battalion commander visiting the area of the 10th Company, returned at 17:45.
17:45 Artillery group officer: after at about 15:00 the fire of three artillery battalions had been directed at the area to the south of Miskula, where fire-controllers had observed enemy artillery positions, no fire from enemy heavy artillery has been received.
18:30 Regiment commander and the regiment’s sapper officer visiting the battalion command post.
18:20 Lieut. Valtavaara returned from Elizavetinka.
18:40 Regiment commander, battalion commander and artillery battalion commander (Capt. Torttila) making rounds in the 10th and 11th Company positions.
19:00 9th Company commander, Lieut. Tuiramo: a patrol from the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon visited me, the platoon is at a field guard post in the ordered location, from where they keep contact with us and the neighboring regiment with constant moving patrols.
19:30 Regiment commander left the battalion’s area.
20:00 A shipment of barbed wire arrived, forwarded to the front line units.
20:30 A sapper squad from the regiment’s sapper platoon arrived, to mine the road at the front line. The squad will perform the work during the night.
7.9.41
06:00 The night was peaceful. Some of the men slept in half-ready dugouts, which they started to build yesterday, in addition to the field fortification work started.
07:00 Cornet Ansolahti (with the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon in the field guard post on the right flank of the 9th Company) called from the 9th Company command post: our patrol had seen Russian pathways while on connection run. No contact with III/JR 58 yet.
07:45 Capt. Pörhölä: a connecting patrol from our left-flank neighbor visited my command post. Their front line goes across the swamp to the east from point 156. I instructed the connecting patrol to stop at our field guard post on their return route and to keep contact with the post.
08:00 Situation report to the regiment commander and report on the contacts to neighboring units.
08:30 Fortification work continues in our positions: building obstacles, clearing sectors, and building dugouts ongoing.
09:00 Weather: clear, sunny, weak wind.
10:15 Notice from the regiment’s command post: the division commander Colonel Blick is going to visit the battalion’s area.
11:15 The division commander arrived with the regiment commander and the division’s artillery commander. All JR 28 battalion commanders followed them. They went to investigate the front line positions.
12:00 The battalion command post dugout, which we started to build yesterday morning is ready. There is room for 16 men.
13:40 The regiment’s adjutant: information from the division, saying troops of the neighboring division to the right are at the second “r” in map name “Suuri harvasuo” (map: 1:100,000). Must make contact with them.
13:45 Order to Lieut. Tuiramo (9th Company commander): use a patrol to make contact with our neighbor on the right flank. Go through the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon’s field guard post and use them. Notify immediately when contact has been made.
14:00 The visiting commanders left the battalion’s area. A telephone connection will be built to the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon’s field guard post on our right. Fixed observation positions will be built in the 10th and 11th Company areas, daily reports from these to the regiment commander. One Company from the 2nd Battalion will come assist us in the fortification work.
15:00 Lieut. Herve: a single Russian came to our positions from behind and managed to get away. Wounded one MG man in the foot with his rifle.
15:30 The Battalion commander went to the 9th Company area and from there onwards to the field guard post on the right. With him went the regiment’s sapper officer, with whom the commander will plan and order the field fortifications to be built.
17:30 Six Russian airplanes flew to the west above us, but were faced with heavy AA-artillery fire at the level of Termola and turned back.
18:00 The battalion commander returned from the field guard post on the right. A squad from the battalion was sent there to reinforce the regiment’s Jaeger Platoon.
19:15 Telephone connection to Cornet Ansolahti’s field guard post ready.
20:30 Capt: Pörhölä: near Second-Lieut. Vesalainen’s field guard post on the left (about 100 meters from it) now a neighboring regiment’s field guard post, to which a fixed connection.
22:00 Peaceful everywhere, rain.
8.9.41
06:00 The night has been peaceful.
07:00 Russian mortar fire into our front line. One machine gunner wounded from the 9th Company and two men from the Gun Company. The men had been making too much noise in the positions.
07:30 One platoon from the 2nd Battalion arrived to do field fortification work in the 11th Company area.
09:00 Weather: cloudy, no rain.
10:10 Capt. Pörhölä: in front of the area between my left flank and the field guard post several tens of Russians sneaking back to their own lines. Most likely men left behind in our rear making their way back to their own side.
Battalion commander: Second-Lieut. Vesalainen’s field guard post can be pulled closer, from the forest to the edge of the clearing. Contact with the neighboring field guard post must be maintained with patrols.
12:00 Battalion adjutant and supply officer visiting the command post. Due to bad roads the supplies are still on the Finnish side of the border in Kekrola, about 18 km away.
12:30 Two platoons from the 2nd Battalion arrived to build obstacles. One platoon sent to the 9th Company area and one platoon to the 10th Company area.
13:30 A patrol from the Jaeger Platoon with Lieut. Valtavaara left to the right flank to investigate the clearing in front of us, which is not marked in our maps. The patrol will visit Cornet Ansolahti’s field guard post.
14:00 Weather: clear, sunny.
15:00 The division’s intelligence officer Cavalry Captain Wallden arrived at the command post, and left with the battalion commander to look at the front line.
15:20 Capt. Pörhölä: shots heard from Second-Lieut. Vesalainen’s field guard post. I sent a patrol to find out what’s going on.
16:20 Cavalry Captain Wallden left, was give a cover drawing of the front line positions.
16:45 Capt. Pörhölä: 5 Russians went past the field guard post coming from behind, 2 were shot (both NCOs). Russian artillery fired shrapnel into the company sector.
17:15 Lieut. Valtavaara and his patrol returned from the right flank. Had found a Russian observation post and a bunker being worked on. Described the clearing on the map.
18:00 Fresh reinforcements for the battalion arrived. One NCO and 21 privates. 1 NCO and 9 men sent to the 9th Company and 12 men to the 10th Company.
19:10 Strong artillery fire on the left flank, our neighboring division straightening out lines there.
23:00 During the late evening reflections of flames and searchlights seen from the direction of St. Petersburg, heard the thunder of aerial bombings. Distance from here about 20 km. When the weather is clear chimneys and church towers can be seen from here.
9.9.41
02:00 Capt. Kuvaja (2nd Battalion commander) arrived at our command post, returning to his battalion at 05:30.
06:15 Lieut. Valtavaara making contact with the neighboring division’s field guard post on the left flank, will go through Capt. Pörhölä’s command post and Second-Lieut. Vesalainen’s field guard post.
06:20 Battalion commander left to the front with Lieut. Viuhkonen, going to 10th and 11th Company sectors.
06:45 Situation report to regiment staff: the night has been peaceful, noises heard from the roads near the front on the Russian side, fires in and the bombing of St. Petersburg seen from every observation post.
07:10 Capt. Pörhölä: Capt. Ojanen has gone too close to a certain bunker and has been caught under fire from the Russians. Lieut. Viuhkonen and a combat envoy, who were with him, had returned from there and said that Capt. Ojanen had been left in a crater in front of the bunker. I will investigate and do what I can.
07:15 Notified Lieut. Herve of the abovementioned. Together with Pörhölä he is to find out what happened to Capt. Ojanen. Mortars will fire to the rear of the bunker.
07:25 Notified the regiment commander of the case with Capt. Ojanen and what has been done to clarify the situation.
07:50 Capt. Pörhölä: I sent one platoon to advance to the bunker, which is about 200 meters in front of our positions, an AT-gun is firing into the embrasures and mortars behind the bunker.
08:05 Capt. Pörhölä: the platoon cannot reach the bunker, it is still firing with machine guns and enemy mortars are firing in front of the bunker.
08:10 Notified the regiment commander of the abovementioned.
08:15 Capt. Pörhölä: please order the mortars to fire barrage number 20 immediately. Telephone connection from here to the mortars is broken.
To Capt. Pörhölä: the regiment commander orders you to assume command of the battalion temporarily, but stay in your sector until Lieut. Valtavaara returns from his patrol mission, at which point he will take command of the 10th Company.
08:30 The regiment’s envoy officer brought us two cover drawings, one map copy and 15 aerial photographs covering the battalion’s sector. The aerial photographs are to be returned to the regiment tonight.
09:05 Lieut. Viuhkonen, who was at the front with Capt. Ojanen, returned to the command post. He explained the course of events in detail to the regiment commander over the phone.
09:20 Lieut. Valtavaara returned from the patrol mission to the left flank. He could not make contact with our neighbor’s field guard post. According to Second-Lieut. Vesalainen the field guard post had been removed yesterday.
09:25 Notified the regiment commander of the abovementioned.
Regiment commander: I will soon visit you with the commander of JR 48.
10:35 Lieut. Tuiramo: behind my right flank 5 Russians in some sort of foxholes, have started searching them out. Asked to inform Cornet Ansolahti’s field guard post.
10:40 Notified Cornet Ansolahti of the abovementioned.
11:00 Major Sokajärvi (from JR 48) arrived with two officers in the battalion area to investigate the terrain for the purpose of future operations here. They left to the 11th Company area with Lieut. Herve.
11:15 Captain Pörhölä arrived at the command post and assumed command of the battalion. Prior to this Lieut. Valtavaara had taken over the 10th Company from him.
12:00 Weather: calm, light clouds, no rain since yesterday.
12:15 Major Sokajärvi left the battalion area.
15:00 The enemy is still firing with artillery and mortars, especially in the 10th Company area.
15:20 Lieut. Valtavaara: 5 men wounded from shrapnel. Of these 3 from the 10th Company and 2 from the 12th Company.
17:00 Lieut. Herve: nothing special, sporadic artillery fire from the enemy, one AT-gunner from the Gun Company fallen.
17:15 Lieut. Tuiramo: nothing to report. No enemy artillery fire to my sector this afternoon.
17:20 Lieut. Valtavaara: I am sending another patrol to make contact with the neighboring field guard post on the left. At around 19:30 – 20:00, when it gets a bit darker, we will attempt to retrieve Capt. Ojanen from in front of the lines. I believe he has fallen. A man who was in the forward (auditory) guard post had seen him go down near the obstacles, having heard two rifle shots just before.
17:25 Nothing special in the field guard post on the right. They’ve had contact with our neighbor on the right today.
17:40 Enemy heavy artillery fired a few shots near the command post.
17:45 Situation report to the regiment commander over the phone.
18:30 Regiment commander arrived at the battalion. Went to the front with the battalion commander and the regiment’s sapper officer to look at the fortification work done in the 9th and 11th Company areas.
19:20 Regiment commander left the battalion.
22:00 Lieut. Valtavaara: we cannot get to Ojanen even at dark, the enemy has too strong a presence around the bunker.
Captain
Aimo Ojanen
10.9.41
05:00 Quiet night in the whole sector.
05:30 Situation report to regiment staff.
08:00 Patrol from the Jaeger Platoon to make contact with our neighbors field guard post on the left, to go through the 10th Company’s field guard post
09:00 Lieut. Valtavaara: our mortars hit a hut near the bunker in front of us; men had been seen entering the hut and at least one Russian was seen flying in the air upon the hit.
10:00 Still relatively calm, sporadic enemy artillery and mortar fire into our front line positions.
11:00 10 officers from JR 48 arrived, lead by Capt. Saurama. They went to the artillery fire-control post of the 11th Company to get familiar with the terrain for future assignments. Capt. Pörhölä was guiding them.
11:30 Enemy artillery fire to the terrain near our command post.
12:20 The JR 48 officers returned from the front and left the battalion area.
12:30 Connecting patrol from JR 2 on the left came to the command post, were guided to return through the 10th Company’s field guard post.
12:40 Jaeger Platoon’s patrol returned. They had not made contact with the neighbor’s field guard post, whose patrol was at the same time here.
12:50 Notified regiment command post of contact with the left flank.
13:30 Regiment supply officer and cultural officer visited the command post.
13:35 The Russians fired about 10 grenades by mortar along the road behind the 11th Company.
13:50 Weather: after a couple days without rain, it started again.
14:40 Captain Soini, artillery group officer: our artillery got a hit on a Russian mortar fire-control post, which was on the roof of a certain bunker.
15:30 Captain Enckell (I/JR 48) with the officers from his battalion getting familiar with the terrain and our positions.
17:00 The JR 48 officers left the battalion area.
17:30 The Russians fired at our field guard post with artillery. No losses.
18:10 A couple Russian bombers and 5 fighter planes above our neighbors positions on the left.
19:00 Cornet Ansolahti: contact with the units on the right (III/JR 58) today. Every second day our patrol goes there and every second day their patrol comes here.
19:05 Situation report to regiment commander.
11.9.41
06:00 Completely calm night in our sector. No rain, cold.
06:30 Situation report to regiment staff.
07:00 Our artillery is firing at an enemy fire-control post, where the Russians are right now digging in.
08:30 Lieut. Valtavaara: the situation in front of the bunker, where Capt. Ojanen was left, is still such that it is not possible to get there. It was attempted again last night but without results.
09:00 Weather: clear, sunny. The thick mist in the Ohta clearings is starting to fade away.
10:30 III/JR 48 officers familiarizing themselves with the terrain, lead by Capt.
- 12.05 Sarkaranta.
13.05 Lieut. Valtavaara: contact with JR 2 today. Our patrol goes there once per day and their patrols comes here once per day.
13:45 The Russians fired a few shots with mortars and artillery along the road behind our positions.
14:30 Pastor Rantamaa visiting the battalion, bringing books, tobacco, sweets and post cards etc. Brought us greetings from Joroinen and Helsinki.
17:00 Enemy artillery and mortar fire to our positions more rapid now. Mostly near the road. A heavy artillery grenade landed about 20 meters from the command post dugout.
18:15 Situation report to regiment staff: enemy artillery and mortar fire heavy in the afternoon. The enemy’s artillery may have received reinforcements.
21:00 An artillery fire-control officer reported that they are hearing constant sounds of traffic (vehicles) on the Lempaala road.
Artillery group officer: artillery will fire interference on the Lempaala road with all available guns at 21:30 – 21:40.
12.9.41
06:00 Based on reports from the units the night has been relatively calm. Sporadic mortar fire all through the night however. From time to time noises made by tractors have been heard near the front lines. Apparently the Russians were using a tractor to pull heavy mortars to new positions.
06:40 Situation report to regiment staff.
07:00 Weather: after a cold and foggy night the weather is clearing up, sun is shining.
07:15 During the last couple days there has been talk about the battalion being exchanged and getting to the rear for rest. We are waiting for it eagerly: the men are starting to be tired, they are dirty, bearded, and infested with lice. On the left, where the positions are in an open treeless terrain, it has not been possible to build decent dugouts like on the right and in the rear, and the men have even slept in the foxholes, all keeping small fires. During the last couple days two men have lost their nerves there and other diseases caused by the cold and dirtiness have stared to appear.
08:00 Artillery fire-control in the 10th Company area has identified an enemy artillery battery near the front, which our own artillery will shoot at with all guns at 08:30
09:40 Regiment commander: make contact with the neighboring field guard post on the left and request from them a cover drawing of their front line positions.
10:00 A patrol from the Jaeger Platoon sent to make contact with JR 2’s field guard post.
10:05 Cornet Ansolahti: while returning from a communication trip to the right our patrol noticed that about 10 Russians had gone through the barbed-wire entanglement to the south of our field guard post and apparently made it to the rear.
10:10 Notified the regiment commander and the 9th Company commander of the abovementioned.
11:00 Three Russians showed up in the 2nd Battalion area today and surrendered. They mentioned that our LMG men had a few days ago shot their Colonel on the Ohta road. They also told us that our artillery fire has been very accurate. However artillery fire to the airport had missed the target by about half a kilometer, to the right. The PoWs were very young, and had just recently been brought to Ohta from St. Petersburg. They also told us horror stories of what it’s like in St. Petersburg nowadays.
13:00 The weather is clear, strong wind from the east.
15:35 Our patrol returned from the left flank. They’d been in contact with the commander of 3./JR 2, who gave them a drawing of their defense lines. Our patrol was led by Sergeant Kokki.
17:30 After a quiet day – perhaps since our own artillery made a strong strike in the morning – the enemy has again started to fire with artillery and mortars now in the early evening.
18:00 Weather: cloudy, raining.
21:00 Calm in our sector, distant thunder in the east. Misty rain continues, it is completely dark.
13.9.41
00:15 Lieut. Valtavaara: an enemy squad of about 20 men in front of our sector, perhaps reinforcements or an exchange. We fired at them with mortars.
05:00 Misty rain continues.
05:30 Situation report to regiment staff: the night has been relatively calm. Movement of about 20 enemies in front of our lines caused alarm on the left and in the center sector. Artillery fire was directed against them.
06:00 Lieut. Herve: one man from my company fell at night while in the auditory guard post, killed by a damaged-wing shell from our own mortar.
08:10 Lieut. Valtavaara: light exchange of fire at the field guard post. A couple Russians moving around in front.
10:00 Cornet Ansolahti: we had contact to the right, Russians moving in front of the lines there.
13:15 The battalion commander left to the 11th Company area.
13:25 Quiet all morning. Now the Russians are firing with artillery and mortars, mainly in the direction of the road.
14:30 Lieut. Valtavaara: two wounded from mortars in my sector.
15:20 Lieutenant-Colonel Sora (commander of JR 48) arrived at our sector to get familiar with the terrain. The exchange starts tomorrow.
15:45 Artillery fire-controller reported a direct hit to the Russians’ concrete bunker.
16:20 Lieutenant-Colonel Sora left our sector. Capt. Pörhölä had shown him the positions and front line.
16:30 Lieut. Valtavaara: exchange of fire at the field guard post. Sending a patrol to find out what is going on.
17:25 Lieut. Valtavaara: some tens of Russians came through from the rear between the left flank and field guard post; exchange of fire with them. I asked for mortar fire.
17:30 One man from the Gun Company fell and two got wounded in the 11th Company sector.
19:00 The Russians are firing shrapnel on the front line. Apparently with an AA gun.
20:45 Peaceful everywhere.
14.9.41
05:30 Sunday. The night was peaceful, nothing worth mentioning.
06:15 Lieut. Valtavaara: exchange of fire at the field guard post.
The Russians have started artillery fire, shrapnel behind the 11th Company.
07:00 The enemy heavy artillery is firing on the terrain to the right of us, at a stretch of forest. As far as we know there is no one there.
07:45 Lieut. Valtavaara: the connecting patrol returned from our field guard post. Nothing special there. The exchange of fire this morning had come from the neighbor’s sector.
The Russians are firing shrapnel, apparently with an AA gun, from the direction 15-00.
08:00 Six officers from JR 48 went to the 10th Company area and from there onwards to the field guard post to investigate the terrain.
08:50 Regiment commander: the battalion will be exchanged this afternoon, away from the front line. The exchanging battalion is II/JR 48. The battalion will be removed to rest on the Finnish side of the border in Suurselkä, where the supplies can already be sent from Kekrola. I will myself come to the front today together with the commander of the exchanging battalion.
09:10 Order to the supply officer to move the support units and to prepare accommodation in the new camp area.
09:15 The enemy is firing shrapnel both sides of the road.
09:30 The regiment’s Mortar Company and Gun Company, subordinated to the battalion, have exchanged weapons with respective companies from JR 48 last night and this morning.
10:00 Weather: rainy and foggy.
10:45 Regiment staff: no exchanges with the new units are allowed without advance notification to the regiment commander.
11:50 Regiment commander: Captain Enckell (I/JR 48) is coming there with his battalion. The exchange can begin immediately upon his arrival.
The Gun and Mortar Companies, whose replacements have already arrived, may exchange right away.
12:00 Order to the chiefs of the Gun and Mortar Companies to begin the exchange.
12:10 Capt. Enckell called: I will be there with the company chiefs in about half an hour. Asked for our company chiefs to arrive in the battalion command post, where we could agree on the details of the exchange.
12:15 Russian mortars firing near the command post.
12:55 Capt. Enckell and the company chiefs arrived at the command post.
The company chiefs together with ours left to the front, where they will agree on the exchange platoon by platoon, as the situation will allow.
13:25 Lieut. Tuiramo: four of my men got wounded from enemy mortars, one of them Lieut. Saarikoski.
13:30 The regiment commander arrived at the command post to follow the exchange.
14:15 Our mortar platoon had exchanged and started to march towards the camp area.
14:40 The regiment commander left the battalion area.
15:00 Weather: sunny, thin clouds.
15:45 Order to the ammo depot to move to Suurselkä.
15:50 Signals platoon has exchanged. They gave up ready-made telephone connections and were given a corresponding amount of cable. The platoon started to march.
Vehicles arrived from Kekrola and stopped about 1 km away by the road. The field hospital started to march after handing over their dugout to the new field hospital.
15:55 Lieut. Tuiramo: 9th Company has exchanged. Order for him to march to and camp in Suurselkä.
16:10 Lieut. Hevre reported completing the exchange and was ordered to march to the camp area.
16:15 Cornet Ansolahti reported completing the exchange at the field guard post and was ordered to march to Siiranmäki with his Jaeger Platoon. The regiment command post will be moving there.
17:45 A heavy grenade exploded near the corner of the command post dugout. No damages.
19:15 Lieut. Valtavaara: exchange completed with 10./JR 48. Was ordered to start marching.
19:20 Battalion commander Capt. Pörhölä reported to the regiment commander that the exchange has been completed and Capt. Enckell that he has taken possession of the defensive positions.
19:30 Battalion commander and the envoy officer left the command post on bicycles towards Suurselkä, where we arrived at 21:30.
22:00 11th and 9th Company arrived at the camp area, where accommodation in tents. Marched about 20 km. The road was in a bad condition due to the rain.
23:30 12th and 10th Company arrived.
The exchange had taken place without problems or losses.
The exchanging companies were as follows:
10./JR 28 – 1. and 10./JR 48
11./JR 28 – 2./JR 48
9./JR 28 – 3./JR 48
12./JR 28 – 4./JR 48
15.9.41
01:00 The supply columns of 10th and 12th C. were the last to arrive.
09:00 The battalion commander, supply officer and envoy officer inspecting the camp area. The units are in tents. Battalion command post, field hospital, signal, mortar and Jaeger Platoons are inside houses. There are enough saunas.
11:00 A mobile Lotta canteen and the Army Corps orchestra arrived in the battalion area. The Lottas served free coffee with buns. The orchestra played military music during the service.
18:30 Battalion commander briefing for the company chiefs. Topics: increasing discipline, daily service and support.
Signed:
III/JR 28 envoy
officer, Lieutenant L. Sarkeala
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