The Battle of Ilomantsi was a part of Continuation War, and it was fought during July 26-August 13, 1944, between Finland and the Soviet Union. The battle ended with decisive Finnish victory, as the last major Soviet attacks was stopped. The retreated Soviet forces left their heavy equipment, which were captured by the Finns on the battlefields of Ilomantsi. The Continuation War or War of Continuation (Finnish: , Swedish: ) June 25, 1941-September 19, 1944, was the war that was fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II. The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on December 6, 1941, but did not participate actively. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Region of North Karelia is a region (maakunta / landskap) in eastern Finland. ... The Continuation War or War of Continuation (Finnish: , Swedish: ) June 25, 1941-September 19, 1944, was the war that was fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II. The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on December 6, 1941, but did not participate actively. ... Combatants Germany, Finland Soviet Union Commanders Nikolaus von Falkenhorst (Armee Norwegen) Roman Panin (Northern Front) The original plan for operation Silver Fox. Operation Silver Fox (Unternehmen Silberfuchs) was a German operation during World War II. Its main goal was the capture of the Soviet port at Murmansk through attacks from... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim Karl Lennart Oesch Leonid Govorov Kirill Meretskov Strength 268,000 375,000 Casualties 18,000 killed, 45,000 wounded, 3,000 prisoners 40,000 killed, 130,000 wounded During World War II, in the Continuation War, the Fourth Strategic Offensive was... Combatants Finland, Germany Soviet Union Commanders Lt. ... The Battle of Vuosalmi (a. ... The Continuation War or War of Continuation (Finnish: , Swedish: ) June 25, 1941-September 19, 1944, was the war that was fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II. The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on December 6, 1941, but did not participate actively. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

Two attacking Red Army divisions were decimated in this last major engagement on the Finnish front, before the Armistice concluded in early September 1944.

The Finnish President Mauno Koivisto spoke to the veterans at a seminar held in August, 1994, in the Northern Karelian city of Joensuu, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Finnish victory in the crucial battle of Ilomantsi. The Finnish president witnessed that battle as a soldier in a reconnaissance company commanded by the legendary Finnish war hero Captain Lauri Törni (who became a legend also later on in U.S. uniform as a Green Beret under the name Larry Thorne).

In the summer of 1944, when the Red Army launched an all-out offensive aimed at eliminating Finland, the Finns were "extremely hard-pressed", Koivisto itenerated, but they "did not capitulate".

"We succeeded in stopping the enemy cold at key points," the President said, "and in the final battle at Ilomantsi even in pushing him back."

Finland had preserved her autonomy and her democratic social system.

External links

• Ilomantsi at War