The Winter War

On 13 October 1939, reservists of the Finnish Army are called up for active duty as the threat of Soviet invasion looms. Martti and Paavo Hakala, two farmer brothers from Kauhava, join others in a half-platoon under Second Lieutenant Jussi Kantola. After mustering at the local school, the men ride trains to Seinäjoki to join the 23rd Regiment.

After mustering, they travel to Seinäjoki to join the 23rd Regiment, and after weeks of practice the regiment heads to the Karelian Isthmus. Kantola's men help civilians evacuate their village and the unit prepares defenses for an anticipated Soviet attack. Lieutenant-Colonel Matti Laurila addresses the regiment before the march to Taipale.

The regiment marches to the Taipale River, where Kantola's men assist civilians in evacuating their village from the potential war zone. They begin building defensive works in anticipation of a Soviet assault. Laurila's leadership helps steady the troops as they prepare for contact with the Red Army.

On 6 December the Battle of Taipale opens as Soviet artillery shells the Finnish front. The Finns hold their positions while the Red Army masses outside the trenches. The day following, the Finns face renewed pressure as the Soviets deploy infantry and armor.

On 7 December the Finns are strafed by the Soviet Air Force as the Red Army launches a human-wave assault supported by T-26 light tanks. Martti's unit endures artillery and air attacks while maintaining defensive positions. Casualties begin to mount among Finnish troops and civilians in the vicinity.

During the Taipale fighting, Paavo Hakala is wounded and sent home to recover. He attends the funeral of four Kauhava men killed in the assault, a stark reminder of the cost of the siege. After a period of convalescence, he leaves for home and back to the front as soon as possible.

Paavo recovers and rejoins the front line, but is killed soon after when a Soviet artillery direct hit strikes in front of Martti. Martti witnesses Paavo's death and the loss underscores the human cost of the siege. The brothers' unit continues to hold positions despite mounting casualties.

Kantola is ordered to retake a casemate that had been captured by the Soviets when left unattended. The Finns drive the enemy out, but the assault incurs heavy casualties on both sides and tests the unit's endurance. The action demonstrates the brutal, close-quarters fighting on the Taipale front.

On 27 December the Soviets halt their attack on the Taipale front, and Kantola's men head to Yläjärvi for rest and recuperation. The pause allows the Finnish troops to regroup and replan, while Martti obtains home leave. Though relief is brief, the front remains tense as winter warfare continues nearby.

After recuperation, the unit transfers to Vuosalmi near Äyräpää to prevent the Soviets from crossing the Vuoksi River. The Finns launch attempts to blunt massed Soviet assaults and hold the riverline. The fighting intensifies as winter conditions persist and casualties accumulate.

In the renewed fighting at Vuosalmi, Martti is almost killed when a Soviet soldier butt-strokes him, forcing the Finns to retreat to more defensible positions. The incident underscores how close the battle edges were to catastrophe for the Hakala brothers and their comrades. The front remains under heavy pressure as Soviet waves sweep forward.

On 5 March, Martti, Kantola and the surviving Finns cover a counterattack by the Nurmo men, but a delay allows the Soviets to secure an advantageous position. The counterattack demonstrates a stubborn Finn defense, but the overall momentum remains with the Red Army. The fighting continues as both sides suffer casualties.

On the morning of 13 March the Moscow Peace Treaty takes effect and fighting stops at eleven o’clock. The Taipale-Vuosalmi front goes quiet as the war ends for now, leaving survivors to reflect on the losses suffered. The Finnish defense, though costly, manages to slow the Soviet advance along the Isthmus.