The Winter War : Russia's invasion of Finland, 1939-1940

**"Edwards recounts events, both shameful and heroic, with insight, conviction and considerable wit."―__Publishers Weekly__** On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union's Red Army invaded the young nation-state of Finland, in the full expectation of routing the small, ill-equipped Finnish army and annexing the former Russian territory by the end of the year. But Finland held out for 105 bitterly cold, fiercely combative days, until March 15, 1940, when a peace agreement ended the short, savage Winter War. At the stirring center of the story lie the resourcefulness and resolve of the Finnish people, who against all military odds―in want of ammunition, food, sleep, and troops―fought a blundering, ineptly commanded Red Army to a standstill. On March 15, they ceded to the Soviet 11 percent of their territory and 30 percent of their economic assets, but none of their national pride. The Russians meanwhile had markedly damaged their international standing and effectively ruined their military reputation-to such an extent, as this probing chapter in World War II history demonstrates, that Germany, with proud-blooded Finland as an ally, dared to launch its 1940 invasion of Russia. At the same time, though, the fiasco of the Winter War forced Stalin to acknowledge the shortcomings of the Red Army and to reform it: Germany would fall at Stalingrad in 1941. With authority, this skillfully narrated military history unfolds its story of the four-month Soviet-Finnish war and explores its consequences from London to Moscow, from Helsinki to Paris, to Washington, DC. 20 black-and-white illustrations "Edwards recounts events, both shameful and heroic, with insight, conviction and considerable wit." —Publishers Weekly On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union's Red Army invaded the young nation-state of Finland, in the full expectation of routing the small, ill-equipped Finnish army and annexing the former Russian territory by the end of the year. But Finland held out for 105 bitterly cold, fiercely combative days, until March 15, 1940, when a peace agreement ended the short, savage Winter War. At the stirring center of the story lie the resourcefulness and resolve of the Finnish people, who against all military odds—in want of ammunition, food, sleep, and troops—fought a blundering, ineptly commanded Red Army to a standstill. On March 15, they ceded to the Soviet 11 percent of their territory and 30 percent of their economic assets, but none of their national pride. The Russians meanwhile had markedly damaged their international standing and effectively ruined their military reputation-to such an extent, as this probing chapter in World War II history demonstrates, that Germany, with proud-blooded Finland as an ally, dared to launch its 1940 invasion of Russia. At the same time, though, the fiasco of the Winter War forced Stalin to acknowledge the shortcomings of the Red Army and to reform it: Germany would fall at Stalingrad in 1941. With authority, this skillfully narrated military history unfolds its story of the four-month Soviet-Finnish war and explores its consequences from London to Moscow, from Helsinki to Paris, to Washington, DC. On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union's Red Army invaded the young nation-state of Finland, in the full expectation of routing the small, ill-equipped Finnish army and annexing the former Russian territory by the end of the year. But Finland held out for 105 bitterly cold, fiercely combative days, until March 15, 1940, when a peace agreement ended the short, savage Winter War.At the stirring center of the story lie the resourcefulness and resolve of the Finnish people, who against all military odds—in want of ammunition, food, sleep, and troops—fought a blundering, ineptly commanded Red Army to a standstill. On March 15, they ceded to the Soviet 11 percent of their territory and 30 percent of their economic assets, but none of their national pride.The Russians meanwhile had markedly damaged their international standing and effectively ruined their military reputation-to such an extent, as this probing chapter in World War II history demonstrates, that Germany, with proud-blooded Finland as an ally, dared to launch its 1941 invasion of Russia. At the same time, though, the fiasco of the Winter War forced Stalin to acknowledge the shortcomings of the Red Army and to reform it: Germany would fall at Stalingrad in 1942.With authority, this skillfully narrated military history unfolds its story of the four-month Soviet-Finnish war and explores its consequences from London to Moscow, from Helsinki to Paris, to Washington, DC. One of the most valiant stories of World War II—the heroic Finnish stance against the Red Army When Russia invaded Finland in November 1939, the international community reacted with a combination of shock and outrage. But while the rest of the world dithered, Finland was left alone to face the full might of the Red Army.           The results of the conflict seemed a foregone conclusion. The Soviet Army was reputed to be the best in the world, and the Finns were outnumbered almost four to one. To everyone’s surprise, however, they pushed back against the Russians and became an international cause célèbre. For 105 days, it looked as if they just might achieve the impossible and keep the huge Soviet Army at bay.           In his new interpretation of this little understood war, Robert Edwards describes one of the most doomed but valiant defenses since Thermopylae. Indeed, the geopolitical consequences were far-reaching, as Nazi Germany observed the Soviet embarrassment from the sidelines and immediately began their plans for Operation Barbarossa.
One of the most valiant stories of World War II—the heroic Finnish stance against the Red Army When Russia invaded Finland in November 1939, the international community reacted with a combination of shock and outrage. But while the rest of the world dithered, Finland was left alone to face the full might of the Red Army. The results of the conflict seemed a foregone conclusion. The Soviet Army was reputed to be the best in the world, and the Finns were outnumbered almost four to one. To everyone's surprise, however, they pushed back against the Russians and became an international cause célèbre. For 105 days, it looked as if they just might achieve the impossible and keep the huge Soviet Army at bay. In his new interpretation of this little understood war, Robert Edwards describes one of the most doomed but valiant defenses since Thermopylae. Indeed, the geopolitical consequences were far-reaching, as Nazi Germany observed the Soviet embarrassment from the sidelines and immediately began their plans for Operation Barbarossa.