Atlas of Battles

battle, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Kelja

Battle of Kelja was a battle fought on 25 December 1939 at Gromovo, in what is now Soviet Union; it lasted 2 days. It was part of the Winter War, which ran from 1939 to 1940. The recorded result: Finnish victory. Recorded strength: 10th Division against 4th Division.

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The aerial photograph of the "Koukunniemi" cape in the "Taipale sector", taken from the south, facing north.
The aerial photograph of the "Koukunniemi" cape in the "Taipale sector", taken from the south, facing north.. Finnish Air Force pilot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought25 December 1939lasted 2 days
WhereGromovo, Soviet Union60.675N, 30.245E
OutcomeFinnish victory
BelligerentsFinlandagainstSoviet Union
Casualties and losses141 killed; 375 woundedand2,000 killed
Part ofWinter War1939 to 1940

Where it sits in the Winter War

Battle of Petsamo, 1939Battle of Salla, 1939Battle of Taipale, 1939Battle of Suomussalmi, 1939Battle of Kollaa, 1939Battle of Varolampi Pond, 1939Battle of Tolvajärvi, 1939Battle of Summa, 1939Battle of Kelja, 1939Battle of Raate Road, 1940Battle of Vyborg Bay, 1940Second Battle of Summa, 1940aerial bombings in Oulu during the Winter War, 1940Battle of Kuhmo, 1940Battle of Honkaniemi, 194019391940Battle of Kelja, 1939
19 placed engagements of the Winter War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date25 December 1939
to 27 December 1939
PlaceGromovo, Soviet Union
60.675N, 30.245E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength10th Division4th Division
Casualties and losses141 killed; 375 wounded2,000 killed
Battle of KeljaBattle of KeljaBattle of RautuBattle of VuosalmiKexholm SiegeBattle of KuuterselkäBattle of SysterbäckBattle of VuosalmiKexholm SiegeBattle of KuuterselkäBattle of SysterbäckSt. PetersburgGatchinaTikhvinLappeenrantaVolkhovKolpinoSavonlinnaMikkeli100 km60.675N, 30.245E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1939

Battle of Kelja is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 48 in present-day Soviet Union.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q211211, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Kelja, revision 1370266891, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.