Battle of Kollaa

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Battle of Kollaa

Part of the Winter War

Date	December 7, 1939 to March 13, 1940
Location	Kollaa river, Finland
Result	Finnish victory

Combatants

Finland

Soviet Union

Commanders

General Hägglund
Colonel Svensson
Lieutenant-Colonel Teittinen
Reitmaster v. Haartman
Captain Juutilainen

Strength

1 division and some small units^{[citation needed]}

4 divisions, 1 tank brigade^{[citation needed]}

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

The Battle of Kollaa was fought from December 7, 1939 - March 13, 1940 in the Ladoga's Karelia, Finland as a part of the Winter War.

The Soviet were repelled with much lesser troops by the Finnish forces (12th division) because the Soviets were prepared to only proceed through roads. The Kollaa area had very few roads and all of them were manned by Finnish troops. The Soviets were not able to proceed any other ways without skis.

The 12th Division stopped the Red Army but had heavy losses. The Battle of Kollaa continued to the end of the war. The Finnish defence came to collapse at the very end and the Finnish troops left the main positions on river Kollaa on March 12, but on March 13 started a counter-attack.

The Battle of Kollaa is remembered from Major General Hägglund's question "Will Kollaa hold? (Kestääkö Kollaa)" which Lieutenant Aarne Juutilainen answered: "Yes it will hold, unless we are told to run." Also known in Finland "Kestääkö kollaa? (will Kollaa hold?)" was the question, answer was "Kollaa kestää (Kollaa will hold)"

Sniper Simo Häyhä served in the Kollaa front successfully.