Atlas of Battles

battle, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Summa

Battle of Summa was a battle fought on 22 December 1939 at Summa, in what is now Russia; it lasted 55 days. It was part of the Winter War, which ran from 1939 to 1940. The recorded result: First battle: Finnish victory; Second battle: Soviet victory; Soviets overrun the Mannerheim Line. Recorded strength: Third Division against 7th Army; 13th Army.

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Map of the Mannerheim Line, the Finnish main defense line across the Karelian Isthmus in Winter War.
Map of the Mannerheim Line, the Finnish main defense line across the Karelian Isthmus in Winter War.. User Jniemenmaa on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought22 December 1939lasted 55 days
WhereSumma, Russia60.507N, 29.012E
OutcomeFirst battle: Finnish victory; Second battle: Soviet victory; Soviets overrun the Mannerheim Line.
BelligerentsFinlandagainstSoviet Union
Casualties and losses3,000and5,000 – 7,000
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 Summa, 1939
19 placed engagements of the Winter War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date22 December 1939
to 15 February 1940
PlaceSumma, Russia
60.507N, 29.012E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
StrengthThird Division7th Army; 13th Army
Casualties and losses3,0005,000 – 7,000
Commanders
  • Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
  • Harald Öhquist
Battle of SummaBattle of SummaBattle of TaipaleBattle of KämäräBattle of HonkaniemiBattle of ViipuriSiege of VyborgBattle of TaipaleBattle of ViipuriSt. PetersburgGatchinaNarvaLappeenrantaKolpinoKohtla-JärveMikkeliKouvola100 km60.507N, 29.012E
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 Summa is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 425 in present-day Russia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q3486941, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Summa, revision 1370274871, 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.