Winter War

After a hundred years under Russia, Finland became independent december 6 in 1917. During fall 1939 Stalin demanded that the Soviet Union should be allowed to set up military bases in Finland as protection against Germany. (see Ribbentrop-Molotov pact) Nationalism running high, with strong sentiments against both Germany and the Soviet Union, Finland said no and Stalin attacked in November. He would find that it wasn´t the walkover victory he had expected.

The Finns turned out to be a fierce adversary, with their local knowledge and guerilla attacks playing an important part. A certain improvised petrol bomb adapted from the Spanish civil war was used with great success, and gained fame as the ´Molotov Cocktail´ (after the Soviet foregin minister). That winter was very cold, -40°C was not unusual. This was to the advantage of the Finns.

In late february, the allied offered help on rather suspect terms, 100 000 troops to enter through the Norwegian port of Narvik and support Finland from Sweden. Suspicions that this was a scheme to occupy the shipping harbour of Narvik and the Swedish iron ore fields in order to stop the export to Germany caused Norway and Sweden to deny transit. Germany suggested that Finland should negotiate with the Soviet Union.

On March 6 1940 an armstice was signed, the Russians had had enough.

After four months of fighting, the Russians had lost a million men, 1000 aircraft, 2300 armoured vehicles, many guns and other material. Little did they know that the Finns were all but out of ammunition.

Peace was at a high price for the Finns. Finland lost all of Karelia, incuding it´s second largest city Viipuri/Vyborg?. 422 000 people left their home to avoid being left in the Soviet Union. This was not the end. In 1941 the Russians resumed the hostilities in the Continuation War.