White Death - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

Haukila Finland, 15km SW of Suomussalmi: NIGHT [Best played against Human opponent] Despite the disparity in numbers during the Winter War, Finland held two major advantages, Field Marshal Mannerheim and 130,000 determined Finns defending their homeland. By mid December the main units of the Soviet 163rd Rifle Division were surrounded and under fierce attacks by the recently organized Finnish 9th Infantry Division in the Suomussalmi area. The situation was growing more desperate for the Russians by the hour. Hope for the besieged division lay in the form of the 44th Motorized Division stretched out for miles along the road from Raate to the southeast. This was alarming for the Finns with only a small blocking force holding a roadblock near Haukila to keep the 44th from the scene of battle. As the vanguard of the 44th prepared to push through the meager defenses on the 23rd, Finnish ski detachments positioned along the exposed flanks of the Russian column launched their attacks. The resulting paralysis in the 44th would doom the 163rd.