The Soviet Maaselka offensive in January 1942 made substantial gains only in the sector of the 367th Rifle Division. When other Red Army formations failed to keep up with its advance, the exposed unit became a tempting target for the Finns. Despite Marshal Mannerheim's resolve to end offensive operations (over 100,000 Finnish soldiers were slated for furlough), the high command approved an attack. To hedge the risk of casualties, the corps command gave the lead role to the 21st Independent Battalion, a unit of Finnish prisoners formed by Maj. N. Parmi. After several desertions by Finnish Communists, Parmi sent his political prisoners back and replaced them in the ranks with hardcore criminals he called "qualified killers."

Soviet ski troops had improved their skills greatly in the two years since their disastrous performance in the Winter War, but their small contingents were scattered among the vulnerable rifle divisions. The Red Army troops inflicted serious casualties on the Finnish attackers, particularly the expendable felons. But the division suffered terrible losses of its own, only narrowly escaping adding its number t those Soviet formations that disappeared in the dark forests of Finland and Karelia.