The Winter War between USSR and Finland took place between 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940. It lasted 4 weeks and 5 days. The war began 3 months after the start of World War II, when the Soviet invasion of Finland began. The war was a short but extremely costly one. It ended with the Peace Treaty of Moscow being signed on 13 March 1940. The war is said to be won by the Soviet Union in terms of land gained but if casualties are put into account it is arguable that the Finns destroyed more Soviet forces. I believe that the Winter War was an accomplishment in favor of the Soviet Union.
The Winter War was a significant event in World War II. The Soviet Union were bound on claiming Finnish territory, which was essential for the position of the Allies in the war. They offered Finland territory elsewhere in exchange for that, but Finland refused. After Finland had refused to grant the Soviets a naval base and other concessions in the fall of 1939, Soviet troops totaling …show more content…
The war took place in East Finland so they used their knowledge of the land to their advantage. The thick forests, deep swamps and huge wastelands were used. The Soviet forces were not adapted to fighting in the forests or any other landscape changes which might affect their tactics of war. As quoted by a Finnish veteran of the Winter War ‘During the Winter War two Soviet divisions died in the Syväsalmi swamps. Soviet soldiers were not used to being in the woods.’[2]. The Russians were adapted to the cold but they knew nothing about the directions and what was to happen next to them. Finnish took this opportunity and slaughtered the Soviet soldiers. The same veteran says ‘This is very sad, people were just being slaughtered. Finish soldiers on skis surrounded and killed
The Winter War was a significant event in World War II. The Soviet Union were bound on claiming Finnish territory, which was essential for the position of the Allies in the war. They offered Finland territory elsewhere in exchange for that, but Finland refused. After Finland had refused to grant the Soviets a naval base and other concessions in the fall of 1939, Soviet troops totaling …show more content…
The war took place in East Finland so they used their knowledge of the land to their advantage. The thick forests, deep swamps and huge wastelands were used. The Soviet forces were not adapted to fighting in the forests or any other landscape changes which might affect their tactics of war. As quoted by a Finnish veteran of the Winter War ‘During the Winter War two Soviet divisions died in the Syväsalmi swamps. Soviet soldiers were not used to being in the woods.’[2]. The Russians were adapted to the cold but they knew nothing about the directions and what was to happen next to them. Finnish took this opportunity and slaughtered the Soviet soldiers. The same veteran says ‘This is very sad, people were just being slaughtered. Finish soldiers on skis surrounded and killed