Battle of Suomussalmi The Battle of Suomussalmi was fought between Finnish and Soviet forces in the Winter War . The action took place from around December 7 , 1939 to January 8 , 1940 . The outcome was a major Finnish victory against vastly superior forces . In Finland , the battle is still seen today as a symbol of the entire Winter War itself . Course of battle . On November 30 , 1939 , the Soviet 163rd division crossed the border between Finland and the Soviet Union and advanced from the north - east towards the village of Suomussalmi . The Soviet objective was to advance to the city of Oulu , effectively cutting Finland in half . This sector had only one Finnish battalion ( Er . P 15 ) , which was placed near Raate , outside Suomussalmi . Suomussalmi was taken with little resistance on December 7 ( only two incomplete companies of covering forces led a holding action between the border and Suomussalmi ) , but the Finns destroyed the village before this , to deny the Soviets shelter , and withdrew to the opposite shore of lakes Niskanselkä and Haukiperä . The first extensive fight started on December 8 , when Soviet forces began to attack across the frozen lakes to the west . Their attempt failed completely . The second part of Soviet forces led the attack to the northwest on Puolanka , that was defended by the Er . P 16 ( lit . 16th detached battalion ) , that had just arrived . This attempt also failed . On December 9 , the defenders were reinforced with a newly founded regiment ( JR 27 ) . Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo was given the command of the Finnish forces and he began immediate counter - measures to regain Suomussalmi . The main forces advanced on Suomussalmi , but failed to take the village , suffering serious losses . On December 24 , Soviet units counterattacked , but failed to break through the surrounding Finnish forces . Reinforced with two new regiments ( JR 64 and JR 65 ) , the Finns again attacked on December 27 . This time , they took the village , and the Soviets retreated in panic over the surrounding frozen lakes . During this time , the Soviet 44th Division had advanced from the east towards Suomussalmi . It was entrenched on the road between Suomussalmi and Raate and got caught up in the retreat of the other Soviet forces . Between January 4 and January 8 , 1940 , the 44th Division was divided into isolated groups and destroyed by the Finnish troops ( in a tactic known as motti ) , leaving much heavy equipment for the Finnish troops . Outcome . The battle resulted in a major victory for the Finns . If the Soviet Union had captured the city of Oulu , the Finns would have had to defend the country on two fronts and an important rail link to Sweden would have been severed . The battle also gave a decisive boost to the morale of the Finnish army . In addition , Finnish forces on the Raate - Suomussalmi road captured a large amount of military supplies , including tanks ( 43 ) , field - guns ( 71 ) , trucks ( 260 ) , horses ( 1 , 170 ) , anti - tank guns ( 29 ) and other weapons , which were greatly needed by the Finnish army . Analysis . The battle of Suomussalmi is often cited as an example how a small force , properly led and fighting in familiar terrain , can defeat a vastly numerically superior enemy . Factors which contributed to the Finnish victory included :