ON THE BORDERLINE*
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DATE: 30 November 1939*
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BATTLE LOCATION: Artahuhta, Finland*
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BATTLE TYPE:*
Finland (Delay) vs. Russia (Advance)*
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HISTORICAL SITUATION:*
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The Soviet 139th Rifle Division-20000 troops supported by 147 artillery pieces and 45 tanks, under the command of General I.B. Belyayev-crossed the border on all available roads leading to Tolvajarvi, a key road junction defended by 4200 scattered Finnish reservists. Cavalry Reserve Lt. Toivianen was celebrating his forty-fifth birthday that grim morning at Artahuhta, near the border post of Myllyjarvi . His men had gathered to congratulate him and to present him with a new fountain pen. The lieutenant had just made his acceptance speech when the sound of heavy artillery echoed from the direction of the border. Mounting immediately, Toivianen and his squadron galloped to join the fifteen border guards defending the post. *
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FORCES:*
Finland: Elements of Myllyjarvi Detachment, Border Guards and 4th Reserve Cavalry Squadron*
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Russia: Elements of 364th Rifle Regiment*
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AFTERMATH:*
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The Finns were unable to halt the initial onslaught and retreated to Artahuhta, out of the Russian artillery barrage. There the Finnish reservists were confronted by a solid mass of Red Army troops, ordered to seize the village with all speed. The fire was deadly, with troops often separated by only a few yards. One cavalryman infiltrated the enemy positions, killed a Soviet machinegun crew, took their place and fired the weapon at the Russians the entire night before he was discovered and overwhelmed. Artahuhta was held by the battered reservists for two days and two nights before a retreat to prepared defensive positions near Tolvajarvi was authorized. *
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NOTES: This scenario was converted from an ASL scenario (see below) to SPWW2 format. Can be played PBEM as either side, or if playing against the AI, take the Finnish. *
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SOURCE: ASL Scenario 124 (A16)*
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SPWW2 Scenario Creation by Don Lazov*