30.11.2009 (my name day) will mark the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Winter War between Finland and Soviet Union. 70 years ago Finland became a victim of large nations politics when the USSR attacked Finland.
Finland still survived no matter the overpower of the Red Army.
I want to hear what you people think about the winter war, so please post your comments, views and anything related to the topic.

I am a confessed Finnophile. I love the country and believe that the Winter War was a crucial event in forging the young nation of Finland. The war revealed Finland's strength to a world which barely knew she even existed and confirmed to Finns that they were are strong and unique people. Even today, one of the war's legacies is that Finland has the strongest military culture in Scandinavia.

Something to the effect of "We gained barely enough territory to bury our dead."

Simo Hayha is a deep personal hero to me. A simple man that did his duty, but proved to be awfully damned
good at his craft.

The Finns wrote volumes about defensive doctrine versus a (numerically) superior aggressor. I hope that the rest of
the world's military strategists learned something from it.

The Winter War is exactly why I would dearly enjoy corresponding with some people from Finland... I believe that I might become a better man because of it.

Cheers, F.N.

Damn, I didn't mean to be a thread-killer here, y'all!!

-F.N.

I don't see you as a thread-killer...

People, say something! I'm sure you have something to say on this.

Here is an informative website that may assist...link:

http://kaiku.com/winterwar.html

Several others can be found...the above just seemed to pop out when I did a quick search this morning.
Notably, a quick reference is made to Simo Hayhaa.

The mortality rate for Soviet officers must have been incredibly high...between the actions of the Finns...and those of Soviet Political Commissars...

The average Soviet soldier found trapped in a defensive "pocket" must have been an incredibly durable individual, suffering such conditions.

In many ways, the Finnish ski troops could be thought of as "wolves", as they tracked and eliminated escaping and evading fragments of Soviet units. Remarkable.

Many parallels can be drawn between the Winter War and later conflicts/ battles. The siege of Dien Bien Phu, and some actions in the later "Vietnam War" can easily be seen. The Finns did heroic deeds with a much smaller and thinly equipped Army...

IMHO, the Finn's greatest ally was...Stalin himself!!!

-FNR...

Yes, I have to give credit to the average soldiers of the Red Army, because they had to cope with pressure from the Finns and from their own political commissars... they really had no choice but to attack the Finnish defence units in an impossible situation, because the Commissars pressured them to do that.

I really appreciate the fact that you respect Simo Häyhä, he is a hero for me too.

1. Why do you talk about Winter War like it was somekind of struggle for survival? All USSR needed is to move its boards about 100 km far from Leningrad. USSR hadn't aim to capture Finland or eliminate finish nation. May be owing to it Leningrad didn't fall in WW2 and nazi didn't attack Moscow from north.
2. Every commander who order his soldiers to attack is Commisar.
Soldier must do that, couse it's his duty.

1.Originally USSR's goal was to invade Finland, Soviet Generals have admitted this. The 'moving borders' was an excuse.

2. You're right, but I referred to Political Commissars who in some situations took the power from the hands of professional officers and therefore did stupid tactical decisions and even shot soldiers who weren't ready to die in these tactically stupid attacks.

8993an wrote:

1.Originally USSR's goal was to invade Finland, Soviet Generals have admitted this. The 'moving borders' was an excuse.

what generals? could you tell their names?

why did Red Army attacked exactly Mannerheim's fortification? If i'd want to capture Finland, i'll round this fortification from flangs to its back and stop supplies (food, ammunition, medicaments, new troops etc), parallel trying to descant troops near Helsinki.
There are no reasons for me to head-on attack, loosing my troops, tanks, planes except i want to move boards.

8993an wrote:

2. You're right, but I referred to Political Commissars who in some situations took the power from the hands of professional officers and therefore did stupid tactical decisions and even shot soldiers who weren't ready to die in these tactically stupid attacks.

Political Commissars ("Politruk" in russian) never took the power from the hands of professional officers excepting cases when the officer became coward or traitor. If this case politruk is able to take command by itself couse the officer can't do this.
Politruks never take a part in planning of attack. They aim is work with crew (soldiers and sergants), watching for them, reveal cowards and traitors among them.

The troops are attacking politruks were in first lines. They leaded the troops with officers and often they were killed. They never sited rear and shooted to soldier backs as it shown in "democratic TV".

Every situation when one has a chance to die is "stupid". But one's must attack. If soldiers'd be able to vote attack or not on one war were won.