 In central and northern Finland , roads were few and the terrain hostile . The Finns did not expect large @-@ scale Soviet attacks , but the Soviets sent eight divisions , heavily supported by armour and artillery . The 155th Rifle Division attacked at Lieksa , and further north the 44th attacked at Kuhmo . The 163rd Rifle Division was deployed at Suomussalmi and charged with cutting Finland in half by marching the Raate Road . In Finnish Lapland , the Soviet 88th and 122nd Rifle Divisions attacked at Salla . The Arctic port of Petsamo was attacked by the 104th Mountain Rifle Division by sea and land , supported by naval gunfire . 
