The IV Corps was a formation of the

Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( Finnish: ''Maavoimat'', Swedish: ''Armén'') is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: the infantry (which includes armoured units), field artillery, anti-aircraf ...

during the

Winter War The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...

against the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

. It defended the area north of Lake Ladoga against Soviet attacks. It was commanded by

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Juho Heiskanen and from 4 December 1939 by Major General

Woldemar Hägglund Johan Woldemar Hägglund (August 10, 1893 – February 12, 1963) was a Finnish lieutenant general ( fi, kenraaliluutnantti, link=no) in the Finnish Army in the Second World War, and an early volunteer of the Jäger Movement. He participated in t ...

. The IV Corps defeated superior Soviet troops by using motti tactics.

Order of battle

IV Corps

* 12th Division (''12.D'') led by Lauri Tiainen * 13th Division (''13.D'') led by

Hannu Hannuksela Hannu Esa Hannuksela (12 December 1893 – 12 May 1942) was a Finnish Major General during World War II. Life and career prior to World War II Born to a vicar in Ilmajoki, Vaasa Province, Hannuksela graduated from ''Kuopion klassilinen ly ...

* Separate Battalion 8 (''Er.P.8'') * Separate Battalion 9 (''Er.P.9'') * Separate Bicycle Company 4 (''Er.PPK 4'')

Group Talvela

Also attached to the corps was Group Talvela commanded by Commander

Paavo Talvela Paavo Juho Talvela (born Paavo Juho Thorén 19 February 1897, died 30 September 1973) was a Finnish general of the infantry, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross and a member of the Jäger movement. He participated in the Eastern Front of World War ...

. Group Talvela covered the IV Corps northern flank up to the forces of the North Karelian Group. Group Talvela defeated a Soviet Division in the

Battle of Tolvajärvi The Battle of Tolvajärvi ( tol.va.jær.vi fi, Tolvajärven–Ägläjärven taistelu, russian: Битва при Толваярви) was fought on 12 December 1939 between Finland and the Soviet Union. It was the first large offensive victory ...

, one of the first Finnish victories of the war. Group Talvelas order of battle: * Infantry Regiment 16 (''JR 16'') * One battalion of the replacement brigade (''XII/KT-Pr'') * Separate Battalion 11 (''Er.P.11'') * Separate Battalion 112 (''Er.P.112'') * Bicycle Battalion 7 (''PPP 7'') * two artillery batteries (''9.Ptri/KTR 13'' and ''5.Ptri/KTR 12'')

Commanders

* Major General Juho Heiskanen (30.11.1939 - 04.12.1939), * Major General

(04.12.1939 - 13.03.1940).

References

* * Military units and formations of Finland in the Winter War Military units and formations of Finland in World War II {{finland-mil-stub