Lenningrad falls into German hands!?

Hi Kai-Petri,

I'm surprised you found that one.


Its indeed as I said. In order to cut the supply route, the Finns were NOT required to advance and attack the Leningrad city itself (which would've been totally out of the question).
http://www.lenbat.narod.ru/fin.jpg
(BTW, the map in the link is somewhat faulty. The front in the Karelian Isthmus was straighter than what is shown on the map. The Finns "straightened" the small bulge.)

Had e.g. Mannerheim waited for the Russians to transfer forces to the south, and then launched an attack along the eastern edge of the Isthmus, the route would've been at least in artillery range (and in range for Finns to use e.g. ski patrols to harass the traffic, laying mines, ambushing etc.).

A factor in the successful Russian defense was the fact that the northern perimeter (vs. the Finns) was rather peaceful and thus enabled the concentration of forces to the south.

All this is of course what-ifs, as Mannerheim was not ready to sacrifice thousands of Finns to meet the objectives of the Germans, and take a strategic role in the World War (same applies to the German hopes that Finns would sever the Murmansk RR). The gains (to the Finns) were substantially less than the costs would've been.

Cheers and Merry Christmas!
Sami

[ 22. December 2002, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Sami ]