Breaking the Mannerhiem Line - Winter War

11 FEBRUARY 1940, POPPIUS BUNKER, LÄHDE SECTOR, MANNERHEIM LINE After 2 months of stagnant and costly fighting the situation at the Lahde Sector of the Mannerheim line had grown very grim for the besieged Finns. Dominated by 2 very stubborn strong points (the "Poppius" and "Million Dollar Bunker") the fortifications and their surrounding areas now stood severely damaged by ten days of intense bombardment. With anti-tank barriers reduced to mere rubble, minefields blown away by artillery strikes and barbed wire shredded by the same, the Finnish troops of JR8 would soon find themselves under the pressure of two entire regiments from the 123rd Rifle Division. At 1200 Leningrad time the attack was launched and although the initial RKKA attacks were repulsed after only 20 minutes, the 123rd was determined and were soon reinforced by another infantry battalion and armored support. The fight in the center continued until a tank crew with nerves of steel maneuvered their vehicle in front of the firing ports preventing the Finns from firing from the bunker. Although JR8 continued to resist fiercely the Poppius Bunker would be under the Red Banner by 1230. On the eastern flank the Finns faced only infantry. Although the RKKA lost so many troops on this flank that survivors dubbed the area the "Valley of Death", Lieutenant Hannu and his company were forced to abandon their position. This was due to the fall of the Poppius Bunker to the west and the fact that numerous T-28 tanks were closing in on their position from the Lähde Road to his companies rear. To the west at the "Million Dollar" bunker the Jagers were able to hold their original line for the remainder of the day versus numerous Russian assaults. Only after troops of the 123rd Rifle Division placed a 500 pound block of TNT on a fissure in the roof of the bunker (blowing it to pieces and killing all 30 men inside) did this position fall. By 12 February, the Mannerheim Line had finally been broken by the determined siege of the 123rd Rifle Division and cheers were heard by these troops for possibly the first time in the war. For their part in overcoming this obstacle, the 245th Regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and Colonel Rosly (the regt. CO) was bestowed the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union.