Course of the war Military history of Finland during World War II

1 course of war

1.1 winter war
1.2 interim peace
1.3 continuation war
1.4 moscow armistice
1.5 lapland war

course of war
winter war


first phase of winter war

the winter war, fought between finland , soviet union, invasion soviet union. aim of invasion annex finland whole soviet union. first attack on november 30, 1939 aerial bombardment of city of helsinki , along finnish-soviet border. put finnish people on defensive without having make decision, unifying once divided country. soviet invasion intended liberation of red finns, eventual annexation of finland ussr. end, puppet government, finnish democratic republic established in terijoki under leadership of exiled o. w. kuusinen. strategic goals of red army included cutting finland in half , capturing petsamo in north , helsinki in south. soviets had been building forces on border several months during previous negotiations. soviet union fielded 4 armies composed of 16 divisions , 3 being brought position; meanwhile, finnish army had 9 smaller divisions. in addition, soviet forces enjoyed overwhelming superiority in numbers of armour , air units deployed. problem numbers finnish issue had defend border 1287 km (800 miles) in length, presenting defenders significant disadvantage.

the winter war fought in 3 stages: initial soviet advance, short lull , renewed soviet offensive. war fought in 3 areas. karelian isthmus , area of lake ladoga primary focus of soviet war effort. two-pronged attack, 1 pincer engaging finnish forces on isthmus while other went around lake ladoga in attempt @ encircling defenders. force advance , capture city of viipuri. second front in central karelia, soviet forces advance city of oulu, cutting country in half. finally, southwards drive north capture petsamo region. late december, 2 main fronts had come standstill finns counterattacking more strength , soviets being bogged down. failure of 2 of 3 offensives end of december, soviet headquarters ordered cessation of operations. december 27 observed soviet forces digging on karelian isthmus. in north, however, finns had been pushed nautsi , reinforcements took higher ground halt soviet advance south of petsamo. during period finns known have been harassing supply columns , raid actions against fortified soviet positions. lull period followed in january 1940, soviet army reassessed strategy, rearmed , resupplied. last phase began in february 1940 major artillery barrage began on 2nd , lasted till 11th, accompanied reconnaissance raids @ key objectives. soviets, using new equipment , materials, began using tactics of rotating troops reserve front, applying pressure finnish defenders. seemed red army had inexhaustible amounts of ammunition , supplies, attacks preceded barrages, followed aerial assaults , random troop movements against lines. finnish military , government leaders saw thing left negotiate peace treaty moscow.

the tenacity of finnish people, both military , civilian, in face of superior opponent gained country sympathy throughout world. however, material support other countries small , none of finland s neighbours willing commit militaries war against ussr. need diplomatic solution became more apparent, after soviet forces broke through finnish defensive line on karelian isthmus , moved on towards viipuri. demanding peace proposal sent finland molotov in mid-february, claiming more land ussr , significant diplomatic , military sanctions. february 28, molotov made offer ultimatum 48-hour time limit, pushed finnish leadership act quickly. finnish people worn down , no longer hold out against such vast, well-supplied numbers. march 13, 1940 winter war officially over, moscow peace treaty signed , soviet union had gained more territory demanded.

interim peace


finland s concessions in winter war.

the period of peace following winter war regarded in finland temporary, when peace announced in march 1940. period of frantic diplomatic efforts , rearmament followed. soviet union kept intense pressure on finland, thereby hastening finnish efforts improve security of country.

defensive arrangements attempted sweden , great britain, political , military situation in context of second world war rendered these efforts fruitless. finland turned nazi germany military aid. german offensive against soviet union (operation barbarossa) approached, cooperation between 2 countries intensified. german troops arrived in finland , took positions, in lapland, invade soviet union. finnish military took part in planning operation barbarossa, , prepared invade soviet union alongside germans in north, , independently in south.

operation barbarossa began on 22 june 1941. on 25 june soviet union launched massive air raid against finnish cities, after finland declared war , allowed german troops stationed in finland begin offensive warfare. resulting war called continuation war.

continuation war


relative strengths of finnish, german , soviet troops @ start of continuation war in june 1941.

during summer , autumn of 1941 finnish army on offensive, retaking territories lost in winter war. finnish army advanced further, in direction of lake onega, (east lake ladoga), closing blockade of city of leningrad north, , occupying eastern karelia, had never been part of finland before. caused great britain declare war on finland on 6 december. german , finnish troops in northern finland less successful, failing take russian port city of murmansk during operation silver fox.

on 31 july 1941 united kingdom launched raids on kirkenes , petsamo demonstrate support soviet union. these raids unsuccessful.

in december 1941, finnish army took defensive positions. led long period of relative calm in front line, lasting until 1944. during period, starting @ 1941 after major german defeat in battle of stalingrad, intermittent peace inquiries took place. these negotiations did not lead settlement.

on 16 march 1944, president of united states, franklin d. roosevelt, called finland disassociate nazi germany.

on 9 june 1944, red army launched major strategic offensive against finland, attaining vast numerical superiority , surprising finnish army. attack pushed finnish forces approximately same positions holding @ end of winter war. soviet offensive fought standstill in battle of tali-ihantala, while still tens or hundreds of kilometres in front of main finnish line of fortifications, salpa line. however, war had exhausted finnish resources , believed country not able hold major attack.

the worsening situation in 1944 had led finnish president risto ryti giving germany personal guarantee finland not negotiate peace soviet union long president. in exchange germany delivered weapons finns. after soviet offensive halted, however, ryti resigned. due war, elections not held, , therefore parliament selected marshal of finland carl gustaf emil mannerheim, finnish commander-in-chief, president , charged him negotiating peace.

the finnish front had become sideshow soviet leadership, in race reach berlin before western allies. this, , heavy casualties inflicted on red army finns, led transfer of troops finnish front. on 4 september 1944 ceasefire agreed, , moscow armistice signed on 19 september.

moscow armistice

the moscow armistice signed finland , soviet union on 19 september 1944 ending continuation war, though final peace treaty not signed until 1947 in paris.

the conditions peace similar agreed in 1940 moscow peace treaty, finland being forced cede parts of finnish karelia, part of salla , islands in gulf of finland. new armistice handed whole of petsamo on soviet union. finland agreed legalize communist parties , ban fascist organizations. finally, armistice demanded finland must expel german troops territory, cause of lapland war.

lapland war


the village of ivalo destroyed germans during lapland war.

the lapland war fought between finland , nazi germany in lapland, northernmost part of finland. main strategic interest of germany in region nickel mines in petsamo area.

initially warfare cautious on both sides, reflecting previous cooperation of 2 countries against common enemy, end of 1944 fighting intensified. finland , germany had made informal agreement , schedule german troops withdraw lapland norway. soviet union did not accept friendliness , pressured finland take more active role in pushing germans out of lapland, intensifying hostilities.

the germans adopted scorched-earth policy, , proceeded lay waste entire northern half of country retreated. 100,000 people lost homes, adding burden of post-war reconstruction. actual loss of life, however, not catastrophic. finland lost 1,000 troops , germany 2,000. finnish army expelled last of foreign troops soil in april 1945.