Morskaya Strelkovy) Brigades were brought to support the encircled 176th and 289th Divisions the combined Soviet infantry strength in Ilomantsi was slightly higher than 20,000 men. Morskaya Pekhota) Brigade and 69th and 70th Naval Rifle (ru. By the time (June 31) the Finnish counterattack in Ilomantsi started the combined strength of the 176th and 289th division had dropped to 11,000 men. Īccording to Soviet archives, at the beginning of the Karelian Front's offensive at JSoviet 176th and 289th Rifle Divisions of the 32nd Army had combined strength of roughly 16,000 men. Later as the battle progressed and the advancing divisions were encircled, Soviet forces in the area were reinforced with 3rd, 69th and 70th Naval Infantry Brigades and other formations. Garelenko - 176th (Colonel Zolotarjov) and 289th (Major General Tsernuha) divisions. General Meretskov's Karelian Front's forces advancing towards Ilomantsi consisted of two divisions of Soviet 32nd Army under Lieutenant General Filip D. As the front in the Karelian Isthmus had been stabilized the Cavalry Brigade was rushed to the Ilomantsi to reinforce the 21st Brigade bringing the Finnish strength at July 31 when the counterattack began roughly to 13,000. ĭuring the initial Soviet push the sole unit defending and delaying it was the Finnish 21st Brigade (roughly 7,000 men). All Finnish forces were subordinated to a temporary formation named Group R (Group Raappana) after its commanding officer Major General Erkki Raappana and was tasked with defeating the advancing Soviet units and recapturing crossroads at Kuolismaa village. Finnish forces in the area before the battle consisted of only the 21st Brigade under Colonel Ekman but they were reinforced with Cavalry Brigade and three other battalions - 3rd Border Jaeger Battalion and 2 battalion strong detachment P (Os.
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