Battle of Kollaa
Part of the Winter War
Date December 7, 1939 to March 13, 1940 Location Kollaa river, Finland Result Battle continued to the end of war (Finnish victory)
Combatants
Finland	Soviet Union
Commanders
general Hägglund colonel Svensson
Strength
1 division and some small units	4 divisions, 1 tank brigade

The Battle of Kollaa was fought on December 7, 1939 - March 13, 1940 in the Ladoga's Karelia, Finland as a part of the Winter War. Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 200,000 men, 32 tanks, 119 aircraft (In the beginning), 250,000 men, 30 tanks, 130 aircraft (At the end) 460,000 men, 1,500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft (In the beginning), 1,000,000... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 200,000 men, 32 tanks, 119 aircraft (In the beginning), 250,000 men, 30 tanks, 130 aircraft (At the end) 460,000 men, 1,500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft (In the beginning), 1,000,000... The Battle of Tolvajärvi [tolva,jærvi] was fought on December 12th in 1939 between Finnish and Soviet forces. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo General Dashitsev Strength Three regiments and separate battalions, 11,000 men Two divisions, one tank brigade (cca 45,000-50,000 men) Casualties 900 killed, 1770 wounded 27,500 killed and missing 85 tanks 537 trucks 1,620 horses 138 guns 6... Combatants Soviet Union Finland Commanders Strength Casualties The Battle of Summa was fought on December 23, 1939, between the Soviet Union and Finland. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Hjalmar Siilasvuo Kombrig Vinogradov Strength 6,000 25,000 Casualties 900 killed 17,500 killed, wounded and missing 1200 captured The battle of Raate-Road was fought between Soviet Union and Finland in January, 1940 as a part of the battle of Suomussalmi. ... The Battle of Honkaniemi was fought between Finnish and Soviet forces on 26 February 1940. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Major General Kurt Martti Wallenius  ? Strength Several battalions Two divisions Casualties  ?  ? The Battle of Salla was fought between Finnish and Soviet troops near Salla in northern Finland during the Winter War. ... The Battle of Petsamo was fought between Finnish and Soviet troops in the area of Petsamo in the far north of Finland. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 200,000 men, 32 tanks, 119 aircraft (In the beginning), 250,000 men, 30 tanks, 130 aircraft (At the end) 460,000 men, 1,500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft (In the beginning), 1,000,000...

The Soviet were repelled with much lesser troops by the Finnish forces (12th division) because Soviets were prepared to only proceed through roads. The Kollaa area had very few roads and all of them were manned by Finnish troops. The Soviets were not able to proceed any other ways without skis. The 12th Division stopped the Red Army but had heavy losses. Battle of Kollaa continued to the end of the war. Finnish defence came to collapse at the very end and Finnish troops left the main positions on river Kollaa on March 12, but on March 13 started a counter-attack.

The Battle of Kollaa is remembered from the Major General Hägglund's sentence "Will Kollaa hold?" which Lieutenant Aarne Juutilainen answered: "Yes it will hold unless we are told to run." Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ...

Sniper Simo Häyhä served in the Kollaa front successfully. Simo Häyhä (December 17, 1905 – April 1, 2002) was a Finnish soldier, and is widely considered to be the most successful sniper in history. ...

External links

• Antti Maunuksela (Finnish)