THE WINTER WAR 1939-40

DISPONIBILE AGOSTO 2023

Un resoconto riccamente illustrato delle forze e degli eventi della Guerra d’Inverno tra Finlandia ed Unione Sovietica.

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• The Winter War, or first Soviet-Finnish War was fought between November 1939 and March 1940

• Despite outnumbering the Finnish, the Soviet Army made little headway and suffered substantial losses

• The fighting took place in sub-zero temperatures, ranging as low as -43C

• Among the Finnish defenders was the legendary sniper Simo Häyhä, credited with over 500 kills

• Fully illustrated account of the war covers Finnish guerrilla warfare and the air war

When the Soviet Union invaded Finland in late 1939, what transpired was a true "David and Goliath” conflict. When Finland refused a number of Soviet demands, including the ceding of substantial border territories ostensibly to enable the Soviets to protect Leningrad, the Soviets responded by launching an invasion. The invasion involved a large Soviet army, with several thousand tanks, and a large air force.

But to the world's surprise the Finnish Army - many of them reservists without proper uniforms and limited ammunition - and Air Force battled overwhelming odds, and managed to resist Russian attacks for over two months, inflicting serious losses. Geography played its part as much of the Finnish-Soviet border was impassable, meaning that Soviet numerical superiority was of less import. Operating in the winter, with temperatures ranging as low as -43F, the Finns' determined resistance won them international reputation. Although hostilities finally ended in a peace treaty that saw Finland cede 9% of its territory, Soviet losses had been heavy, and Finland retained its sovereignty.

This fully illustrated text will cover the forces involved and all stages of the Winter War.