The Soviet 54th Division attacked the Kuhmo area on Nov 30 1939 but was stopped there by Task Force Ilomäki and Brigade Vuokko. ’Til the mid-January 1940 the Division was jamming along the road Rasti Crossroads-Riihivaara village, having entrenched relatively well.
So when the 44th ’Blue’ Division was defeated in the Raate Road Battle in Jan 1-9 the HQ of the Northern Finland Corps suggested that the victorius 9th Division should be re-positioned to Kuhmo. Supreme HQ agreed on Jan 18.
So, on Jan 20 Infantry Regiments 27, 2nd and 3rd Battalions from the Infantry Regiment 65, Light Detachment Volanen, an AT Company, two field artillery platoons from Field Artillery Regiment 9, Signaler Battalion 9 and Combat Engineer Battalion 9 were about to reach the area, arriving there on Jan 21-26. Also the Separate Battalion 21 was positioned the area on Jan 27.
Recon patrols were sent to the Kälkäinen-Loso-Reuhkavaara and Nivala-Luelahti areas. Based on their reports the Division HQ decided to point the spearhead towards the Saunajärvi village, that cutting the Soviet routes eastwards. Division was ordered to keep the village and continue assaulting along the road towards the Sivakka village in the west. D-Day was set to be Jan 29 at 5 AM.
Basically, the same tactic was successfully used in Raate but in Kuhmo the enemy had prepared the defense better, having e.g. calculated artillery blockades and 3-log layer thick dugouts for the infantry.
Meanwhile, in the Ladoga Karelia, the 12th Division was preparing to wipe out the Soviet 18th Division in the Lemetti area. Pic shows an MG nest from there. Gunner might be Edvin Kallio and his assistant Onni Valkonen.
SA-kuva
Talvisodan historia, osa 3, s. 218-219