Battle of Raate-Road

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Casualties of the destroyed Soviet 44th division on the Raate-Road

Date	January 1, 1940 to 7 January 1940
Location	Eastern Finland
Result	Decisive Finnish victory

Combatants

Finland

Soviet Union

Commanders

Hjalmar Siilasvuo

Kombrig Vinogradov

Strength

6,000

25,000

Casualties

100-250 killed

17,500 killed, wounded and missing
1200 captured

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

The battle of Raate-Road was fought between Soviet Union and Finland in January, 1940 as a part of the battle of Suomussalmi.

On December 7 Soviet 163th division had conquered Suomussalmi, and the Ukrainian 44th division was coming to help it. In the following battle colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo's 9th division destroyed the Soviet 44th (Ukrainian) Rifle Division on the Raate-Road compeletely.

The battle proved the effiency of the motti tactics that Finnish troops used. Many of the Soviet casualties were also due to the freezing weather during the battle.

[edit] Order of battle

At the start of the battle of Raate-Road, Siilasvuo's 9th division had already destroyed the Russian 163th division. After that, the division got orders to destroy the 44th Rifle Division which was located in Haukila, 12 kilometers from Suomussalmi. The battle was ordered to begin on January 5, 8:30 AM.

The Finnish 9th division was split in four squadrons which were named after their commanders. The battles focused to Haukila, where most of the Soviet troops were located and where squadron Mandelin and Mäkiniemi attacked. Squadron Mäkiniemi had started moving towards Haukila few days before the official attack.

On January 6 the despairing Soviet troops began to erupt towards north. They had already tried to escape to east but squadron Kari had prevented this. In the far east squadron Fagernäs couldn't keep the bridge in Finnish control.

On January 7 squadron Fagernäs captured the bridge back and in forenoon all Soviet resistance had ended.

Finland captured 43 assault tanks, 71 field and anti-air guns, 29 anti-tank cannons, armored cars, armored tractors, 260 trucks, 1,170 horses, infantry weapons, ammunition and medical equipment as war booty from the Soviets.