Saunajärven taistelupaikka

https://www.kuhmo.fi/kulttuuri-ja-vapaa-aika/museot/talvisotamuseo/taistelut/ The current Niskankoski watermill was built in 1947 after the previous mill was destroyed in the war. The mill was only in use for five years, as when the river channel was deepened in 1953, the mill's channel dried up and it was no longer possible to operate the mill. The National Board of Antiquities purchased the mill for the state in 1990, and at the same time, the mill was renovated and the immediate surroundings cleared to its original state of use. Heavy battles were fought in the Saunajärvi area during the Second World War. The Finns fortified the river valley between Saunajärvi and Alasenjärvi in October-November 1939. Faced with overwhelming superiority, the Finns withdrew from their positions during the Soviet attack on 11.12.1939. During the major offensive launched by Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo's troops on 29.1.1940, the positions were successfully encircled, but they remained under Red Army control until the end of the Winter War on 13.3.1939. The battle positions, modestly constructed on the eve of the Winter War and damaged during the war, were rebuilt in the summer of 1940 and winter of 1941. The durability of the defence line was enhanced. In the late 1990s, the City of Kuhmo inventoried the area and restored one bunker and part of a trench with machine gun nests.