Loso battle site
Losovaara was a battle site already in the early stages of the Winter War, when Finnish troops carried out their order to attack there on 1 December 1939. The next battle in the area took place from January to February 1940, in connection with a counterattack by the Finns. Despite several attempts, the well-equipped motti formed at the Loso farm and the surrounding area could not be taken. With the effective support of their air force, the Soviets held their main defensive positions firmly until the end of the war.
Finnish attack in December 1939
On 1 December 1939, Finnish troops set out from Saunajärvi to carry out an assault mission that had been assigned before the Winter War. However, only the 1st Company of Detached Battalion 14 (1st Coy/Det Bn 14) could be used for the attack, and the enemy’s strength was not known at that time. The Finnish attack was stopped on the hillside of Losovaara, when the enemy’s leading battalion easily repulsed the Finnish troops. The 1st Company broke away and returned to Saunajärvi.
Attempts to destroy the Loso motti
A motti was formed in the Loso area at the same time with the Reuhkavaara motti in early February. The motti held the troops of the 3rd Battalion of Infantry Regiment 529 (3rd/Inf Regt 529) of the Red Army with reinforcements. The Finnish attacks to take the Loso motti were delayed because of the increasingly severe situation at Kilpelänkangas.
Preparations for the attack began on the evening of 26 February. The plan of attack was similar to the one used for seizing Reuhkavaara the day before. The attack was started at 3:30 the next morning, but was unable to reach its objective. The size of the motti was reduced slightly on the west side, to about 450 x 800 metres (492 x 875 yards) around the buildings.
The attack was continued on the morning of 28 February, but the results were minimal. The Finns stopped their unsuccessful attacks after the defence positions at Kilpelänkangas were broken by the Soviets and the defence of Löytövaara required all possible troops.
At the end of the war, it was estimated that around 1,000 Soviet soldiers had survived from the Loso motti.