The Military History of Salla
Winter War
In the direction of Salla, the attack of the Soviet 122nd Division (122nd Div) was halted in Joutsijärvi and Pelkosenniemi. The enemy was pushed back to Saija and Märkäjärvi (nowadays Salla), where the front remained until the end of the Winter War.
War events
The first phase of the Winter War was the delaying phase. The Detached Battalion 17 (Det Bn 17) and the Detached Company Kojonen (Det Coy Kojonen) mobilized at the training centre of Salla were unable to stop the enemy, even with the reinforcement of the Detached Battalion 25 (Det Bn 25) on 6 December 1939.
The Detachment Roininen (Det Roininen) formed from the Finnish troops withdrew from the burned village centre of Salla on 8 December. The enemy’s 122nd Division reached Joutsijärvi on 17 December, where the strength of the Detachment Roininen had increased to four battalions.
On 16 December, the enemy directed the reinforced 273rd Infantry Regiment (273rd Inf Regt) to the northern flank and advanced to the vicinity of Pelkosenniemi. The Finns received the Infantry Regiment 40 (Inf Regt 40) as a reinforcement which launched a counterattack on 18 December, that drove the enemy task force out of Pelkosenniemi. The Detachment Suoranta formed from the Finnish troops followed the enemy to Saija, where the front remained until the end of the war.
The Detachment Roininen repelled all enemy attacks in December. The most significant battle took place on 20 December in Mäntyvaara. The Finns defeated an enemy battalion, that had advanced into their rear, in a fierce close combat battle.
The Infantry Regiment 40 was transferred to Joutsijärvi after the battle at Pelkosenniemi, and the Detachment Roininen began counterattacks on 3 January 1940. The Finnish troops followed the enemy which withdrew to Märkäjärvi (nowadays Salla) on 13 January. The front stabilized at Märkäjärvi until the end of the war.
Swedish volunteers (Svenska Frivilligkåren) took responsibility of the command in Lapland on 28 February. The Swedish battlegroup Stridgruppen Svenska Frivilligkåren (SFK) took responsibility at the Märkäjärvi front. Norwegian volunteers were situated in the group as well.
Salpa line
In Salla, the Salpa line was built from the autumn of 1940 to the summer of 1941. The constructions included stone barriers, barbed wire obstacles, machine gun and artillery positions, bunkers, and trenches. Five reinforced concrete bunkers were built in the village of Joutsijärvi. The sites of the Salpa line can be viewed at Ruuhijärvi (in the direction of Savukoski), Aholanvaara, and Kukasviita (southern Salla) as well as in the village of Särkelä (northern Salla).
Continuation War
In the beginning of the Continuation War, the goal of the German XXXVI Army Corps (XXXVI Corps) was to capture the village centre of Salla, which had been lost during the Winter War. The Finnish 6th Division (6th Div) also participated in the attack. The village centre of Salla was captured on 8 July 1941 and the attack advanced to the old national border on 2 September. The attack halted on 18 September at Vermajoki river.
Partisan strikes
Five partisan strikes were carried out during the Continuation War in the areas of Salla and Savukoski. One of the strikes was carried out in the village of Kuosku on 3 September 1941. Seven civilians were killed in the attack.