Särkijärvi battle site – Winter War Tour

The North Finland Group had only two artillery batteries at its disposal at the beginning of the Winter War. The North Karelia Group was operating with the 4th Detached Battery in the area of Lieksa, the focus sector of the North Finland Group. The 5th Detached Battery was located in the Petsamo sector, equipped with obsolete guns.

At the beginning of the war, the artillery of the 9th Division, acting as reserve under the Finnish Headquarters, was short of materials. Major Georg Ahlholm was the commander of the division’s Field Artillery Regiment 9. The regiment’s 1st Artillery Battalion had been transferred to Turku during the additional reserve exercises, on 4 November 1939, to prepare for the occupation of Åland with other troops, if necessary. However, when the war started, Headquarters gave the order to transfer the artillery battalion to the North Finland Group. The staff of artillery battalion and the 1st and 2nd Battery moved to Suomussalmi on 16–18 December 1939.

The site is easily accessible. You can stop for a moment at the bus stop on Road 75. You can see the battle site from there (photo). However, the actual battleground is on private land.