A memorial to the 6th Jaeger Battalion, made out of black rock, stands proudly in Utrio. The battalion assembled here for an attack  before moving to the departure point near the small Lake Teponlampi less than one kilometre to the southwest. 

Utrio and its surrounding area had a pivotal role during the early phase of the fighting in summer of 1944. 

A single narrow dirt road led to the battle area from the direction of Ukkolanvaara in the northwest but ended four kilometres before Utrio, where it continued as a track barely wider than a footpath. This compounded problems during the deployment of troops for the upcoming attack. 

After the battle started, the only practical way to supply the combat forces with ammunition, equipment and provisions was to use horse-drawn travois and pack saddles. The transport of wounded soldiers for medical care proved to be the biggest logistical challenge. 

Major General Erkki Raappana’s plan was to separate the Red Army’s 289th and 176th Divisions, which were pushing toward Ilomantsi, from each other and cut off their supply lines. The enemy formations would then be reduced, encircled, and finally destroyed. 

The attack would be aimed at the junction of the enemy divisions. Military strategists have traditionally regarded a seam between units and formations as the most vulnerable section of a battlefront, regardless of the size of the forces involved. 

A task force under the command of Colonel Hans Olof von Essen was formed for the operation. Fighting began early in the morning on 31 July 1944 when Essen’s men, supported by the 1st Jaeger Battalion, punched a narrow wedge through the narrow wedge of land that separates Lake Ilajanjärvi and Lake Luovejärvi. 

Once the battalion got moving, it drove toward the area south of Luovejärvi to cover the flank of the 21st Brigade, which had seen action around Möhkö. 

After 24 hours of fighting, Essen's force had advanced sufficiently to split for envelopment. The enveloping forces eventually linked up as planned, which meant that Raappana’s plan had succeeded. The next step was to encircle the trapped enemy forces.