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Jusalak -> RE: Finns' railroad repair (3/29/2015 9:15:09 PM)
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It is not accurate historically that Finns cannot cross Svir. Finns did not cross lower Svir, but on 6. October crossed upper Svir and captured a bridgehead south of the river. (The bridgehead is represented on the WITE map approximately as X=94..97,Y=11 and X=98,Y=10.)
Captain Yrjö Keinonen, who commanded a bicycle company and whose unit was among the first to cross the river, wrote in his war memoirs "As a spearhead to Svir" that the unit assigned the task to cross first (not his company) at first refused to cross and the crossing was thus delayed. Finns however managed to surprise the Soviets on the other side and the crossing was successful with slight casualties.
Finns south of Svir were able to hear the German artillery growing stronger day-by-day as Germans approached Tikhvin, and many suspected that Germans would soon appear at their front line. As it is known, it never happened, as a counterattack of Siberian troops threw Germans back from Tikhvin. In December Finns south of Svir faced also many fierce battles against the Siberians, but managed to stabilize the situation by encircling and destroying a Siberian regiment.
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