In June it was moved back north of Leningrad to face Finland as part of 21st Army in the offensive that drove that nation out of the war.

Until the final weeks of the war the 168th was part of the forces containing the German grouping in the Courland Pocket, when it was moved to the Reserve of the Supreme High Command.

This presented a crisis for the Finns, and by the time it was stabilized Mannerheim had been forced to commit over 30 percent of his total available reserves; this would adversely affect his ability to reinforce the defenders of the Isthmus.

The terrain was difficult even by Finnish standards, and the infantry soon became tired; heavier equipment and extra ammunition was left for follow-up troops to bring forward.

Only three battalions managed to make any headway at the road junction against heavy Soviet shellfire, and 18th Division was soon organizing counterattacks from both east and west that included the 34th Tank Brigade.

By now a victory had been won at Tolvajärvi and the Kollaa line was holding; as well the weather had turned in favor of the Finns with heavy snowfalls making it difficult to keep Soviet supply routes open.

Hägglund's plan was, first, to attack at Uomaa village to cut 18th Division's communications and establish a roadblock facing east to prevent the arrival of reinforcements.

It was a naturally strong position; the lake shore was practically lined with granite headlands and outcroppings while the inland perimeter ran along a series of wooded ridges where Bondarev had dug in the division's tanks.

In early March, not long before the end of the war, the Soviets launched an offensive against these islets with massive air and artillery bombardments and waves of infantry.

[12] Much of West Karelia had been transferred to the USSR in the peace treaty, including the north shore of Lake Ladoga, and the division was deployed in the same general area where it had fought in the Winter War, northwest of Sortavala.

On July 16 Finnish forces broke through the defenses of 7th Army, liberated Impilahti and Pitkäranta, and cut off the division in much the same positions it had held in the "Great Motti".

[14] At this time of year no ice road was possible and it was desperately needed for the defense of Leningrad, so on August 21 it was evacuated by the Ladoga Flotilla to the area of the city.

55th Army was now defending Slutsk–Kolpino Fortified District from Pustoshka to the Neva with the 90th, 70th, 168th, and 4th Leningrad Opolchenie Divisions deployed on the expected German axis of attack.

Through most of the rest of the month 18th Army focused on driving north to the coast of the Baltic Sea west of Leningrad which would put its forces in its southern outskirts.

[17] On September 30, Army Group North ended its effort to take Leningrad directly, in part because its panzer divisions had been shifted south for Operation Typhoon.

Leningrad Front had formed a trio of "Shock Communist Regiments" from Party members and Komsomols, and one of these entered the bridgehead on November 9.

[28] The offensive began at dawn on January 14, 1944, with a massive artillery preparation of 104,000 shells over 65 minutes against the positions of the 9th and 10th Luftwaffe Field Divisions.

Despite extensive fortifications built since 1941 the massed Soviet riflemen, assisted by tanks, soon overcame the forward defebses and by day's end had gained up to 3km on a 10km-wide front.

Following the halt 116th and 123rd Corps prepared to assault southeastward toward the Luga–Pskov railroad but their advance on February 9 ran into the German counterattack force, most of which had not yet reached its designated positions.

The STAVKA, now with an abundance of resources, set a priority on defeating the Finnish forces, reoccupying the Isthmus, possibly occupying Helsinki, but in any case driving Finland out of the war.

During the day the 30th Guards Rifle Corps made the greatest progress, advancing up to 15km into the defenses and capturing strongpoints at Mainila and Staryi Beloostrov.

[40] During the first three days of the offensive toward Vyborg the 21st and 23rd Armies advanced to the second line on a 60km-wide front but came to an abrupt halt in the face on increasing resistance and counterattacks.

Govorov quickly realized this would not be taken easily and now paused to regroup for a formal penetration operation, bringing up all heavy artillery and additional forces.

Advancing abreast his three Corps (30th Guards had been withdrawn for replenishment) covered 6-15km, reaching positions from Perkjarvi Station to Sortavala by the end of the day, despite poor weather cancelling most air support.

The following day the remainder of the 110th, with the assistance of the 1st and 152nd Tank Brigades, had reached positions south of Summa and Leypyasuo, while the 108th Corps, advancing along the coast, penetrated the belt, covered 25km, and took the port town of Koivisto.

10th Infantry and Lagus Armored Divisions were to take up reserve positions northwest of Vyborg, although the rapid penetration of 21st Army disrupted this move to some extent.

Reach the Antrea and Vyborg line with the [armies'] main forces no later than 21 June while reliably protecting the shock grouping's flank and rear...110th Corps was pulled back to second echelon as part of the regular rotation Gusev had adopted.

59th Army was to conduct an amphibious assault across the Gulf of Vyborg to outflank the defenses from the west, while 30th Guards Corps was finally brought into Gusev's first echelon.

By June 30 Gusev's forces had captured Portinkhaika and reached the outskirts of Ihantala, where better tank country could be found, but this still amounted to just 8-10km in 10 days of heavy fighting.

The troops who participated in the liberation of Riga, by the order of the Supreme High Command of 13 October 1944, and a commendation in Moscow, are given a salute of 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns.