Battle of Summa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Summa

Date	1st Feburary 1940-15th Feburary 1940
Location	Summa Lahde Sector
Result	Soviet victory/Breaking of the Mannerheim Line

Combatants

Soviet Union

Finland

Commanders

Öhquist, Östermann, Mannerheim

Timoschenko

Strength

Third Division

Casualties

Winter War
Tolvajärvi – Suomussalmi – Taipale – Summa – Raate-Road – Kuhmo – Honkaniemi – Kollaa – Salla – Petsamo

The Battle of Summa was fought between the Soviet Union and Finland. It was fought near the village of Summa along the main road leading from Leningrad to Viipuri.

As the Soviets found it too difficult to breach the line at the Summa sector, they attacked 10 kms to the east in a sector known as Lähde. If they broke through here then they could encircle the Finns holding the Summa position. Timoschenko knew he could beat the Finnsin a battle of attrition. His plan was to wear them down and go for an all out blow.

First large probing actions were launched against the Finnish lines. For 11 days the line held in all positions. Then the Soviets went all out on the 11th.

On the 12th of Feburary a minor breach in the Finnish lines in the Lahde sector led to disaster. By that time so many breaches had occured in the Mannerheim Line that the report wasn't treated with enough seriousness. The following morning a counter-attack was supposed to be launched by the entire 5th Division, the only reserve in easy reach of the frontline, but only one of the three regiments was available as the other two regiments had to be parcelled out elsewhere.

In the end only two Battalions launched a counter-attack against two entire regiments well supplied with armour and artillery. The attack was thrown back with heavy Finnish casualties. The Russians made efforts to exploit the sailent. One tank Regiment made it as far as the Lahde road junction but halted. With total victory in their grasp the Russians halted their armoured spearhead.

Many Finnish companies were reduced to half their original strength. One company had lost 86 out 110 men. Over-night from the 14th to the 15th the Finns began withdrawing the Summa position. On the morning of the 15th the Russians attacked an empty position at Summa with more than 100 tanks and 2 divisions. That afternoon Mannerheim ordered a general retreat to the Intermediate Line