 By 6 December , all the Finnish covering forces had withdrawn to the Mannerheim Line . The Red Army began its first major attack against the Line in Taipale — the area between the shore of Lake Ladoga , the Taipale river and the Suvanto waterway . Along the Suvanto sector , the Finns had a slight advantage of elevation and dry ground to dig into . The Finnish artillery had scouted the area and made fire plans in advance , anticipating a Soviet assault . The Battle of Taipale began with a forty @-@ hour Soviet artillery preparation . After the barrage , the Soviet infantry attacked across open ground but was repulsed with heavy casualties . From 6 December to 12 December , the Red Army continued trying to engage using only one division . The Red Army next strengthened its artillery and brought tanks and the 10th Rifle Division to the Taipale front . On 14 December , the bolstered Soviet forces launched a new attack but were pushed back again . A third Soviet division entered the fight but performed poorly and panicked under shell fire . The assaults continued without success , and the Red Army suffered heavy losses . One typical Soviet attack during the battle lasted just an hour but left 1 @,@ 000 dead and 27 tanks strewn on the ice . 
