Arctic Front: On Familiar Ground

[Crossroads]

Crossing of River Vuoksi. Hopeasalmi, 18 August 1941. © SA-kuva.fi

Finnish forces
18. Division Col A. Pajari

JR 27 Lt Col L. Haanterä;
I Major Y. Toppola; II Captain K. Loimo; III Major K. Turkka;
Artillery: III/KTR19; Rask.Psto 26
- I/49th detached to 27th August 18-21 (crosses at Hopeasalmi, secures the airport)

JR 49 Lt Col E.I. Järvinen;
I Capt E. Vahla; II Capt S. Pylvänäinen; III Major L. Varkko;
Artillery: I/KTR19

7th Light Infantry (Kev.Os.7) Major G.Boisman

Strong air support of three different fighter squadrons. Le.Lv 32(??) Curtiss Hawk 75s at least in the area.

Soviet forces
Battle Group Koptovski; Col Koptovski

- Regiment "Koptovski"; elements of IR951; parts of 33.Border Detachment; Recon Bn of 123.D, one infantry coy + engineer platoon of 123.D; HQ Coy of 27.Army

- Reinforcements: Detachment "1. Leningrad Infantry Regiment" (An AA-Regiment turned infantry) Col Umnov

- Strong air presence as well: I-153s and I-16s, occational bomber.

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18.D War Diary / Col Pajari report on crossing Vuoksi: link

27th IR (JR 27) War Diary: link
- II/27 War Diary: link

49th IR (JR 49) War Diary: link
- I/49 War Diary: link
- II/49 War Diary: link
- III/49 War Diary: link

7th Light Infantry (Kev.Os.7) War Diary: link

27th IR order crossing the river: III, II, I.
Crossing equipment: 40 boats/dinghies (10 men each), 18 assault boats (10 men each), 4 pontoon ferries.
2300hrs-0230hrs: III/27 has crossed over with boats and dinghies only to maintain the element of surprise.
0245-0430hrs: II/27 has crossed over, having used motored assault boats from 03:30
0515-0700: I/27 crosses over. Pontoon Ferries available as of 0500hrs
1400-1615: I/49 crosses over at Hopeasalmi too.


Element of surprise was maintained for the whole duration of the crossing.