In the summer of 1944 the Soviet's greatest onslaught of WW2 began and crushed everything the Germans could deploy against them. Attacks also occurred along the normally quiet Finnish front as the Red Army deployed vast quantities of troops in that region in the hopes of ending hostilities in the northern front. The Soviets planned to force Finland to surrender quickly so that troops could be transferred against Germany.

    As the attack began, the Soviets rapidly stormed large areas, as they did with the  Germans. Finnish forces suffered only minor losses while the Soviets suffered much more and any Finnish retreat was well organized. After a few weeks the Karelian Isthmus and large areas in north had been lost by the Finns and on the 20^th of June city of Viipuri (Vyborg) was captured easily without significant resistance by Red Army. Finland's high command then ordered it's troops in fiercely defend crucial defensive lines and refuse to surrender. On the 22^nd of June, the Soviets launched a massive attack in Tali-Ihantala area and continuous assaults followed until August. Three Army groups were used with heavy breakthrough tank and assault gun formations. The Finns deployed over five divisions and all available armor and artillery in the field. The battle was biggest armored battle in the north during war and a major one by WW2 scales. The Soviets were unable to break the defenders line. After heavy losses, the Red Army ceased its assaults against the defenders. By their sacrifice, the Finns had just won independence for their nation for years to come. Hostilities between Red Army and Finland ended finally in the beginning of September.

    The following armored action took place in Portinhoikka where some of the bloodiest fights were fought. Finland's armored troops were deployed behind front lines and when infantry was unable to hold, or the line was fully cracked in some specific area. Assault guns and captured tanks were instantly used to counter-attack Soviet armor and tank born infantry breaking through the lines. Forests and rare roads typical to Finland offered good ambushing points and enabled in close combat, and thus Finnish tanks and infantry had much better chances to destroy heavy enemy vehicles.

Part I : Capturing a heavy assault gun