Finlands Winter War 1939-40

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

On 22nd June 1941 Finland attacked the Soviet Union. This - the Continuation War - lasted to 1944 and can be divided in three disticnt phases.

1. Advancing period June - Dec 1941.

2. Defensive period 1942 - 1944 (partly trench warfare).

3. Retreat from Karelia 1944. Soviet offensive.

All Finns were united as to retake what lost in 1940. When the Finnish troops advanced beyond the 1939 border Finnish opinion was divided.

The Germans pressed Finland to a) capture Leningrad and b) cut off the Murmansk-railroad but the Finns refused.

The Finns could easily have made both these things, but FM Mannerheim wanted to be sure that the Germans were going to win the war before comitting the Finnish Forces into this.

Picture:

Green = 1939 border
Blue = 1940 border
Red = Max Finnish advance and front line 1942-44