Mannerheimova linie

The Mannerheim Line was a system of fortifications built by Finland in the 1920s and 1930s across the Karelian Shiya, mainly to defend against the USSR. It was named after Marshal Mannerheim.


The first plans to build the line were proposed by Mannerheim during the Finnish Civil War, but were largely ignored at the time.


The line stretched from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga and the total length was about 135 km. This line, unlike other lines (such as Maginot's line) was built by landscaping. It consisted of advanced "holding" posts (which were mainly finely modified log cabins and field fortifications). There were only a few bunkers on the line, which were well camouflaged and built into the ground.


In the Winter War, the line successfully detained advancing Soviet troops, giving the Finns time to better prepare. However, during the operation Barbarossa, during the Finnish offensive, fighting on the line was rare and it was also the Soviet counter-offensive in 1944.


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Does anyone have more information about the siege and destruction of 1 Russian division (38th?) By two Finnish divisions around 1940 on this line

Something about the history of the Mannerheim Line and the battles of the Winter War is here:
http://www.winterwar.com/M-Line.htm
Maybe that's what you're looking for.

The line was divided into 8 sectors.


- "Kolmikesala" sector
- "Karhula" sector
- "Summakyla" sector
- "Summa - Lahde" sector
- Leipasuo sector
- "Suurniemi" sector
- "Muolaa" sector
- "Salmenkaita" sector


Suurniemi
The sector extends from the Suursuo Swamp to Lake Muolaanjarva. This defense system consisted of seven concrete bunkers connected to each other by other wire, an anti-tank trench and natural obstacles.


Bunkers: Sn1, Sn2, Sn3, Sn4, Sn5, Sn6 "Hilma", Sn7. All bunkers were built in 1937-1939.


Leipasuo
The sector covered the area from the Suursuo Swamp to the Peronijoki Lake area. The defense system consisted of seven concrete bunkers, two of which were built in the 1920s and two in the 1930s. The sector also contained a small dam.


Bunkers: Le1, Le2, Le3, Le4, Le5, Le6, Le7


Summakyla
The sector covered the area from Lake Summajoki to the west to Lake Summajarvi. After reconstruction in 1937-1939, the sector consisted of 9 bunkers and 9 shelters.


Bunkers and covers: Sk1, Sk2, Sk3, Sk4, Sk5, Sk6, Sk7, Sk8, Sk9, Sk10, Sk11, Sk12, Sk13, Sk14, Sk15, Sk16, Sk17, Sk18. All of these bunkers were built in either the 1920s or 1930s.


Summa - Lahde
This sector was the strongest fortified of all sectors, as it was this that the Finns considered vulnerable. It was in this sector that the Red Army broke across the Mannerheim Line during the Winter War. The sector covers the area from Lake Summajarvi to the "Saapaas" grove. The defense system consisted of 10 bunkers. The sector was about 1.5 kilometers long.


The western part of the sector is dominated by a mountain ridge stretching from north to south, called by the Finns "Sormi" (finger) and by the Red Army "Yazyk" (tongue). The strongest fortifications were built in this area, such as the Sj5 "Miljoonalinnake" bunker, the Miljoonakorsu bunker or the Sj4 Poppiuslinnake bunker. Miljoonalinnake means "Finnish fortress" in Finnish. The bunker received this name due to the high cost of its construction. The Red Army called him "Bunker No. 0011." The Poppiuslinnake bunker was named after Lieutenant Poppius, who commanded Finnish forces in the area. Another impressive but unused bunker in this area is the "Test Bunker" Koelinnake. The test was called because it was tested for heavy artillery fire to find out what is the best way to arm the bunker.


Bunkers: Sj1, Sj2, Sj3, Sj4, Sj5, Sj6, Sj7, Sj8, Sj9, Sj10.


Karhula
Defensive positions were built on a hill north of the settlement of Karhula. The most famous place in the Karhul sector is the hill Marjapellonm & # 1076; ki, also called "hill 38.2" by Red Army soldiers, which was difficult to conquer.

When the Soviet Union invaded Finland on November 30, 1939, the line was not yet completely finished. Nevertheless, together with the persistence of the Finnish army, it was able to halt the Red Army's advance for more than two months. The main line was only broken in February 1940 in its central-southern part near the village of Summa, after heavy bombardment. After the break, Marshal Mannerheim ordered a retreat to the reserve line, which did not fall until the end of the war. There were only minor breaches on it, but the Red Army was unable to extend it, instead bypassing it across the frozen Viipuri Gulf.



After the Winter War, the Mannerheim Line in the area was ceded to the Soviet Union.

There is something about the Winter War in the articles www.valka.cz. You might find something there.


V.