The Winter War

[Flattop]

In early October 1939, Stalin believed it was time to present the same ultimatum to Finland. The Finns, however, proved unexpectedly stubborn. Instead of capitulating as the others had, they attempted to bargain. Negotiations dragged on until Stalin lost patience. On November 26, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov called in the Finnish Ambassador to Moscow and handed him a note accusing Finland of directing artillery fire at the Soviet village of Mainila on the Karelian Istmus, killing four Red Army soldiers and wounding nine. This, declared Molotov, was "provocational shelling."

The Soviets then claimed that Finnish soldiers had crossed the Russian border during the early hours of November 30. At 8 a.m., in response to this alleged aggression, the Red Army launched an all-out land, sea and air attack against Finland. Thirty divisions and six tank brigades rolled across the Finnish border; bombers and fighters roared over Helsinki and other major Finnish cities from new Russian bases in Estonian territory.

The world was first shocked by the Soviet assault on Finland, and then amazed. Contrary to all expectations, the Finns soon had the Russians staggering, if not on their knees.

http://flattopshistorywarpolitics.yu...pic/998?page=1

[SteelBlue]

Didn't the Finns have a kill ratio of something like 9 Russians for every Finn that died?

[Flattop]

25,000 Finns were killed.

At least 200,000 Russians were killed, and possibly double that number. The Soviets did not release any official figures and estimates varied.

So at least an 8 to 1 ratio, and possibly 16 to 1.

Even before the war, based on past conflicts, the Finns bragged that 1 Finn was worth 10 Russians.

[The_Tick]

Why were the Finns so effective? This wasn't hockey...

[Flattop]

The Finns used the terrain and weather to their advantage and, at least initially, the Russians were badly led.

[happyone]

There is also the problem that Stalin had just executed almost all of the senior leadership of the Red Army. The Red Army didn't have any experienced senior leadership and it showed in both the planning and execution of the invasion.

[frank ryan]

The Finns used the terrain and weather to their advantage and, at least initially, the Russians were badly led.

Didn't the Finns dress in all and toss aptly named Molotovs at the Russians?

[New Mexican Disaster]

My family is Finnish and comes from right in the area where the current border is drawn with Russia. My great grandmother (whom I never knew) lamented many lost family members in the Winter War and cussed incessantly about Russians (so I am told). She was also very proud of the fighting prowess of the Finns.

Thanks for sharing this link and more about the Winter War USSU. It is now on the list of subjects to learn more about.

[statman]

There is also the problem that Stalin had just executed almost all of the senior leadership of the Red Army. The Red Army didn't have any experienced senior leadership and it showed in both the planning and execution of the invasion.

And the lower level leadership as well. His purges were pretty thorough. Anyone with leadership skills who might potentially be a leader of men against Stalin was a target...

[statman]

The Finns had superbly trained, quick reacting light infantry troops - called the Sissi - who quite literally ran circles around slow moving Soviet troops mired in the Finnish winter terrain. The Finns used cross country skis as their main means of moving troops around, and were very adept at sabotage & flanking attacks on the slow moving Soviets. Stalin was completely outclassed.

[San Juan Sun]

The Finns had superbly trained, quick reacting light infantry troops - called the Sissi

I guess the moral of the story is to not mess with a bunch of sissies.

[happyone]

If anyone wants to read a fairly decent book on the winter war, here is one

The Winter War: The Russo-Finnish War of 1939-40 by William Trotter