Battle of Salla (1939)

Battle of Salla
Part of Winter War

A Finnish soldier on guard near Kemijärvi, 11 February 1940.
Date30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940
Location66°50′N 28°40′E / 66.833°N 28.667°E / 66.833; 28.667
Result Finnish victory
Belligerents

 Finland

 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Finland Kurt Martti Wallenius
Finland Ernst Linder
Soviet Union Mikhail Dukhanov
Soviet Union Vasily Chuikov
Units involved
Finland North Finland Group
Finland Lapland Group
Soviet Union 9th Army
Strength
c. 3,500
From 10 February 1940 9,400 Scandinavian volunteers
Two infantry divisions
Casualties and losses
Finnish:
650 dead or missing
450 wounded
Volunteers:
33 dead
50 wounded
130 frostbitten
4,000
Battle of Salla (1939) is located in Finland
Battle of Salla (1939)
Location within Finland

The Battle of Salla was fought between Finnish and Soviet troops near Salla in northern Finland during the Winter War. The Soviets had orders to advance through Salla to Kemijärvi and Sodankylä, and from there to Rovaniemi in just two weeks. From there they were to advance to Tornio and cut Finland in two. The Finnish troops managed to stop the Soviet advance just east of Kemijärvi. During the last days of February 1940 the Finnish troops were replaced with the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish volunteers of the Stridsgruppen SFK.