History of Winter War

	Revision 5 . . November 30, 2001 8:12 am by (logged).2.218.xxx
	Revision 4 . . November 30, 2001 12:16 am by (logged).129.26.xxx
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	Revision 1 . . November 29, 2001 10:07 am by (logged).2.218.xxx [Winter War]

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Changed: 3c3

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]?). With nationalism running high and strong sentiments against both Germany and the Soviet Union, Finland said no and Stalin attacked on November 30 with 23 divisions (450,000 men). Stalin expected to conquer the whole country by the end of the year, a puppet government was already in place in Terijoki on December 1, the 'Democratic Government of Finland'. Stalin found that it wasn´t to be the walkover he expected.

During fall 1939 Stalin demanded that the Soviet Union should be allowed to set up military bases in Finland as protection against Germany. This after an agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union, see [Ribbentrop-Molotov pact]?. With nationalism running high and strong sentiments against both Germany and the Soviet Union, Finland said no and Stalin attacked on November 30 with 23 divisions (450,000 men). Stalin expected to conquer the whole country by the end of the year, a puppet government was already in place in Terijoki on December 1, the 'Democratic Government of Finland'. Stalin found that it wasn´t to be the walkover he expected.

Changed: 5c5

The Finns with an army of only 160,000 men, turned out to be a fierce adversaries, with their local knowledge and guerilla tactics 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 foreign minister). That winter was very cold (-40°C was not unusual) and this was to the advantage of the Finns.

The Finns with an army of only 160,000 men, turned out to be a fierce adversary, with their local knowledge and guerilla tactics 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 foreign minister). That winter was very cold (-40°C was not unusual) and this was to the advantage of the Finns.