Heavy Fighting Along the Raate Road as Finns Break Soviet 44th Rifle Division

The Battle of Raate Road was fought during the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland in January, 1940, as a part of the Battle of Suomussalmi. This battle proved the effectiveness of Finnish motti tactics.

On December 7, 1939, the Soviet 163rd division had captured Suomussalmi, but found itself trapped deep inside Finnish territory, and the Soviet 44th (Ukrainian) Rifle Division was sent to aid the 163rd. In the following battle, Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo's 9th Division completely destroyed the Soviet 44th Division on the Raate-Suomussalmi road.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Raate_road