Briefing
Back to Isthmus version: 1.0 1. Background In the Russo-Finnish war of winter 1939-1940 Finland lost the Karelian Isthmus to the Soviet Union. This left the Finnish people bitter and when Germany launched its Barbarossa-offensive, Finland was determined to recapture the lands took from it in the previous war. As the bulk of the Soviet forces was fighting against the Wehrmacht, Finnish border was defended with a minimum number of divisions. In August 1941 the Finns began their assault to recapture the Karelian Isthmus. The Finnish 4th Corps had occupied the western side of the front while the 2nd Corps was in the east. The offensive was initiated by the 2nd Corps. Soviet resistance remained solid during the first week of the offensive, but soon the 2nd Corps was able to create some breakthroughs and the Soviet forces were forced to retreat. In the middle of August Finns had already occupied the northern side of the strategically important river Vuoksi. At the same time the 4th Corps joined in the attack. As it pushed the Soviets over the Bay of Viipuri, the 2nd Corps crossed Vuoksi in an attempt to encircle the enemy forces fighting against the 4th Corps. The operation succeeded resulting in the final collapse of the Soviet defence at the Isthmus. In the opening days of September the Finnish forces had reached the old border just 35 kilometers north of Leningrad. Despite Hitler's urgings, Finnish troops never made any move to capture that critical city and it was less than three years later when the Isthmus was lost again due to massive Soviet offensive, which eventually forced Finland to sue for separate peace. 2. Unit Colors 2.1. Finnish Army All units belonging to the 2nd Corps have white background color. Different divisions have their own symbol colors. All units belonging to the 4th Corps have light green background color. Different divisions have their own symbol colors. Finnish Navy: Blue on light blue Finnish Air Forces: White on light blue 2.2. Soviet Army All Soviet ground units have red or dark red background color with different divisions having their own symbol colors. Independent units have black symbol color. Soviet Navy: Red on dark blue Soviet Air Forces: Dark red on dark blue 3. Significant Events Air shock factors have been modified to reflect the superior effectiveness of the Finnish air forces. If any of the following hexes is occupied by the Finnish Army, one of the four fortress artillery (Lin.Psto) units will be transferred to that hex a few turns later: (50,4), (45,16), (50,25), (54,39). 4. Other Comments The composition of most units should be quite close to their historical counterparts. However, I did not find any good source discussing the Soviet armored forces operating in the area. Therefore the number and composition of the Soviet armored units is a good guess at most. If you have any information regarding to this subject, please inform me about it by e-mail. The Finnish air forces during the war were mixed up from many different plane types and most of them are not included in the game. I have replaced them with the American P-36 fighters, which have approximately similar combat capabilities. The Finnish 2nd Division may not cross the hexes which have "2.D" written on them until the start of turn 20. This reflects the fact that the 2nd Division was assigned to fight the Soviet forces operating in the northwestern coast of Lake Ladoga outside the scenario map. If computer is playing the Finnish Army, this restriction does not apply. The Finnish Army may not conduct sea transport of units at Lake Ladoga. The Soviet Army is not restricted in this way and neither is a computer playing the Finnish Army. If you are playing with the Soviets against a computer controlled Finland, you may want to avoid contact with the Finnish units belonging to the 4th Corps. They have orders to hold their positions until the turn 22, but this effect will be cancelled if Soviet units move adjacent to them. Unit names are in Finnish for added realism and due to the nationality of the designer. This should not cause any problems because unit symbols indicate the purpose of units and their compositions are easy to check. Feel free to send any comments to me! I would really like to know your opinion about this scenario. Sakari Lahti

Briefing

Back to Isthmus

version: 1.0

1. Background

In the Russo-Finnish war of winter 1939-1940 Finland lost the Karelian Isthmus to the Soviet Union. This left the Finnish people bitter and when Germany launched its Barbarossa-offensive, Finland was determined to recapture the lands took from it in the previous war. As the bulk of the Soviet forces was fighting against the Wehrmacht, Finnish border was defended with a minimum number of divisions.

In August 1941 the Finns began their assault to recapture the Karelian Isthmus. The Finnish 4th Corps had occupied the western side of the front while the 2nd Corps was in the east. The offensive was initiated by the 2nd Corps. Soviet resistance remained solid during the first week of the offensive, but soon the 2nd Corps was able to create some breakthroughs and the Soviet forces were forced to retreat. In the middle of August Finns had already occupied the northern side of the strategically important river Vuoksi.

At the same time the 4th Corps joined in the attack. As it pushed the Soviets over the Bay of Viipuri, the 2nd Corps crossed Vuoksi in an attempt to encircle the enemy forces fighting against the 4th Corps. The operation succeeded resulting in the final collapse of the Soviet defence at the Isthmus. In the opening days of September the Finnish forces had reached the old border just 35 kilometers north of Leningrad.

Despite Hitler's urgings, Finnish troops never made any move to capture that critical city and it was less than three years later when the Isthmus was lost again due to massive Soviet offensive, which eventually forced Finland to sue for separate peace.

2. Unit Colors

2.1. Finnish Army

All units belonging to the 2nd Corps have white background color. Different divisions have their own symbol colors.

All units belonging to the 4th Corps have light green background color. Different divisions have their own symbol colors.

Finnish Navy: Blue on light blue
Finnish Air Forces: White on light blue

2.2. Soviet Army

All Soviet ground units have red or dark red background color with different divisions having their own symbol colors. Independent units have black symbol color.

Soviet Navy: Red on dark blue
Soviet Air Forces: Dark red on dark blue

3. Significant Events

Air shock factors have been modified to reflect the superior effectiveness of the Finnish air forces.
If any of the following hexes is occupied by the Finnish Army, one of the four fortress artillery (Lin.Psto) units will be transferred to that hex a few turns later: (50,4), (45,16), (50,25), (54,39).

4. Other Comments

The composition of most units should be quite close to their historical counterparts. However, I did not find any good source discussing the Soviet armored forces operating in the area. Therefore the number and composition of the Soviet armored units is a good guess at most. If you have any information regarding to this subject, please inform me about it by e-mail.

The Finnish air forces during the war were mixed up from many different plane types and most of them are not included in the game. I have replaced them with the American P-36 fighters, which have approximately similar combat capabilities.

The Finnish 2nd Division may not cross the hexes which have "2.D" written on them until the start of turn 20. This reflects the fact that the 2nd Division was assigned to fight the Soviet forces operating in the northwestern coast of Lake Ladoga outside the scenario map. If computer is playing the Finnish Army, this restriction does not apply.

The Finnish Army may not conduct sea transport of units at Lake Ladoga. The Soviet Army is not restricted in this way and neither is a computer playing the Finnish Army.

If you are playing with the Soviets against a computer controlled Finland, you may want to avoid contact with the Finnish units belonging to the 4th Corps. They have orders to hold their positions until the turn 22, but this effect will be cancelled if Soviet units move adjacent to them.

Unit names are in Finnish for added realism and due to the nationality of the designer. This should not cause any problems because unit symbols indicate the purpose of units and their compositions are easy to check.

Feel free to send any comments to me! I would really like to know your opinion about this scenario.

Sakari Lahti