Tightening the Noose - Winter War

14 DECEMBER 1939, SUOMUSSALMI VILLAGE, BATTLE OF SUOMUSSALMI 163rd Rifle Division was entrapped in and around the village of Suomussalmi and Lake Kiantajarvi. The division was so harassed by the Finnish probes and raids, it was unable to conduct an assault to break the encirclement. Thus elements of the 81st and 759th Rifle Regiments formed a defensive perimeter around the town and waited for relief. Finnish 27th Regiment commanded by Colonel Siilasvuo has deployed at the eastern outskirts of the Suomussalmi Village which was heavily defended by the 759th Rifle Regiment. Their orders were cutting the roads leading from the village towards Raate. Colonel Siilasvuo planned a series of quick raids to tighten the noose on the Russian perimeter. The 27th Regiment has formed raiding parties consisting light infantry heavily equipped with submachine guns, molotov cocktails and grenades. On the evening of December 14, a Finnish assault group led by Captain J. Sihvonen infiltrated the village and launched a heavy attack.