The Sausage War

The Finns manning a machine gun post. 



The Battle of Varolampi Pond, fought on the night of 10–11 December 1939, was a minor but symbolically significant engagement during the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union. Known colloquially as the “Sausage War” due to the peculiar circumstances of its unfolding, the battle exemplifies the Finnish capacity for improvisation and resilience in the face of overwhelming Soviet numerical superiority. Although small in scale, it foreshadowed the Finnish victory at the Battle of Tolvajärvi two days later, the first major Finnish success of the war.


Strategic Context


In late 1939, Soviet forces pressed north of Lake Ladoga in an effort to penetrate Finnish defenses along the Korpiselkä–Tolvajärvi road. The Finnish 10th Infantry Division, under the command of Major Aaro Pajari, was deployed to hold this sector (Upton, 1974). While front-line units braced for a Soviet offensive, the Finnish supply and artillery units were encamped near Varolampi Pond, northwest of Tolvajärvi. These positions were manned primarily by clerks, cooks, and medics rather than trained combat infantry, making them highly vulnerable to a determined Soviet raid.


The Soviet Offensive


On the night of 10 December, approximately 1,000 men of the Soviet 718th Rifle Regiment advanced against Finnish supply depots at Varolampi (Engle & Paananen, 1992). The assault initially achieved surprise, with Soviet troops overrunning lightly defended positions and creating confusion in the Finnish rear. The objective was to disrupt Finnish supply lines and weaken Pajari’s division prior to a larger offensive at Tolvajärvi.


The “Sausage” Incident


The attack is remembered less for its tactical maneuvers than for its unusual interruption. Upon entering the Finnish camp, Soviet soldiers discovered field kitchens where large pots of sausage soup had been prepared for the Finns. Hungry, fatigued, and operating in sub-zero temperatures, many Soviet troops paused to eat (Trotter, 2002). This delay, while seemingly minor, allowed Major Pajari and his staff critical time to mobilize a counter-attack using whatever personnel were at hand.


The Finnish Counter-Attack


Pajari’s counter-offensive was improvised and unorthodox. He assembled an ad hoc force that included not only infantry from the 16th Infantry Regiment (JR 16) but also artillerymen, cooks, clerks, and medical staff (Leskinen & Juutilainen, 1999). Armed with rifles, bayonets, and in some cases improvised weapons, these men engaged in close-quarters combat in the dark, snow-covered forests. The counter-attack pressed the Soviets back from the Finnish rear area and eventually forced them into retreat.


Outcome and Significance


Finnish casualties numbered approximately 20 killed and 55 wounded, while Soviet losses were estimated at over 100 dead (Engle & Paananen, 1992). Although a relatively minor engagement in operational terms, the battle was of considerable psychological importance. It demonstrated the adaptability of Finnish forces, whose willingness to employ non-combat personnel in direct action highlighted their resourcefulness under duress.


Moreover, the victory at Varolampi Pond provided a morale boost on the eve of the Battle of Tolvajärvi (12 December 1939), where Pajari’s division secured the first major Finnish tactical success of the Winter War. In this sense, the so-called “Sausage War” served both as a rehearsal and a catalyst for larger Finnish resistance.


The Finns watching their meal being prepared. (Credit: Carl Mydans/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)



Conclusion



The Battle of Varolampi Pond illustrates how seemingly minor engagements can acquire outsized significance through their symbolic value and timing. While the Soviet raid threatened Finnish supply lines, its failure underscored the difficulties of sustaining offensive momentum in hostile terrain and harsh winter conditions. For Finland, the victory demonstrated not only military skill but also national resilience, embodied in the enduring legend of soldiers defending their homeland with both bayonets and sausage soup.


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