lines were now 145 kilometers long. The Finns took advantage of the overstretched Soviet position by launching attacks with ski troops on the Soviet lines of communications. One third of Soviet troops were occupied guarding them. On 13 January, the Soviet 9th Army ordered the 122nd Division to retreat to the Märkäjärvi village. For the next two months the battle was a stalemate, apart from small skirmishes and exchanges of artillery fire. On 13 March, the last day of the war, the Soviets initiated a major fire preparation with artillery, aircraft and infantry weapons as part of a planned renewal of offensive operations towards Rovaniemi. The Scandinavian volunteers suffered their most casualty-intensive day of the war, with 10 killed and 30 wounded. Overall, Finnish casualties were 1,100 men, including 650 dead or missing. Scandinavian volunteer casualties were 33 dead, 50 wounded and 130 frostbitten. Soviet losses are estimated at 4,000. See also List of Finnish military equipment of World War II List of Soviet Union military equipment of World War II References Citations Bibliography 1939 in Finland 1940 in Finland Salla 1939 Salla 1939 History of Lapland (Finland)