Welcome to Episode 9 of the Winter War podcast. In this installment, we return to the Karelian Isthmus during the third week of January 1940, where significant developments were unfolding. The Soviet Leningrad Military district, previously disgraced, was reformed and renamed the Northwestern Front, with Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko appointed as its commander. Timoshenko was a formidable figure, known for his flinty eyes, shaven head, and powerful voice.
Under Timoshenko’s leadership, the Northwestern Front was tasked with the challenging mission of cracking the Mannerheim Line, a fortified Finnish defense along the Isthmus. The Finns had proven to be a formidable adversary during the Winter War, and Timoshenko was determined to change the course of the conflict.
To bolster their efforts, Timoshenko brought in Georgi Zhukov, the architect of Russia’s victory over the Japanese in Mongolia, as his chief of staff. The previous narrative of saving the Finnish working class was replaced by a focus on Russian patriotism and pride. The aim was to redeem Russia’s reputation on the world stage and shift the soldiers’ motivation from serving Stalin to serving the Fatherland.
The early phases of the war had seen a lack of coordination among Russian forces, with artillery being underutilized and ineffective. The Finns, on the other hand, had displayed innovation, initiative, and adaptability. Stalin’s purges had removed skilled military leadership, replacing them with inexperienced yes-men.
Timoshenko and Zhdanov quickly reorganized the Northwestern Front, revamped tactical doctrines, and initiated intensive training programs. Red Army forces were thoroughly restructured, and the Karelian Isthmus force was divided into two corps.
General Grendal led the Thirteenth Army, tasked with assaulting the right wing of the Isthmus. Meanwhile, the Seventh Army, under General Meretskov, was assigned the southern section of the Isthmus and was heavily fortified with infantry divisions, tank brigades, machine-gun divisions, and artillery.
The Russian strategy shifted from massed attacks to using their forces as a wedge to exploit potential weaknesses in the Finnish defenses. Timoshenko emphasized rigorous training, including live-fire exercises and better coordination between infantry, artillery, and armour units.
This new approach aimed to compel the Finns to abandon sectors of the Mannerheim Line if a rupture occurred anywhere along the front. The Russians were determined to nibble at the line, acknowledging the resilience of the Finnish troops.
As preparations for the next attack continued, the Russians gathered intelligence on Finnish defenses, even bringing back bits of concrete from Finnish fortifications. Full-scale mock-ups of defensive lines were built, and the troops underwent realistic training exercises.
Timoshenko’s new strategy was characterized by frontal assaults, where the enemy would “lose blood” and weaken before the Russians. Despite the callous terminology, it reflected the harsh realities of war.
On the Finnish side, Lieutenant General Hugo Osterman led the defense on the Karelian Isthmus. The Second Army Corps, under Lieutenant General Harald Ohquist, was stationed on the western edge, while the Third Army Corps, led by Major General Heinrichs, defended the eastern edge.
The Finnish forces were outnumbered, with just eight divisions facing the 30 divisions of the Red Army. Heavy bombardments and probing attacks by well-trained Russian infantry created a tense atmosphere along the frontlines.
Despite the mounting pressure, there was a ray of hope for the Finns: Simo Hayha, also known as the “White Death.” Hayha was a legendary sniper serving with the 6th Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, stationed on the Kollaa Front. Born in 1905, he was already an expert marksman by the time he joined the Civil Guard at the age of 17.
Hayha’s kill count was astonishing, with reports suggesting he took out 542 Red Army soldiers in just 100 days, using a simple rifle with open sights. His expertise earned him the nickname “White Death,” and his skills were admired by his comrades and feared by the enemy.
Despite being wounded in the face by an enemy sniper, Hayha survived and continued to serve, albeit away from the frontlines. He became a symbol of Finnish determination and courage during the Winter War.
As the Russians prepared for a massive attack, Finnish aerial photography indicated a buildup along the Karelian Isthmus. The Finns were left wondering if the Russians had finally figured out how to fight in Finland.
Stay tuned for the next episode to uncover more about the Winter War.
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