The bunker was initially constructed in the 1920s and was apparently upgraded later, judging from the wing wall and the reinforced concrete in some parts of the bunker. During the very first battles in Muolaa sector the bunker became a scene of heavy fighting. Due to heavy pressure from the infatnry of the 136th Rifle Division of the Red Army, the infantry of the 2nd Detached Battalion was forced to retreat. The forward observer group under Junior Lieutenant Virtanen (1st Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment) and MG crew was surrounded in the bunker. The siege lasted for 10 hours and finally the besieged Finns were reliefed by counterattacking Finnish infantry.
Abstract from the War Diary of the 1st Artillery Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1.1.40 - 12.4.40, SPK 1890
February 20, 1940:
...At 1400 Ruskies shot through the wall of the bunker that was used by the observers from the 1st battery with a 6 inch grenade. The forward observation team left the bunker. No losses...
February 21, 1940
Overcast in the morning, but the enemy's airforce was quite active/
At 1320 came a radiomessage from Junior Lieutenant of reserve Virtanen: "If relief does not come, we will fight till the last man". The forward observation team of the 1st battery is surrounded on the right flank! At the same time came a message that the forward observer of the 2nd battery Lieutenant Tamminen got wounded at his CP...
Report of Junior Lieutnenant of reserve Virtanen about the battle on February 21, 1940
At 0730 enemy's artillery barrage started, at 0920 the Ruskies started their assaults. Our own infantry retreated, only a MG crew, five infantrymen and our forward observation team remained in the bunker.
At 1020 the enemy's infantry was at the bunker and our artillery fired shrapnel at our forward observation post. The enemy retreated, losing some men in to artillery fire. At 1100 a promise of relief came, which nevertheless did not materialize before the next enemy's assault which started some time around 1300. At that point we burnt all documents and maps. Our artillery fire and our own weapons drove enemy away this time too. At 1400 enemy penetrated our defences at the shore, bringing a heavy MG and a couple of light MGs there. At our left we managed to keep the terrain free from enemy with help of the bunker's MG.
At 1700 enemy made the third attempt to capture the bunker, but this time Ruskies also failed due to fire from our artillery and out weapons. They still held the area in front of us, bringing more automatic weapons there.
At 1815 our infantry arrived, led by Lieutenant Gummerus. Ruskies made several assault attempts, but our infantry repelled them all.
At 2015 retreat from the bunker started. According to my estimations, the Ruskies lost about 200 men.
/Signature/ Junior Lieutnenant of reserve Virtanen
Ruins of the bunker today. Judging from the typical H-bar that reinforces the roof (seen close to the top of the huge concrete lump), this was the original part of the bunker.
The wing wall protecting the gunport, direction of fire - towards the highway. Amazing thing is that though the wing wall is built of reinforced concrete, the casemate itself was built from concrete without reinforcement, which caused it to collapse completely. The bunker is completely destroyed by the fighting and explosions of the bunker after the war.
© Bair Irincheev 2001 - 2007