Last Stand at Rukajarvi - Winter War

11 SEPTEMBER 1941, COASTAL ROAD TO RUKAJARVI, NORTHERN KARELIA The Finnish attack on the Northern Karelia had aimed advancing the Repola - Rukajarvi - Ontajoki axis and encircling the Russian troops with a left wing hook. Finnish 14th Division under the command of Col. E. Raappana was ordered to advance Rukajarvi and outflank the Russian 54th Division which was defending the area. First patrols crossed the border on July 1, and 14th Division's advance started on July 3. Soviet forces tried to delay the Finnish eastward advance by defending the narrow isthmuses on the coastal road to Rukajarvi. 14th Division had no light units and their advance was slow. Furthermore Russian 54th Division, with the help of the 73rd Border Guards Detachment put up a stiff resistance on the prepared positions at Ontrosenvaara and Rukavaara ridges and delayed the Finnish advance for 3 weeks. However Finnish troops slowly outflanked the ridges and forced the Russians to fall back towards Rukajarvi. The capture of the Rukajarvi from the Northern road was threatening thousands of Russian troops which were already evacuating the Northern Karelia and retiring to the eastern side of the Ontajoki River. Russian command sent elements of the 27th Rifle Division and the 71st Border Guards Detachment to the area in order to gain time for the retreating troops. As the leading elements arrived Rukajarvi the Border Guards formed a perimeter at the northern approaches of the town, waiting for the inevitable Finnish attack.