Soviet Forces

Commander of the 44th Rifle Division

Alexei Vinogradov (1899-1940) The 44th Rifle Division participated during the Soviet invasion of Poland in autumn 1939. Later, during the Finno-Russian Winter War, the division was sent to the Finnish front as reinforcement for the Soviet 163rd Rifle Division 44th Rifle Division was being ordered to help the 163rd Infantry Division break a Finnish siege on the Raate road. Soviet 163rd Rifle Division which had attempted to advance into central Finland and become surrounded after capturing the town of Suomussalmi and was suffering heavy casualties. The 163rd Division, which was running short of food, was almost completely annihilated in combat with the Finnish 9th Infantry Division before the 44th Rifle Division could reach its position. With no ski troops, the 44th Rifle Division was completely road bound in the deep snow. By breaking the division into pieces along the road, after Finnish radio intelligence had confirmed that the whole division had entered the Raate road the Finns were able to annihilate the entire unit. Of the 44th Divisions 17,000 troops, 1000 were captured, 700 escaped. The rest died Commander Vinogradov belatedly authorized the retreat that had been underway in many sectors for hours. He advised his subordinate commanders that the situation was desperate and that those who could escape should. Alexei Vinogradov survived the battle, but was trialed for incompetence and On January 11 Vinogradov, Colonel Volkov and 44th Rifle division political officer Pahomov was publicly executed in front of 44th survived soldiers. Mopping-up continued for several days, as the Finns hunted down half frozen stragglers in the woods along the entire length of the Raate road and to the north.