Battle of Nietjärvi

Forces were transferred from north of Lake Ladoga to the Karelian Isthmus to repel the major offensive. In mid-June, the order was given to systematically withdraw from Aunus Karelia towards the Finnish border. The Soviet grand offensive in Aunus began on June 21. Positions east of Syväri were evacuated almost secretly, with **engineers** organizing the crossing. Syväri's fortress artillery fired its outdated, rigid-carriage cannons until the very last moment, then destroyed the guns and began to retreat. This way, the cannons, poorly suited for mobile warfare, were utilized to their full extent.

The Red Army's combat skills had improved since the Winter War. It also used wide flanking maneuvers in its attacks. The Finnish withdrawal, fighting delaying actions, was successful, even though the Red Army made a successful **amphibious assault** on the Lake Ladoga coast behind the Finnish lines. The troops of the Aunus Group took up defensive positions in the unfinished U-line. The Red Army managed to make a breakthrough at Nietjärvi in mid-July but was ultimately driven back. With the help of flamethrower teams formed from **engineer** troops, 300 meters of Red Army-occupied trench were overwhelmed and recaptured. Artillery fire prevented enemy reinforcements from entering the area.