1939-40 Russo-Finnish Winter War

[Chinaski]

Ok, does anyone have extensive knowledge of this war? I'm writing an essay on it, and I was just wondering if someone had some good insight or interesting anecdotes.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ok, does anyone have extensive knowledge of this war? I'm writing an essay on it, and I was just wondering if someone had some good insight or interesting anecdotes.

I know they recently recovered some Soviet tanks that had sunk into a swamp there. Beautifully preserved. The terrain was poorly suited for tank warfare.

Also, IIRC, Charles Lindbergh spoke in support of the Finns during the war.

[Chinaski]

The Soviets had around 3000 tanks to the finns' 30. And got their asses handed to them. Awesome.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The Soviets had around 3000 tanks to the finns' 30. And got their asses handed to them. Awesome.

There was a famous picture in Life Magazine of two sisters, maybe 7 and 9 years old. They were on the ground and the older one was shielding her sister with her own body as they looked up at the bombers overhead.

[Chinaski]

The Soviets had around 3000 tanks to the finns' 30. And got their asses handed to them. Awesome.

There was a famous picture in Life Magazine of two sisters, maybe 7 and 9 years old. They were on the ground and the older one was shielding her sister with her own body as they looked up at the bombers overhead.

Finnish sisters? Dammit, now I feel like a dick for expressing masculine excitement at the Finns' ownage of the Soviets.

[leo-rcc]

I never understood the start of that war. The Russian army had just undergone a great purge at the hands of Stalin and then they invade Finland.

[Chinaski]

I never understood the start of that war. The Russian army had just undergone a great purge at the hands of Stalin and then they invade Finland.

Stalin was being a dick. He offered a really unfair trade of land between the two countries, and when the Finns refused, he attacked Russian soldiers with his own flak, then blamed it on the Finns. They refused responsibility, and the Russians invaded.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I never understood the start of that war. The Russian army had just undergone a great purge at the hands of Stalin and then they invade Finland.

It was a political decision, not a military one. If you look at this map closely you'll see that the Finnish border was much closer to "Leningrad" in those days, making the Sovs nervous.

wwiie16.jpg

[leo-rcc]

I see. But was Finland percieved as a major threat to the Russians or is it out of fear for an alliance with Germany?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I see. But was Finland percieved as a major threat to the Russians or is it out of fear for an alliance with Germany?

Mannerheim was a fascist, so the Sovs considered him a bigger threat than Hitler because they shared a common border. The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact allowed them to concentrate on Finland without worrying about German intervention.

[Chinaski]

Mannerheim was a fascist???

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Mannerheim was a fascist???

Where you been?

[Chinaski]

Mannerheim was a fascist???

Where you been?

Basking in the glow of Mannerheim's brilliant military strategies. How much of a fascist?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Mannerheim was a fascist???

Where you been?

Basking in the glow of Mannerheim's brilliant military strategies. How much of a fascist?

Check out the uniform.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr11 ... erheim.jpg[/imgc]

[leo-rcc]

Mannerheim was a fascist???

Where you been?

Basking in the glow of Mannerheim's brilliant military strategies. How much of a fascist?

In 1929 he refused right-wing radicals plea to become a de facto military dictator although he did express some support of the right-wing semi-fascist Lapua Movement.

http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Mannerheim/