Western motti and memorial at Luelahti
Three encirclements (a so-called triple motti) were formed in the Luelahti area in connection with a Finnish counterattack. The Finnish troops managed to take the middle and eastern mottis. The attempt to take the western motti started on the evening of 12 March. The arrival of peace at 11 a.m. the next day saved the troops and the division leaders in the motti.
Formation of the triple motti and the motti battles at Luelahti
The Luelahti area was encircled by the Finns following an attack that began at the end of January 1940. Infantry Regiment 27 cut off the road on the eastern side of the Saunajärvi village and Detachment Ruotsalo cut off the road on the western side of Luelahti. Later, the 1st Battalion of Infantry Regiment 65 (1st/Inf Regt 65), led by Major Yrjö Hakanen, cut off the road once more between Luelahti and the Kannas farm (at the location of the Kaakkurinlampi Pond).
The pressure from the Finns gradually divided the Luelahti motti into three parts, which were named Western Motti, Headquarters Hill and Eastern Motti. Finns captured Headquarters Hill on 3 March and Eastern Motti on 8 March. After this, preparations were started for taking Western Motti. It was also called General Motti because the commander of the 54th Mountain Division was known to be there. The motti was about 300–400 metres (328–437 yards) in diameter, and its defences were based on several gun posts positioned at different depths. The motti held approximately 1,000 soldiers from the division headquarters, 118th Mountain Infantry Regiment and Field Artillery Regiment 86, as well as the commanders of both regiments.
Detachment Murole was tasked with taking the Western Motti of Luelahti. The assault force consisted of five short-handed companies and one machine gun company. The attack was made from the west and its focus was on the south side of the road. In the direction of the assault, Company Elsinen attacked on the right and Company Korhonen on the left. Company Saikku acted as the reserve for these troops. Company Taurila attacked on the north side of the road. The reserve of the whole detachment was Company Rainola.
Gun posts in the motti were destroyed with direct fire during 11 and 12 March. Preparation fire by two artillery batteries and nine mortars began at 5 p.m. on 12 March. The moment of attack was at 7:30 that evening. The attack proceeded to close combat, but remained undecided. The close-quarters fighting continued throughout the night.
On 13 March at 7:30 a.m., the headquarters of the North Finland Group ordered the attack to be stopped because of the peace that was to start at 11 a.m. The headquarters of the 9th Division relayed the order to the attacking troops at 8:50 a.m., and the information reached the front line in some places only shortly before 11 a.m.
Luelahti memorial
The memorial to the fallen Soviet soldiers located at the site of Western Motti at Luelahti was designed by master builder Arvo Rissanen. It was erected by the Finland – Soviet Union Society. The project was supported by the Ministry of the Interior of Finland and the Oulu Provincial Government. The memorial was unveiled on 6 September 1970.
The site is easily accessible. There is a car park next to the site. There is space for a bus at the stopping area by the main road (Saunajärventie 845).
Address: Kähköläntie 8, 88900 Kuhmo, Finland.
Historical military sites in Kuhmo
Talvisotakierros Kuhmossa
