The Soviet Plans for the North Western Theatre of Operations in 1939-1944
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FINNISH DEFENCE STUDIES THE SOVIET PLANS FOR THE NORTH WESTERN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS IN 1939-1944 Ohto Manninen National Defence College Helsinki 2004 Finnish Defence Studies is published under the auspices of the National Defence College, and the contributions reflect the fields of research and teaching of the College. Finnish Defence Studies will occasionally feature documentation on Finnish Security Policy. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily imply endorsement by the National Defence College. Editor: Pekka Sivonen Editorial Assistant: Harri Valtonen Editorial Board: Chairman Prof. Mikko Viitasalo, National Defence College Prof. Ohto Manninen, National Defence College Col. Erkki Nordberg, Defence Staff Dr. Kalevi Ruhala Dr. Col. (ret.) PekkaVisuri, Finnish Institute of International Affairs Dr. Matti Vuorio, Scientific Committee for National Defence Published by NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE P.O. Box 7 SF-00861 Helsinki FINLAND FINNISH DEFENCE STUDIES 16 The Soviet Plans for the North Western Theatre of Operations in 1939-1944 Ohto Manninen National Defence College Helsinki 2004 ISBN 951-25-1476-1 ISSN 0788 5571 Edita Prima Oy Helsinki 2004 FOREWORD In this study my intention has been to analyse the operation plans made by the Red Army for the Finnish theatre of war in the eve of and during the Second World War. During my visits in Russia to research in the former Soviet archives it was not possible to see the origi- nal plans for operations. It was pointed out to me that the "ground level vegetation" is still the same in the border areas of Russia and Finland. This, of course, was a friendly way of saying to me that the legislation still forbids of giving those materials for researchers. On the other hand, since about 1988, it has been possible to research other materials of the Red Army. The battle orders of the operations which were realised are mostly available, as are the direc- tives for planning issued by the Commissariat of Defence and by the High Command or Stavka. And basing the study on these materi- als it is now possible to see both the general ideas of the planned operations and the solutions which were then chosen at the lower levels of decision. Some of the more important Stavka directives are not available but their content can be deduced from the lower level decisions and orders. The above referred "vegetation" remained of course the same in Finland and in her border areas. The front lines, from which the operations were started, changed, and this in turn changed the ob- jectives which could be put on the paper, for a front (or army group), for an army, for an army corps or a division. Some more roads and railways were built during the war, but this did not change the over- all picture of the theatre. The main problem for the Red Army seems to have been the scarcity of available roads to move the troops and the difficulty of getting logistic support to the fighting armies. Many of the operations which were planned were never re- alised, because the military capability needed was lacking or the high command looked for a political solution of the crisis. On the other hand the knowledge of the plans presented in this book gives, I hope, material for discussion of the great political decisions, too. I wish to present my thanks to the friendly officials of the mili- tary and naval archives in Sanct Peterburg, Gatchina, Moscow and 3 Podolsk, whom I have been able to consult during these 15 years, to my colleagues in Russia and Finland, to the translators Ms. Laura Loikkanen and Mr. Malcolm Hicks and to Ms. Marjo Grönroos who has produced the maps for this book. In Helsinki, December 6"', 2004 Ohto Manninen, Professor of Military History 4 Contents FOREWORD............................................................................................... 3 1. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WINTER WAR .................................... 7 Meretskov's plan ................................................................................. 11 Against the Mannerheim line ............................................................ 17 Battles to the north of Lake Ladoga .................................................. 22 The thought of cutting Finland in two .............................................. 23 The capture of Petsamo ...................................................................... 27 Notes............................................................................................... 28 Order of battle of the Red Aniiy in the Finnish theatre of war 30,11.1939 — 13.3. 1940 ....................................................................... 31 2. THE SOVIET MASS ATTACK IN 1940 ............................................. 37 Re-evaluation and preparations ........................................................ 37 Breaking through the Mannerheim Line .......................................... 43 Breaking into the Finnish Temporary position ................................. 48 Operations and plans for the area between Lake Ladoga andthe Arctic Ocean .......................................................................... 50 The Finnish army on the threshold of defeat ................................... 54 Notes............................................................................................... 57 3. THE PERIOD OF THE'INTERIM PEACE' ........................................ 59 The overall plan of the Soviet General Staff in 1940-1941 .............. 59 The Finnish theatre of war as a part of the whole ........................... 62 The race to the Aland Islands? .......................................................... 64 The Hanko expansion plan ................................................................ 66 The attack plan for the year 1941 ...................................................... 70 Notes............................................................................................... 82 4. AFTER THE BARBAROSSA: THE OPERATIONS WITH LIMITED GOALS IN 1941-1943 ........................................... 84 General staff during the Great Patriotic War ........................................ 84 The Finns capture the Lake Ladoga region in Karelia ..................... 85 Retreat from the Karelian Isthmus .................................................... 88 Counter-attack by the 14th Army ...................................................... 90 Engagements in Olonets .................................................................... 91 East of Medvezhegorsk ...................................................................... 93 The general plan for winter 1942 ...................................................... 96 An attempt to regain Svir ................................................................... 98 The focus moves north from Medvezhegorsk .................................. 100 For better positions (1942 - 1943) ..................................................... 106 Notes............................................................................................... 109 Order of battle of the Red Army in the Finfinish theatre of zoar 22.6.1941- 19.9.1944 ....................................................111 5 5. THE STRATEGIC OPERATIONS AGAINST FINLAND IN THE SUMMER OF 1944 ............................................................... 123 Choosing the direction of the attack ................................................. 124 Towards Rovaniemi: The ideas of Meretskov in 1944 ......................127 The planning for the Viipuri and the Sortavala operations............................................................................................ 129 Concealment and surprise ................................................................. 133 The objectives of the attack ............................................................... 134 The mass attack begins ...................................................................... 136 The changing ideas in July 1944 ........................................................ 140 The attack dies down ......................................................................... 143 At the time of the armistice ...............................................................146 Notes............................................................................................... 149 SOURCES...............................................................................................152 1. The operative idea in the 1930's .......................................................... 10 2. The operation orders in November 1939 ............................................ 16 3. The idea of mass attack in February 1940 ........................................... 44 4. The idea of an operation through Saha in February 1940 ................. 53 5. The idea of enlarging the military base in Hanko (1940) .................. 68 6. The idea of occupying Finland in 1940 — 1941 .................................... 72 7. The idea of retaking Medvezhegorsk in January 1942 ....................... 95 8. The idea of pushing the Finns back from the River Svir inApril 1942 .......................................................................................... 99 9. The idea of pushing the Germans back to Petsamo inApril — May 1942 ............................................................................... 103 10. The idea of retaking Kestenga in April 1942 ....................................... 104 11. The proposed operation to separate the German and Finnish armies (March 1944) ...............................................................131