AFH continues from HERE.

Soviet arty was finally starting to make itself felt on the Finnish defenders.

This did not much help those Soviets still attempting to cross the barren ice covered lakes. As the Finn’s 76mm guns did their job effectively.

Tired from lake of warmth and sick of being beaten on by the smaller force, The 364 attacks with vigor! The Finns are stunned, paralyzed and then lose nearly their entire force before being forced to retire.

Not everything goes the Soviet way. The gunfire of the Finnish is fearsomely accurate.

By 0900 the 609s 1^st Bn has taken 17 step losses. The 2^nd 32, and the third 5 since fighting began. That is approximately 35%. The 161 has fared better but yet to see as much direct action. Its losses sit at 16%.

The morning hour of 0900 yields fog and mist which reduces arty and line of visibility for every one. But given the closeness of some of the fighting both sides still try to lay on effective fire, but with little success. During the 0900 hour the outskirts of the village see a welter of fire and attacking. With heavy lossess reported.

0930

The Soviets attack the heavily fortified Hotel on the spit. Russian soldiers from a wide range of ethnic back grounds slip, slide and scramble up the slopes to the hotel. Under fire from danger close arty brought in by the Finnish! But the swarming continues unabated. The 37^th finally cracks and heads for the rear.

Finally the spit will have to be abandoned.

By 1000 The Soviets realize that todays objectives might not be met. Their scouts see fresh companies of men approach to support the Tolvajarvi village.

Despite being surrounded the Finnish 112^th hold positions in well dug in locations. The Soviets go around, those that venture onto the ice pay the price. The Finns ward off an attack into Makela, and prepare to counter attack the rear od the 364^th.

Their losses are now approaching 40%.

The Finns advance into the 364^th, further fighting ensues, and the entire 364^th elects to fail. And relinquish its bloody gains.

Witht eh 364^th in tatters, the Soviets will need to retire, recover battalion morale and look to bring up other companies and Battalions to continue the assault. On the Spit despite potentially being surrounded the Finns dropped one formation off an opt sheet and sent in a fresh company to plug the whole. Will the recently arrived reinforcements from the North make a difference? They are extremely low morale units, but have a lot of guns.

The Soviets elect to retire at this point.