[CougarGA7]

Day 100 of the Winter War, March 8, 1940

The Finnish 2nd and 21st divisions are estimated to be facing six Russian divisions. They are thus outnumbered three to one.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Finns take eastern Luelahti ?motti? in Kuhmo

• Mannerheim suggests Finland consider one more time the offer of assistance by the Western Allies.

• To block the enemy advance, the Finnish defenders attempt to dam the waterways to the northeast of Viipuri and manage finally to flood the area.

• Foreign Minister Tanner believes asking for assistance from the Allies could wreck the talks in Moscow.

• Soviet troops on the Isthmus reach the Finnish support line in Tali.

• The Finnish troops in Viipurinlahti bay are forced to evacuate Suonionsaari and Ravansaari islands.

• On the mainland, the enemy consolidates its bridgeheads in Niskapohja, Vilaniemi and Häränpääniemi.

• In Vuosalmi the enemy is digging in on the northern bank of the Vuoksi.

• The Finnish 2nd and 21st divisions are estimated to be facing six Russian divisions. They are thus outnumbered three to one.

• In Taipale, the Finns pull back their positions in the Terenttilä sector.

• In the north, the Finns take the eastern Luelahti 'motti' in Kuhmo.

• General Headquarters orders the evacuation of the Mantsi islands at the eastern end of Lake Ladoga.

• The Finnish negotiators in Moscow meet the Soviet negotiating team at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

• The Soviet team comprises Molotov, Zdanov and General Vasilevski. The Finns are disappointed in their hope of getting Stalin to participate in the talks.

• Two Soviet divisions attack across the Vuoksi from Vasikkasaari to Vuosalmi.

• The first session of talks begins in Moscow at 7 o'clock in the evening.

• Up in Kuhmo, the eastern Luelahti 'motti' is in Finnish hands by midday.

• The Soviet Union is today celebrating International Women's Day. The special "sisters of struggle" women's groups attached to the Red Army arrange numerous dance performances and other programmes in the various units of the army. Selected women soldiers are decorated for valour.

• In Finland, the Central Organization of Social Democratic Women urges its members to join the Lotta Svärd women's defence organization.

[CougarGA7]

The Winter War has reached its 100th day today. The Soviets are getting the upper hand, but it is quite telling that it took them over 3 months to accomplish this against a significantly smaller country. It’s pretty easy to see why this convinced Hitler that the Soviet Union could be defeated before winter in 1941.