Finnish before the winter war book

Before reading this book i had the vague impression that the finns won. Media in category maps of finland in winter war the following 65 files are in this category, out of 65 total. It tells the story of a finnish infantry regiment jr 23, which consists almost solely of men from southern ostrobothnia, focusing mainly on a platoon of reservists from kauhava. Numerically and technologically speaking, the massive soviet force had a tremendous advantage over the smaller finnish. It really filled in gaps in my knowledge of military and political events prior to or immediately preceeding wwii. The winter war is always topical when speaking about finnish selfconsciousness says antero holmila, a researcher at the university of jyvaskyla with a background in british academia, and the editor of a book entitled talvisota muiden silmin the winter war through the eyes of others. The material situation the defensive spending in prewar years worst shortages. World unimpressed with winter war heroics yle uutiset yle. Finnish air forces founded 6th march 1918 as army corps of aviation, independent service branch since 4th may 1928. The soviet tactics were, of course, much more demanding in this respect, as were their resources bigger for executing such attacks. The soviet union claimed parts of finnish territory mainly to create a buffer against a. The eighth week of the war was the coldest week of the winter 19391940. This book is of particular use as it requires little knowledge of finland before. Many of the stories and facts of the winter war have been gleamed from movies as well as internet sites dealing with the subject, but printed reference.

Comparison of finnish and soviet infantry units during the. However, a single prototype was also tested by the soviets in december 1939 in the winter war with the 91st tank battalion. It proved impossible to move them in the first echelons, as the attacks were almost always made through rugged terrain. Despite the passage of time, it is clear that in finland, the winter war is forever frozen into the nations. There are not that many books available to the english reader on the winter war and this has always been a problem for the finnish collector and researcher. It was this week that made the weather of the winter war notorious. Extracts from the autobiographical novel talvisodan aika the time of the winter war, the childhood. Finland, a weak, sparsely populated, and diplomatically isolated nation, succeeded in imposing staggering costs on a far more potent aggressor. Both were strongly emphasizing the attack, aiming for the encirclement and destruction of enemy forces. It was adopted as the official national marking of the finnish air forces and later on, the army. Until the beginning of the 19th century, finland constituted.

The aftermath of the winter war covers historical events and comments after the winter war between finland and the soviet union from 30 november 1939 to march 1940. Talvisota is a 1989 finnish war film directed by pekka parikka, based on the winter war, a novel by antti tuuri. Russian spy laughing through his execution in finland, 1942. Finns indeed captured a nice number of bts in winter war from the mottis in ladoga karelia, but none of those were brought to finland before the peace was made.

As relations with the soviet union changed during the war, finland was placed in the unusual situation of being for, then against and then for the overall interests of the allied powers. The epic of the soviet finnish winter war, allen f. Many of the stories and facts of the winter war have been gleamed from movies as well as internet sites dealing with the subject, but printed reference works are few and far between. Hitler looked on and concluded that operation barbarossa, his contemplated invasion of the soviet union, could safely go forward. Foreign support of finland in the winter war wikipedia.

The striking dock workers complained there is norway they can go to a ship with a clipboard, denmark it as arrived and finnish the whole business before sunset. The russofinnish winter war of 19391940 william trotter isbn. The finnish army of 160 000 men was opposed to an invading russian army consisting of 2000 russian tanks and 450 000 soldiers. The threat of war diagram of the finnish high command, december 1939. Also photos of more mondane things such as barracks life, uniforms, recreation, field exercises, lots lots more.

The second world war had not yet begun in earnest and was known to the public as the phoney war. The russo finnish winter war of 19391940 by william r. The soviet military forces expected a victory over finland in a few weeks, because the soviet army had many more tanks and planes than the finnish. I knew nothing about this war before reading this book. War with germany was just ahead, and leningrad was too close to.

After world war ii, finland would go on to become one of the ussrs closest partners in the west. Aug 16, 2017 world war ii had a profound impact on finland. Essential guerrilla tactics from the finnish winter war finland alone, in danger of death superb, sublime finland shows what free men can do. Until the beginning of the 19th century, finland constituted the eastern part of the kingdom of sweden.

It gives an excellent insight into what leaders in both the ussr and finland were feeling and dealing with before the outbreak of the war. Russofinnish war november 30, 1939march 12, 1940, also called the winter war, war waged by the soviet union against finland at the beginning of world war ii, following the conclusion of the germansoviet nonaggression pact august 23, 1939. Finland went on the offensive in 1941 in the continuation war, before finally agreeing. Winter war clip the writer, whose father had just joined the finnish army in the summer of 1939, believes that most people are tired of the propaganda films and history books that leave out uncle josephs genocide and simply magnify stalins defeat of hitler. Military history of finland during world war ii wikipedia. Firstly, i have the uk edition, titled the winter war. Apr 06, 2020 but this war, like all wars, was not fought in a ledger book. Aug 05, 2014 finns indeed captured a nice number of bts in winter war from the mottis in ladoga karelia, but none of those were brought to finland before the peace was made. Finnish war, winter 1808 summer 1809 by november 1808, russian forces had overrun all of finland. The authors cover enough of the geopolitical problems that led up to the winter war, along with the military operations and first person accounts, to give you a pretty broad overview of the war from the finnish perspective. Qualitas potentia nostra quality is our strength swastika ill star.

Fire and ice the winter war of finland and russia youtube. The defender had no options, only survive or let the kossacks in. Told from the perspective of marko, the fourteenyearold polio survivor, the story captures the heroic defense of finland from the soviet aggressor. Until a comprehesive military history of the war is written this book is the best. The treaty ending the winter war forced finland to cede 11 percent of its territory to the soviet union, yet the country maintained its independence and later squared off against russia a second. The background of the winter war covers the period before the outbreak of the winter war between finland and the soviet union in 19391940, stretching from the finnish declaration of independence in 1917 to the sovietfinnish negotiations in 19381939. Soviet forces began the war on november 30, 1939, and it was concluded on march 12, 1940, with the peace of moscow. Jul 23, 2012 the winter war of finland and russia 1939 1940. In the midst of wwii, stalin decided to invade the small nation of finland. The short period after the war and before the next, the continuation war, is known as the interim peace.

The battle would last for 105 days, until march, 1940, with finland. Finland s stand against soviet aggression aroused the worlds admiration. Just saw a guy from helsinki dominate the crosscountry skiing event at the winter olympics. The amazing story of finland in world war ii, 19391945. Jul 20, 2016 finlands winter war with the soviet union, waged over the course of 105 days from november 1939 to march 1940, should be an object of study for all students of military strategy. In 1939, tiny finland waged war the kind of war that spawns legend. Due to this finnish government stated that finland was in war with soviet union in 25 th of june. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Winston churchill, january 1940 all we had to do was raise our voices a little bit and the finns would obey. How finland lost world war ii to the soviets, but won peace. Finnish army went through large changes between winter war and continuation war.

The winter war was fought between finland and the soviet union. Books from finland is a journal of writing from and about finland. For 4 consecutive days, from monday to thursday, the temperature was extremely cold due to a wind blowing from the northeast and north. After polands defeat in the autumn of 1939, the soviet union, wishing to safeguard leningrad, demanded from finland a minor part of the karelian isthmus, a naval base at hanko hango, and some islands in the gulf of finland. The winter war russia against finland a ballantine book this is another common book that can be located on ebay or with ease. This fast tank was the second most current soviet tank during the winter war and proved unable to. As a historical note, ussr tried to buy the territory before winter war, for a good price. Plus the book downplayed the finnish alliance with the germans, but i gained respect for the tough fortitute of the finnish winter fighter. This book is an amateurish military history of an oft overlooked conflict at the very beginning of wwii. Finnish foreign ministry publication of documents of the prelude of the winter war, 1940. The continuation war began 15 months after the end of the winter war, also fought between finland and the ussr. He used a finnish produced m2830 rifle, a variant of the mosinnagant rifle, and a suomi kp31 sub machine gun.

Therefore like the kv1, almost all were captured in 194142. The soviet attack on finland, 19391940 eloise engle, lauri. In addition, about 57,000 finns were permanently disabled, and the vast majority of the dead and the disabled were young men in their most productive years. Germany attacked soviet union 22 nd of june 1941 and soviet aircraft started bombing finland the same day. Unlike other wars, the war between russia and finland was fought in a winter landscape of endless forests, swamps, frozen lakes. I find this to be a more apt title than the more excitingly titled american edition.

Finnish antitank units and tactics in the winter war. The russo finnish war of 193940 reprint by trotter, william r. The 105day war had a profound and depressing effect in finland. Less than two years before the soviet union faced off against nazi germany during world war ii, it waged a bloody war with another adversary. Russias feud with its nordic neighbor began in 1939, when soviet leader joseph stalin looked to expand his influence over eastern europe. The most prolific tank of all time was not available before the end of the winter war. Pretty much everybody was aware of, that if stalins orchestra gets to perform with the red army at town square in hel. Published february 12th 2008 by wendy lamb books first published 2008. Finland participated in the second world war, twice battling the soviet union, and then against nazi germany.

I collected finnish militaria for years and never saw another copy of this book for sale. There have been numerous reasons proposed for the finnish decision to invade, with regaining territory lost during the winter war being regarded as the most common. Before the war the birth of the army the new mobilization system the civic guard. The winter war based on the same name novel by antti tuuri the winter war, is a pretty grim, realistic and not very glorifying or hero worshiping type of war movie from finland, following the experiences of a finnish infantry unit during the winter war november 1939 to march 1940 facing the overwhelming odds of the red army at their doorstep. Learn more about the russofinnish war in this article. Pre winter war finnish army book 1938 lots of photos. The finns are a proud people, and the book is from the finnish view so i would not call it 100% objective.

The winter war of 19391940 or the russo finnish war was fought between the soviet union and finland. Learn more about the russo finnish war in this article. One finnish war veteran, lars loflund, believes there was nothing wrong with the russian people. The winter war, however, proved to be only a curtain raiser for finland s growing entanglement in world war ii. It began when the soviet union tried to invade finland soon after the invasion of poland.

The story of the winter war between finland and soviet russia is a dramatic. After reading the first volume on the winter war by the same authors, i ordered the second volume right away. The winter war 30 november 1939 march 1940 was a conflict fought between the soviet union and finland. It began with a soviet invasion of finland on 30 november 1939, three months after the outbreak of world war ii, and ended three and a half months later with the moscow peace treaty on march 1940. Until a comprehesive military history of the war is written this book is the best avaiable. The winter war was a war between the soviet union ussr and finland. Lots of photos of the finnish army on the brink of the winter war.

It was, in a way, a classic case of being up against the wall. It was very good at giving some historical background to certain policies and geography. The league of nations deemed the attack illegal and expelled the soviet union from the organisation. I stare at her on my knees before i even think of scrambling to my feet. Finnish army was born out of a finnish civil war january may 1918 and as can be expected under such conditions at the time it had no real standard uniform. Although i have two to three books on this subject in my library this is the first title i have actually read on this conflict. The winter war is a fantastic window into the littleknown war withina war between finland and the soviet union in 1940. I have just finished gordon sanders book on the 1939 war between finland and russian know as the hundred day war or the winter war talvisota. Grand majority of its soldiers fought the war in their own civilian clothes and often had just a white armband made from cloth tied around their left arm to indicate them being. How did finnish air force perform during the winter war. The war ended with painful territorial concessions by the resolute finns, but not before exposing the fecklessness of the league of nations and unexpected, severe weaknesses in the mighty red army. He is believed to have killed over 500 men during the 193940 winter war, the highest number of sniper kills in any major war. The winter war was a war that was fought by the finns in 1939 when the soviets attempted to run them over. The soviet military forces expected a victory over finland in a few weeks, because the soviet army had many more tanks and planes than the finnish army.

World opinion at large supported the finnish cause. How finland lost world war ii to the soviets, but won. Dec 29, 2017 winds of winter by yi natiro the great courses plus is currently available to watch through a web browser to almost anyone in the world and optimized for the us market. Before the winter war, the finnish and soviet tactics had one thing in common. The winter war when the finns humiliated the russians. Why was finland so successful during the winter war. As relations with the soviet union changed during the war, finland was placed in the unusual situation of being for, then against and then for the overall interests of the allied powers the first two major conflicts in which finland was directly involved were the defensive winter war. Almost every important thing about the finnish armored forces in ww2 was mentioned. Approximately 86,000 finns died in the warabout three times the losses suffered during the civil war. It is an accurate representation of finlands winter war against the u.

November 30 th, 1939, following the alleged shelling of russian troops by finnish soldiers, the soviet union launched an invasion on finland. On 19 november, the convention of olkijoki was signed and the swedish army was forced to leave the finnish countryside. Huge number of booty on battlegrounds at suomussalmi eyewitness report by a visitor in leningrad published in the finnish evening newspaper iltasanomat on january 20, 1940. The finnish civil war 1918 offers an account of the history and memory of the conflict and traces its legacy in finnish society until today. The winter war showed also that atguns werent suited for offensive operations in the finnish winter. They were able to beat the soviets against all odds with the survival skills they had learned as children, and and a few well placed gasoline bombs. There are photos of training, machine guns, winter treks, cavalry and artillery.