ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
The Winter War began on November 30, 1939, when the Soviet Union invaded Finland, three months after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact gave the USSR a free hand in the Baltics. Stalin demanded Finnish territory near Leningrad and border adjustments, claiming security needs. Finland refused, and the USSR staged the Shelling of Mainila, a false flag attack, as pretext for invasion. The Soviets expected a quick victory—Stalin predicted the war would last two weeks—but encountered fierce resistance.
What happened
The war was fought in brutal winter conditions, with temperatures dropping to -40°F. The Red Army, purged of experienced officers in Stalin's 1937-1938 purges, performed poorly. Finnish troops, using guerrilla tactics, ski troops, and knowledge of terrain, inflicted devastating casualties. The Finns employed 'Motti' tactics, cutting Soviet columns into isolated pockets and destroying them. Simo Häyhä, a Finnish sniper, killed over 500 Soviets, the most in history. Despite being outnumbered 3-to-1, Finland held out for 105 days.
Why it still matters
The Moscow Peace Treaty on March 12, 1940, ended the war. Finland ceded 9% of its territory, including Karelia, but preserved its independence. The USSR suffered 320,000 casualties versus Finland's 70,000, exposing Red Army weakness and emboldening Hitler to invade the USSR in 1941. The Winter War generated worldwide sympathy for Finland, with volunteers from many nations joining. It demonstrated that a small, determined nation could resist a great power and became a symbol of resistance to aggression. The war also showed the limitations of sheer numbers against skilled, motivated defenders in difficult terrain.
Background
Finland resisted fiercely despite losing border lands.