The Continuation War
Finland mobilizes its troops About 530000 armed men
About 45000 people are evacuated near the border
There are about 200000 German soldiers on the Lapland front
Germany attacks the Soviet Union
Finland attacks the Soviet Union, Attacking until 1942 -
when both Finnish and Russian troops are entrenched in their positions
June 1944 The war has lasted for five years
At first, Germany was successful Now it has changed on all fronts
Germany has been defeated in battles on the eastern front
The Leningrad Blockade has ended
According to treaty between the US, UK and the Soviet Union-
the Soviets have agreed to launch a massive eastern offensive
At the same time, the Allied forces are landing in Europe
The Allied forces have landed in French Normandy
A few days later, the Soviets launch a major offensive against Finland
Go ahead.
Lieutenant Talvitie, please explain what an assault gun is.
Us laymen probably confuse it with a tank.
The casemate of the assault gun does not move. The infantry operates -
near the assault guns, protecting the flanks.
senior sergeant Borje Brotell has commanded one-
and he is experienced with anti-tank defence. Tell us.
The commander must observe the terrain carefully-
and aim as quickly as possible.
lf there is a tank, then just fire away.
The Karelian Isthmus
Fall back!
Ake Lindman Film-Production presents
Costume Designer Marjatta Nissinen
Make-up Designer Eija-Leena Lehmuskallip
Production Designer Risto Karhula
Sound Designer Johan Hake
Music Timo Hietala
Written by Stefan Forss, Benedict Zilliacus and Esko Salervo
Cinematographer Pauli Sipilainen
Editor Sakari Kirjavainen
Producer Alf Hemming
Directors Ake Lindman and Sakari Kirjavainen
Us boys just keep going upstream.
The Russkies have advanced a lot since we are seeing our own troops.
We'll have to hide ourselves and our gear fast.
I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. Just hang in there, boys.
You too. Lets go in to the forest.
General sir, Colonel Puroma is on the line.
3:50 p.m. General Lagus' command post, Kuuterselka
Hello, Puroma. It's Lagus.
Detachment Puroma launches a counter-attack at 10.45 p.m.
The VT-line will be taken back along the Liikola - Kuuterselka road.
Which Jaeger Battalions you chose? -Hynninen's 3rd and Leppanen's 4th.
One sturm Company provides support. Hynninen leads the forward troops.
Okay. Who is taking point?
It is Kvikant's Armoured Battalion's turn... -Good.
It is settled. Over and out. -Over and put, General.
Lagus is one tough man. -What happened this time?
His own son, Olof, is a gunner in the Sturm Company.
First time in battle. -I thought he only liked chasing butterflies?
The General fears accusations of favouritism if he is soft on him.
10:45 p.m. The counter-attack of the Armoured Division
Well, Lagus, you'll get your baptism of fire soon.
Kaho, are you sure the grenades are OK?
We'll load them faster than you can shoot.
No need tp panic, boys. Let's just trust each other.
Attention! Charge! On the double!
Medic!
Hasto! Wait for the medic!
A Russki tank at nine o'clock!
Fire!
That's what l'm talking about!
More tanks!
Fire!
A Sotka tank at eleven o'clock!
Drive forward!
Good!
Fire!
Sartio! A shell got stuck! -Goddamn! To the side of the road!
Leka, this is Nineteen. Four tanks destroyed.
The gun is jammed.
Four tanks in thirty seconds, Lagus.
l haven't seen anything like that, even on the German front.
We did it together. I was just shooting.
Don't be modest, Ole. It was a world record.
You remember when "four eyes" came here, Lieutenant.
The army accepts any man who does his duty.
Damned barrel!
The angle of elevation is jammed.
Kvikant, what happened? -Huh?
What happened? –The tank was destroyed and the crew injured.
Well, well.
We have to get across the field although our losses are horrible.
It may be even worse in the west. l wonder if their lines will hold?
God damn! -You take it easy for a minute!
Taponen as gunner. Pirttinen will drive!
The gun's elevation is jammed, Captain.
Are we supposed to shoot birds now? -Kvikant, give me a break.
A Sotka at one o'clock.
Drive down the bank so l can aim the gun.
Good!
At least our tank works like this.
Orders to fall back. The Russians have broken through in the west.
l am ordering General Oesch to command the troops in the Isthmus.
We need to strengthen our defences.
If anyone can do it, he can, Field Marshal.
He's sensible, with nerves of steel. -Losing the VT-line was a setback.
What does the General recommend?
Could our defences hold at the old Mannerheim line?
l doubt it, sir.
That line was completely wiped out by the Russians in the Winter War.
And the troops from Aunus will not make it there in time.
l propose that we fend off the enemy, at the earliest-
at the Viipuri - Kuparsaari - Taipale line.
Are you serious, General? Retreating so far?
Hasn't the VKT-line been fortified at all? -No, sir.
But there, Finland's fate will be decided.
Well, l do trust your judgement, General -
but we have to put a stop to the enemy advancement.
We lost a lot of good men.
Yes, and we will lose more.
We'll see if we can recover.
We will see.
Our troops will thin out before dying out.
The engineers are on the move.
They'll paint a swastika on the side and fix the caterpillar tracks.
Increasing Finland's tank strength by one, yet again.
Lieutenant, are there swastikas on the tanks because of Hitler?
Bollocks. We used it first.
Hitler stole it from us, and made the cross crooked.
My father told me.
The great Russian tank break through, Portinhoikka
There's a Russian Armoured Brigade -
to the north of Talinmylly.
They're making us encircle them again.
How long do they think that we old men can go on?
We lost our edge long ago.
You still have those Kuuterselka traces on your face.
They're nothing.
Have you heard from home?
They are still hanging in there.
Back there the situation is a little of this and a little of that.
Soon we will all be home.
Yes, if by no other means -
than in a pine box paid for the state.
I'll see to it that the men are fed.
They fight better with a full stomach. -True.
Eerp... we will get through this.
We've been in tough spots before.
Would the Major like some?
The pea soup is good. -There's still time.
Boys, we have crisp bread! Fill up your have sacks.
You boys eat well.
Eero.
What took so long? -We have new orders.
3rd Jaeger Battalion will attack the front line through Portinhoikka-
to the Tali brook -
and take back what was lost in the morning.
Understood.
Hynninen's troops will advance on the left side and we will go here.
So lets go, boys!
Detachment Leppanen! Forward!
Goddamn!
Medic!
Charge over that ridge! Give them hell!
Damn, this isn't working. Fall back to the edge of the forest!
Eero.
Is there anything that can be done?
Eero, Eero, can you hear me?
Tell them, Jouko, not to carry me.
Carry those who have hope.
Thanks, that was a tight spot.
Well, you would've managed it even without me.
Captain Hetemaki from the 50th, Major, sir.
No need for formalities. Jouko Hynninen, 3rd Jaeger Battalion.
You'll get a leave if we ever get out of here.
Hasto. Major, the offensive continues. -Yes.
l'll just make sure my gun is working.
Vanya's tanks have broken through Portinhoikka.
Lets go and destroy them and then come back to rest.
How many are there, Major, sir? -Enough.
The Russkies can't touch us.
Teppo's Sotka takes point.
Virtanen.
slow down before the bend. -Right.
It's one of our own! -No, it's Russian.
Virtanen, drive on point. -OK.
Major, there are Sotka tanks around that bend.
They have aimed their guns at the bend.
We have to retreat, Major. -Is that so...
shoot that man! -Just shout that again, damn you!
Get a medic here at once!
The KV-1 tank takes point! Forward!
KV-1 to the rear, Sotka on point. Full speed ahead.
Dear God, please help us.
Stop, Virtanen.
Teppo, Virtanen and I will go forward.
We'll check put that junction. something is burning.
Alright then.
5:30 p.m. Portinhoikka junction
Virtanen. -Yes?
We two Tank Sergeants just carried out the General's order.
We took back the strategically important Portinhoikka junction.
The sotka on point seems intact. -True.
I'll see if I can start it up.
Hop on. We'll drive back like kings.
Virtanen, take cover! Russian tanks!
Lehvaslaiho. I found American tinned meat. -Christ.
Major, we saw no Russian infantry -
but tanks, some intact. We saw none of our troops.
Take the Sotka to secure the junction.
Aim your gun towards Tali and the Vyborg road. -Yes, sir.
To the tanks, on the double!
I'm hungry.
Look at this, fellas. This says USA and it's full of buffalo meat.
We fill our bellies with a Western hairy beast. -Thanks, America.
Thanks, Roosevelt. -And thanks, Russian tank crew, for running away.
Open it up, and we'll taste it. We'll have to move soon.
The Sotka will take point with the KV-1 securing the rear.
The KV-1 was left behind.
Out of grenades!
Out of fuel!
Goddamn!
A piled-up charge!
Hold it!
Lehvaslaiho is hit and the Russkies are swarming us. -Help is coming.
The wounded must be evacuated! -Medics, bring the stretcher!
Reino.
Command post of the swedish volunteers
Two miles north of the Tali parish village
Two men to unload.
Welcome. -Hello.
Lieutenant Osmo Mustakallip.
I command the First Independent Anti-Tank Battalion.
We sure need tank destroyers. -Well, we're in this together.
This is a very simple weapon. You hold it like this.
Place the barrel under your arm and aim like this.
Remove the pin. Raise the sight up like this.
The sight rail goes to the middle hole and the edge of the projectile.
The weapon is launched by pushing this button.
This lump here goes off like a rocket.
simultaneously, a deadly flame shoots from the rear.
Remember that. Arse fire kills.
What did he say?
Sounds bad.
All of Tali is being bombarded.
Our 3rd Battalion is there.
That's right.
There's no doubt about it. The line has been breached.
Laxen.
Roger that. Over.
Our battalion returns to Talinmylly to take back the defence line.
Company! Fall back!
Form a front to the road!
Stop! Take up positions!
Take cover!
Hey! Not against the chest!
They're retreating!
Captain Vaino Mikkola, Commander of the 1st Assault Gun Company.
Lars Laxen. We were ordered to counter-attack Talinmylly.
Have you heard any engine noise? -Not for a while.
We'll see you soon. -On the road.
Well, now you can show your mettle again, son of Lagus.
Help!
Help! Help!
Medic!
Is it bad? I can't feel anything.
Don't worry, that won't kill you. You're too young.
Understood. Over and out.
Radio Reconnaissance said the enemy's 30th Armoured Brigade
is in a hedgehog defence north of Talinmylly.
The offensive may fail.
That's a risk l have to take.
I don't like this, Orvar.
Well, what's the matter now? -It is too quiet.
Like the Russkies have vanished. -They're out there.
The Finnish counter-attack Talinmylly
What the hell are they doing?
They have at least 20 Sotkas there.
Help!
General Lagus' command post
General, I reached Colonel Bjorkman.
Lagus here. Did Laxen's attack succeed?
It failed, General. There was heavy resistance. -Casualties?
We lost two sturms and Vaino Mikkola.
I'll be damned.
Hey, Sven. One more question.
Do you know about my son?
Olof was wounded. Nothing serious.
He's in the field hospital. He'll be fine.
Thank you, Sven. Over and put.
Over and out.
Contact Laxen.
Return to your initial positions and hold them.
Yes, Colonel. -Over.
Hold on, Stotis.
A bullet hit your lungs but you'll be OK.
We are being surrounded! We are being surrounded!
Fallback! Fallback!
Fallback!
The Captain ordered to fall back!
Fallback!
Did you see Bjorklund and Lindelow?
For fuck's sake.
They were left at the guard post.
You go on. I'll try to find them.
Bjorklund?
It's great to see you.
Who is he?-We don't know.
He's a Finn. -He was lying injured in the bushes.
Good that you took him with you.
Let's go. We're in a hurry. -We are the last to leave Tali.
We'll head straight east through the marsh.
Movement at one o'clock. -Thank you.
We don't know who they are.
If we veered too early to the west they could be Russians.
Boys! They're our troops! They're our troops!
Second Lieutenant, come here! -Major sir.
Take their submachine guns. They're needed in the front line. -Yes, sir.
Your platoon will do fortification work at the old Ihantala graveyard.
Yes, sir. -The rest of the battalion continues to Pyorakangas.
Give me your submachine gun and clips, Private. Major's orders.
Do it, or I'll take them.
You'll be back soon. As corpses or you'll come through the forest.
Ivan has been wicked before. -We'll see how wicked he is here.
You'll do with a rifle in the rear.
6th division of Major General Vihma,Ihantala