December 7, 1939 · Ladoga Karelia Theater
December 7, 1939
The Battle of Kollaa was one of the most extraordinary defensive actions in military history. The Finnish Group Talvela held the Kollaa River line with approximately 4,000 men against Soviet forces that eventually numbered over 130,000. For over three months, repeated Soviet assaults failed to break through. The defense became so legendary that Finnish radio broadcasts repeatedly declared 'Kollaa holds' throughout the war. Simo Häyhä, the most lethal sniper in military history, earned his 505 confirmed kills largely in the Kollaa sector, operating in temperatures of -40°C.
Commanders