Finnish Forces

Pentti Iisalo

Pentti Iisalo (right), the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #16, with his company commander 1st Lieutenant (later Captain) Frans Närevuori (1903-1942), somewhere in Karelian Isthmus. Pentti doesn't seem to be wearing the cross or any other decoration even though this picture was taken on October 2, 1941, day after he received the Mannerheim Cross. Captain Närevuori was killed in action on April 20, 1942, at Svir river in the powerplant's sector. Pentti Iisalo (1920-2008) joined Suojeluskunta (Civil Guard) already in early age just like his older brothers, and was member of the organization from 1931 to 1940. He served most of the Winter War in sentry and anti-aircraft duties at homefront until he managed to get himself as his brother's (2Lt Viljo Iisalo) combat messenger and fought in the battle of Vyborg Bay for the last week of the war. He started his actual military service after Winter War and completed his training as 2nd Lieutenant in June 1941. During the training he participated in construction of the Salpa-line, and was 10th best of all the 800 students in the reserve officer school. In Continuation War he served as platoon leader in 2nd Infantry Regiment and fought in battles of Karelian isthmus in 1941 and at Svir river in 1942-1944. His war ended when he was wounded by landmine during failed patrol to enemy positions at the powerplant's sector on June 11, 1944. 10 days before Soviets started their offensive at Svir river. Pentti Iisalo earned his Mannerheim Cross for his actions on August 17, 1941 at village of Tiuri in Räisälä (today Melnikovo). There he led a special forward platoon gathered of the best soldiers in the battalion, with mission to cut enemy's escape route by destroying bridge leading over a river. When they reached the bridge it was full of heavy traffic and he decided to capture anti-tank gun on a small hill near the bridge and road. After taking the anti-tank gun position with surprising charge he started shooting at the vehicles with one man as loader and ordered others to cover him and occupy old Winter War trench by the side of the road. He destroyed vehicle after another and caused complete chaos on the bridge and road, making it impossible for the enemy to get to the bridge. They held their positions and fought the superior enemy until they were running out of ammunition and he had to make bitter decision to fall back. Luckily by that moment, the rest of the battalion arrived to the scene and even the last of the enemies were destroyed. Large amount of weapons, vehicles and equipment was captured from the road and surrounding area. The weapons and vehicles captured intact on the road to bridge included: 30 fully loaded trucks with lots of ammunition, few cars, four 6'' howitzers with tractors, 2 tanks and 2 anti-tank guns, horse wagons, a motorcycle and ambulance, radio truck and other communications equipment, 10 heavy machine guns, several light machine guns, etc.