Clash of the HQs - Winter War

28 FEBRUARY, 1940, LEMETTI POCKET, LADOGA KARELIA The Finnish IV Corps' counterattack on the advancing Russian elements at the northern shore of Lake Ladoga aimed to trap the forward elements in a big pocket or -as Fins called- "motti" around Kitila. Instead, rather than retreating, Russian forces scattered along the road between Uomaa and Kitila dug in and started putting up a stiff resistance in isolated positions. This created several mottis from Kitila to Uomaa. The content of those mottis differed significantly since their very reason of existence was random. Some of them were heavily infantry based; some had support elements or armor and some of them consisted of headquarters personnel. Although isolated, those mottis were quite powerful to be overwhelmed by the light firepower Finns had. In fact, from January to the end of the war, many mottis managed to hold on under winter conditions and Finnish attacks. In most of the sectors, Finnish troops barely provided sufficient troops to maintain the siege. One of the mottis created on the Kitila-Uomaa road was the Lemetti pocket. It had two sectors; western and eastern pockets. Administrative elements from the 18th Rifle Division and the 34th Tank Brigade was trapped in the eastern Lemetti sector. Thanks to the hundreds of horses and firepower from tanks, trapped Russians survived the brutal winter conditions and light infantry attacks mounted by the Fins. On February 28th, the Soviet High Command gave the permission to break out of the Motti. Russians formed several breakout parties attacking towards different directions to reach the friendly lines. One of the parties that launched its attack toward the Uomaa road was mainly headquarters personnel and tank crews whose tanks were left behind due to lack of fuel. Those soldiers; led by high brass such as the commander of the 34th Tank Brigade, Stepan Ivanovits Kondratjev, and G. Kondrasov, commander of the 18th Division launched a desperate night attack on the Finnish lines. On the other side of the hill, Colonel Aarnio, commander of the 4th Jaeger Battalion, received several reports from the forward outposts that there is a total silence within the motti. No enemy movement was spotted during the last 24 hours. Colonel Aarnio decided to walk to the forward outposts and check the situation with his own eyes. Suddenly, a "Hurrah" cry broke the silence. Hundreds of Russian soldiers emerged from the woods running towards Finnish positions. The 4th Jaeger Battalion's ring was too thin; particularly the sector Russian troops were attacking. Reacting quickly, Finnish colonel rallied a scratch defense from HQ personnel such as clerks, cooks, medics, drivers; and called for help. Both headquarters engaged in a confused and bloody firefight in the frozen forest.