[4] After the forces of the Army of Karelia had reached Lake Ladoga, the corps joined the invasion with the objective of capturing the Khiytola–Elisenvaara area under the command of Taavetti Laatikainen.

[7][8] This resulted in several Soviet divisions being cut off along the shore of the lake, which in turn enabled the II Corps to reach the river Vuoksi.

[8][9] Consisting of the 4th, 8th and 14th Divisions,[10] as part of the Army of Karelia, the corps was to advance north from Petrozavodsk towards Kondopoga, and from there towards the isthmus between Medvezhyegorsk and Lake Segozero.

[12] In early 1942, it repulsed several attacks from the Soviet Karelian Front,[13] after which the sector quieted down except for limited reconnaissance-in-force, long-range reconnaissance and partisan activities.

[14] During this time, various units of the Corps also saw several attempted mutinies, after it became increasingly clear that the war would not be as short as had been originally promised by some officers.