The Winter War (Talvisota)

[Liberator37]

Thanks KodiakBeer, and it's true that Archangel gave clear access to the Atlantic - but it was icebound in winter, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangel_(Russian_city) - hence the hankering for a warm water port. Gothenburg would have done it, as would Oslo - but the Soviets may have had advance warning from their then-ally Germany that Norway would be invaded in or about April 1940 so Oslo would not be favored. Also, to invade Norway directly or via Finland would have been tricky; there is only a short border and it's in the far North, a long way from Oslo. Sweden, in contrast, has quite a long border with Finland and there could have been a supporting invasion across the Gulf of Bothnia, perhaps to the South of Stockholm so as to divide the defensive army.

I can't see how a conquest of Finland would have provided more buffer for the Soviets. Yes they would distrust their ally Germany, but the Germans would hardly invade via Finland. When in 1941 Hitler turned on them, his army came directly via Poland, SW of Leningrad, whereas Finland lies to its NW. The Baltic divides Finland from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - which the Soviets had already grabbed anyway, perhaps as buffers vs Germany.

Again, I'd love to hear any other ideas about why they waged the Winter War.

[KodiakBeer]

I can't see how a conquest of Finland would have provided more buffer for the Soviets.

They had been at war with Finland earlier, during the Russian civil war in the early 20's. The Finns kicked their butts then too. The Finns were only a few miles from Leningrad and always a threat, especially in a Europe breaking out in war. The Finns hated the communists.

The Soviet army was already mobilized, so why not a preemptive strike on Finland? The Russians and Finns had been fighting over that border since Peter the Great built the city because the border was too close to provide security to the city.

And the Finns did later invade! The Germans attacked from the south and the Finns attacked Leningrad from the north.

[Catherine]

Terry,

Thank you! What a sweet poem and target!

Hot coffee and a fudge brownie are coming your way over the WWWeb.

Cate

[Liberator37]

"why not a preemptive strike on Finland?" - KodiakBeer

Well, that's possible, thank you. A target of opportunity, as it were; a chance to give themselves a bit more of a buffer in case it was ever needed. In that case the settlement (taking Karelia) would be quite satisfactory for the Soviets.

Anyone else have a take on Russian motivation?

[armoredman]

I contacted NetFlix, and the perky young girl on the other end of the line was VERY interested in adding this movie to either mail DVD or online. Fingers crossed...

[KodiakBeer]

If Netflix gets it, they'll just use the short, dumbed down American version.

To see the full length version you have to get the Korean release, which has English subtitles as one of the choices. Here it is for ten bucks: http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Winter-W...item337128e25d

[Chumplestiltskin]

Finland was taken from the Swedes as spoils of the series of wars between Sweden and Russia in the 1700s. The loss of the Baltic states and Finland at the end of WWI was a crippling blow to Russian pride every bit as severe as the loss of the Russo-Japanese war of 1905.

The western border of Russian/Soviet land being far west of Russia was a point of national pride as important to Russia as the return of Alsace-Lorraine was to the French.

Recent examples would be our Moon Landing and Bruce Jenner's triumphal lap after winning the decathlon. However un-PC that is now and all the conspiracy weirdos claims that the Moon Landing was filmed in Nevada with plywood models.

The west was to Russia what India was to England. Symbol of their strength and success when they had it. Symbol of impotence and defeat when they didn't.