objects that evoke the genuine and permanent interest of many generations of people, is a set of protective barriers Mannerheim.Finnish defense line is located on the Karelian Isthmus.It is a lot of bunkers, blow up and dotted with traces of shells, stone rows of tank obstacles, trenches and dug anti-tank ditches - all well preserved, despite the fact that after more than 70 years.
Causes War
reason for a military conflict with Finland the Soviet Union was the need to ensure the safety of the city of Leningrad, as it was close to the Finnish border.On the eve of the Second World War the leadership of Finland was ready to provide its territory as a springboard for the numerous enemies of the Soviet Union, and mainly - to Hitler's Germany.
fact that Leningrad in 1931 was transferred to the status of the city of national significance, and part of the territory subject to the Leningrad City Council, it was both the border with Finland.That is why the Soviet leadership and start negotiations with the country, inviting her to share land.The Council invites the territory twice more than we receive in return.The stumbling block in the agreements proved point asking the Soviet Union to place on the Finnish land of their military bases.But the parties have not agreed, which led to the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish, or so-called Winter War.Without it, Leningrad would have been captured by the troops of Hitler at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in just a few days.
Background
term "Mannerheim Line" refers to a complex of historic fortifications, which played a major role in the Soviet-Finnish war.It lasted in the period from 30 November 1939 to 13 March 1940.
Once Finland gained its independence, it immediately began to think about strengthening their borders, and in early 1918 began the construction of barbed wire on the future site of a grand military shield Mannerheim.The line was finally approved in 1920 and was first known as "line Enkel" in honor of its construction led the Major General OL Enckell, who was then Chief of General Staff.The developer of the fortifications was a French officer JJ Gross Kaussi, sent to Finland for helping to strengthen the borders of this country.But, following the already established by the time the traditions complexes fortifications often called in honor of the "big bosses", such as Stalin or the Maginot Line.Therefore, to avoid confusion, these barriers have been renamed and named in honor of Commander of the troops of the Republic of Finland Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, a former officer in the Russian army.
fortification shield
Finland Mannerheim Line - a defensive line length of 135 km, which is completely crossed the entire Karelian Isthmus - from the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.From the west defense communications were partly flat and partly covered hills terrain, covering a passage between the numerous swamps and small lakes.In the east, the line was based on Vuoksinskie water system, which in itself is a serious obstacle.Thus, in the period from 1920 to 1924 the Finns were built more than a hundred permanent military installations.
By the end of 1927 it became clear that the engineering barriers Enckell the quality of buildings and weapons are inferior to Soviet defenses, so their construction was suspended.In the 30s again resumed the construction of long-term facilities.They were built a little bit, but they have become much more powerful and more difficult to find.
In the early 30s to the post of Chairman of the National Defence appoint Mannerheim.The line has since become built under his supervision.
Defensive installations - pillboxes
most major restraining strip served as centers of resistance, which consisted of several concrete bunkers (long-term firing points), as well as bunkers (wooden and earthen emplacements), machine-gun nests, dugouts and trenches shooting.On defense strongholds were placed very unevenly, and the distance between them, sometimes even reach 6-8 km.
As you know, military construction lasted more than a year, so by the time the construction of bunkers divided into two generations.The first are the gun emplacements, built in the period from 1920 to 1937, and the second - the 1938-39 period.Bunkers belonging to the first generation, - a slight strengthening, designed to fit only 1-2 guns.They were not adequately equipped and did not have shelters for the soldiers.The thickness of the concrete walls and ceiling did not exceed 2 m. Later, most of them upgraded.
second generation are the so-called one million, since their value has cost the Finnish people in 1 million Finnish marks each.Only 7 such powerful gun emplacements had Mannerheim Line.Bunkers, one million were the most advanced at the time of reinforced concrete structures equipped with loopholes 4-6, 1-2 of which were cannon.The most formidable and most fortified bunkers were considered Sj-4 "Poppius" and Sj-5 "Millionaire."
All pillboxes were carefully camouflaged with rocks and snow, so it was very hard to detect, and to break their prison cells have been almost impossible.
flood zone
addition of a number of long-term and field fortifications were provided several areas of artificial flooding.Sudden outbreak of hostilities prevented them completely finish, but still several dams were built.They are made of wood and the land of rivers Tyueppelyanyoki (currently Alexandrovka) and Rokkalanyoki (now Gorokhovka).Concrete Dam on the river was Peronyoki (p. Perovka), as well as small to Plotinka Mayayoki and dam on Sayyanyoki (now the district. Wolf).
Antitank obstacles
Since armed with Soviet tanks was sufficient, by itself begs the question of how to combat them.Barbed wire, previously installed on the Karelian Isthmus, could not be considered a good obstacle for armored vehicles, so it was decided to cut down the granite post obstacles and dig anti-tank ditches depth of 1 m and a width of 2.5 m. However, as it turned out in the course of hostilities, stonestockade proved ineffective.Their budge or fired from artillery shells.After repeated shelling granite destroyed, resulting in wide aisles formed.
For stockade Finnish engineers have installed over 10 rows of antipersonnel and antitank mines, staggered.
Sturm
Winter War can be divided into two stages.The first lasted from 30 November 1939 to 10 February 1940 Storm Mannerheim Line was the most difficult and bloody for the Red Army at the time.
powerful barrier proved to be, in spite of all its shortcomings, is almost insurmountable obstacle to Soviet soldiers.In addition to the fierce resistance of the Finnish army, a huge problem was stronger than the forty-degree frosts, which became, according to most historians, the main cause of failure of the Soviets mills.
February 11 begins the second phase of the winter campaign - a general offensive of the Red Army.By this time, to the Karelian Isthmus was strapped maximum amount of military equipment and manpower.Some days there was artillery preparation, shells rained down on the position of the Finns, who fought under the leadership of Mannerheim.The line and the entire surrounding area was heavily bombed.Together with the land of the north-western front in the battle involved ships of the Baltic Fleet, and the newly formed Ladoga Flotilla.
Breakthrough
the assault lasted three days the first line of defense, and 17 February troops of the 7th Army finally broke through it, and the Finns were forced to leave their first full line and move to the second, and during February 21-28, and lost it.The breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line led Marshal Timoshenko, who took on the orders of Stalin's North-Western Front.Now the 7th and the 13th Army, with the support of coastal units of the Baltic Fleet sailors undertook a joint offensive in the strip of Vyborg Bay to Lake Vuoksa.Seeing such an onslaught of the enemy, the Finnish troops abandoned their positions.
As a result, a second breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line was completed by the fact that, despite the desperate resistance of the Finns, on March 13, the Red Army went to Vyborg.Thus ended the Soviet-Finnish war.
outcome of the war
As a result of the Winter War, the Soviet Union has achieved everything he wanted: the country has gotten Lake Ladoga, and it gained the Finnish part of the territory of 40 thousand sq. M.km.
Now, many are asking whether there was a need this war?If not for the victory in the Finnish campaign, Leningrad would become the first in the list of cities affected by the offensive of Nazi Germany.
Excursions to places fighting
To date, most of the buildings destroyed, but despite that, excursions to places of battles of the Winter War still held, and interest in it is not quenched.The remaining strongholds are still of great historical interest - and the military engineering structures, and as a place of the most severe fighting battles this half-forgotten war.
There are historical and cultural centers that are developing special programs for the following places where the Mannerheim Line.The tour usually includes the story about the stages of its construction, as well as on the progress of the battles.
little to feel and experience the life of Finnish and Soviet armies, organize tourist Field lunch.There can also be photographed against the backdrop of grandiose constructions with elements of the equipment, see and hold in your hand weapon models.
In the history of any military conflict is still a lot of white spots, hidden events and facts.It was no exception and the war of the Soviet Union and Finland 1939-40.She lay on the shoulders of an ordeal both sides.In just 105 days, when there was war, killed about 150 thousand. Man, about 20 thousand. Missing.Here are the results of half-forgotten and, according to some historians, the "unnecessary" war.As a monument to fallen soldiers left on the battlefield be unusual in its scale Mannerheim Line.Photos of those times and stones on the mass graves still remind us of the heroism of the Soviet and Finnish soldiers.
