12 DECEMBER 1939, LEMETTI - UOMAA ROAD, LADOGA KARELIA:
General Hagglund's counterattack plan was particularly relied on Task Force Autti's success which was the main offensive element of Colonel H.Hannuksela's 13rd Division. Colonel Autti's main group was to pass the wilderness at East of Kotajarvi with a night march and surprise the Russian elements that were already pinned by attacks from Northern part of the road.
After midnight, on December 12th, Task Force Autti began it's advance near Lake Varpajärvi. Road less and rugged terrain slowed the movements of the troops and delayed the flanking attack aimed at the Russian rear. Aware of the importance of the element of surprise in this operation, Colonel Autti forced his tired troops to a march in order to reach the crossroads where roads from Lemetti, Kotajarvi and Uomaa link. Autti's spearhead, the I/JR 37 reached the crossroad at 1300 hrs. However, leading troops immediately spotted a large Russian formation moving towards the crossroads. There, under the frigid cold of Ladoga Karelia, started a desperate fight for the possession of the vital crossroads.
3 - 1 - 4
keif149
){kind=link}