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PANZERS IN FINLAND I*
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Skirmish at Pistojoki
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Date: Early morning of July 23, 1941*                     
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Battle location:  Pistojoki-river, road to Uhtua*
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Battle Type: Finland/German assault vs. USSR defend*
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Design by:  Zipuli*
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BACKGROUND:*
In summer 1941, when the Finnish Continuation War began right after operation Barbarossa was launched, Germans had Army of Lapland in northern Finland. This army was to take the crucial Murmansk -rail line in cooperation with the Finnish forces. The Army had also some tank units, equipped with mostly obsolete tank models such as Panzer I and II, and captured French Somuas and Hotchiss. One of these tank units was Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V.40 (z.b.V stands for "zu besonderen Verwendung" - "for special purpose"), that was originally created to take part in the offensives against Denmark and Norway. This battalion size unit was commanded by Oberstleutnant Volkheim. After the succesfull operations in Norway the unit was moved to northern Finland. There it was divided so that 1st Company was attached to Gebirgskorps Norwegen, attacking from Petsamo to Murmansk and 3rd Company was attached to III Corps (Finnish, mainly 3rd Division) that was to attack to Uhtua and Kiestinki.*
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The 3rd Company attacked from Raatevaara to Vuokkiniemi, Vuonninen and Uhtua. The company was commanded by Oberleutnant Walter. When the attack started the company was attached to Osasto Fossi (unit Fossi), a unit made of Finnish Kevyt Osasto 5 (Light unit 5, bicycle troops) and commanded by Finnish major Alfons Jarvi. This unit was to start pursuit when the Russian defenses were breached, though this did not happen as planned. Instead the tanks were used to support the attacking Finnish infantry. This was done mainly along roads with few vehicles able to fight at a time, as the terrain is very hostile towards tanks with never ending deep forests and swamps. The unit suffered greatly in the terrain, with tanks bogging down every now and then, and the numerous bridges in the area blown up. The unit consisted of Pz I, II and III tanks, with Pz IIIs being left behind in numerous occations when the bridges couldn't support them.*
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During the attack from Raatevaara to Vuonninen, few tanks were used to support the unit attacking on point. Few were lost, mines were a constant grief and also enemy AT Guns took their toll. During July 22nd the Finnish troops reached Pistojoki -river, that was the final bigger water obstacle on the way to Uhtua, the first Objective. First battalion of JR32 (Infantry Regiment 32) crossed the river and 5 Pz II tanks were taken across with a pontoon barge, just in time to take part in the attack that took place in the early hours of July 23rd. All Pz III tanks needed to stay behind as they were too heavy to be carried accross.*
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ENEMY:*
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The enemy finally withdrew from Vuonnisenjoki -river over the Pistojoki -river. They have proved to be good fighters in this terrain and our attack has been stalled by them time after time. They have some light tanks and AT-Guns in support, and we know they are waiting for us on the other side of the river. Mines are certainly laid - again - to cause us trouble and their infantry has had time to dig in. Their strenght is unknown at the moment.*
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OWN:*
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The first units of 1/JR32 have deployed for attack along the dirt road. Indirect support is not heavy, but we trust the German comrades to give sufficent support with the five Panzers. Let's just hope they don't get bogged down again, at least not all of them! Our mission is to clear the road of enemy and take the small hill that is enemy infested. When the hill is taken, the enemy is no longer able to cover the road with their fire, and the attack can again continue to Uhtua!*
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME:*
The attack that lasted some 2 hours was unsuccesfull and the Finnish troops were pulled back to the original positions. The Panzers supported the infantry, but 2 were knocked out by 45mm gun of an armoured car, and one had the 20mm gun jammed. The tanks returned back with the infantry after the attempt. The Panzer IIIs were moving in to take part in the skirmish, but due to one tank's driver's error the pontoon barge was broken. It took untill 27th of July to build a bridge strong enough to get the heavy Panzers on to join the fight. The attack to Uhtua continued on July 24th without the tanks, and slowly the enemy was pushed aside.*
