Finnish-Soviet Winter War 1939-40: Stalin's Hollow Victory

The Soviet Union attacked Finland in November 1939, beginning the Winter War. The Finnish Army blunted the Soviet advance and inflicted high casualties, resulting in a fascinating David vs Goliath type struggle. The major battles of the war are covered in detail, including the Mannerheim Line, Ladoga Karelia, and Kollaa.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 96 pages
\n Publication date: 16 September 2021
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
\n

The Winter War of November 1939 to March 1940 was a significant event in the history of Europe, as it saw the Soviet Union invade Finland, a country that had been neutral during World War II. The invasion was expected to be swift and decisive, with the Soviet Union's vast military resources and superior technology giving them a significant advantage over the Finnish Army. However, the fighting qualities of the Finnish Army blunted the Soviet advance and inflicted high numbers of casualties.

A combination of difficulties caused by the weather, the terrain, the Mannerheim Line defenses, and Finnish tactics resulted in a fascinating David vs. Goliath type struggle. On 23 August 1939, a secret protocol was appended to the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, which assigned Finland to the Soviet sphere of influence. This decision was made in an effort to protect against renewed German aggression in the East.

On 30 November that year, the Soviet Union attacked Finland, beginning what became known as the Finnish-Soviet Winter War. The war was long and grueling, with the Finnish Army facing significant challenges from the Soviet forces. The major battles of the war took place in harsh winter conditions, including the Mannerheim Line, the fighting in Ladoga Karelia and Kollaa, and the clashes in Finnish Lapland.

Despite the odds, the Finnish Army managed to hold off the Soviet forces for several months. However, in March 1940, the Soviet Union launched a massive offensive that broke through the Finnish defenses and captured Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The Finnish government and military surrendered, and the Winter War came to an end.

The Winter War had a significant impact on the course of World War II. It demonstrated the resilience and determination of the Finnish people in the face of a powerful adversary and showed that even small countries could stand up to aggression and defend their independence. The war also had a lasting impact on the relationship between the Soviet Union and Finland, with the Soviet Union's occupation of Finland lasting for over 20 years.

In conclusion, the Soviet invasion of Finland was a significant event in the history of Europe, and it is important to understand the events that led up to and followed the war. The Finnish Army's resistance to the Soviet advance and the fascinating David vs. Goliath type struggle that resulted are just a few of the reasons why the Winter War is a fascinating period to study.

\n Weight: 308g\n
Dimension: 185 x 253 x 10 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781472843968\n \n