The War
In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non aggression pact, which included a secret protocol relegating Finland to the Soviet sphere of interest (The Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact). When Finland refused to allow the Soviet Union to build military bases on its territory, the latter revoked the nonaggression pact of 1932 and attacked Finland on November 30, 1939. The Winter War ended in a peace treaty drawn up in Moscow on March 13, 1940, giving southeastern Finland to the Soviet Union. In the Winter War Finland stood alone, only sympathy and modest assistance was offered by other countries. During the War Finnish ski troops, their white uniforms blending ghostlike in the snow, inflicted heavy casualties on the Russian army. Finland's survival against overwhelming Russian forces became legendary all over the world. Unlike all other states on the European continent that were involved in the Second World War, Finland was never occupied by foreign forces.
Evaucation of Karelians
Karelia is the land of the Karelian and Finnish peoples that has inhabited an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden. Karelia is currently divided between the Russian Republic of Karelia, the Russian Leningrad Oblast, and two Regions of Finland, South Karelia and North Karelia. In Karelian, Finnish, and Estonian languages, Karelia is called Karjala; in Russian Карелия; and in Swedish Karelen.
There are no words for describing the evacuation of the Karelians, the evacuation of a tribe. Today, the last persons remembering the evacuation are old. They talk about one thing: about the lost Karelia, their lost homes and farms, the terrible evacuation and their longing back.
When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, Finland entered the war as a cobelligerent with Germany. The 'Continuation War' ended in armistice in September 1944. In addition to the areas already lost to Russia, Finland also ceded Petsamo on the Arctic Ocean. The terms of the armistice were confirmed in the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947. Marshal Mannerheim was made president of the republic towards the end of the war.
Video: Discovery - Winter War 1/5
Video: Discovery - Winter War 2/5
Video: Discovery - Winter War 3/5