2. SUMMA SNOW
LAKE SUMMA, FINLAND, February 11, 1940: The Russians had suffered grievous casualties in the opening months of the Winter War at the hands of the Finns and the severe weather. Now as spring approached fresh units were brought up to end the embarrassing stalemate. Few Soviet commanders doubted that heads would roll if there was another rebuff. Determined therefore to avoid the consequences of failure, Colonel F.F. Aljabushev ordered his 123rd Rifle Division to break through the bunker complexes that were part of the Mannerheim Line east of Lake Summa. The Finns called this the “Lähde” sector and it was held on a 4 kilometre front by the 500 men of II Battalion, Infantry Regiment 9 (JR 9), 3rd Division. Lacking any significant anti-tank weapons, special tank hunter teams had been formed that relied on individual courage to lie in ambush for the Soviet tanks. Sunday February 11 dawned hazy with a temperature of -20°C. By 08:40 it had cleared and warmed sufficiently for the Russian artillery to herald the start of the new offensive. Just after midday the hard pressed Finns had to abandon the armour plated ‘Poppius’ bunker to the Russians and were retreating northwards. However, on occasion the Finns would halt and exact a toll on their pursuers.