Battle of Tali–Ihantala

The Battle of Tali–Ihantala (June 25 to July 9, 1944) was part of the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War (1941–1944), which occurred during World War II. The battle was fought between Finnish forces—using war materiel provided by Germany—and Soviet forces. To date, it is the largest battle in the history of the Nordic countries.

Battle of Tali–Ihantala
Part of the Continuation War of World War II

Finnish soldiers marching next to a destroyed Soviet T-34 tank
DateJune 25 to July 9, 1944
Location
60°46′N 28°53′E
Karelian Isthmus
Result Finnish victory
Belligerents
 Finland
Supported by:
 Germany		  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
C.G.E. Mannerheim
Karl Lennart Oesch
Kurt Kuhlmey		 Leonid Govorov
Dmitry Gusev
Aleksandr Cherepanov
Strength
50,000 (later near 100,000)
4,000		 150,000
Soviet sources:
48,000–60,000
Casualties and losses

Finnish: c. 8,750 total

  • 1,350 killed
  • 1,100 missing
  • 6,300 wounded
  • 3 tanks destroyed
  • 12 aircraft

German:

  • 33 aircraft
 Finnish estimate:
600 tanks
284–320 aircraft
Later Finnish estimate:
21st Army:
estimated 4,500–5,500 killed
13,500–14,500 wounded
23rd Army:
1,458 killed, 288 missing, 6,159 wounded
27,500 total casualties

The battle marked a point in the Soviet offensive when the Finnish forces first prevented the Soviets from making any significant gains. Earlier at Siiranmäki and Perkjärvi the Finns had halted advancing Soviet forces. The Finnish forces achieved a defensive victory against overwhelming odds.

After the Soviets had failed to create any breakthroughs at Tali–Ihantala, Vyborg Bay, or Vuosalmi, the Soviet Leningrad Front started the previously planned transfer of troops from the Karelian Isthmus to support the Narva offensive, where they were encountering particularly fierce resistance. Though the Leningrad Front failed to advance into Finland as ordered by the Stavka, some historians state that the offensive did eventually force Finland from the war.

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