Robert Edwards, White Death: Russia's War on Finland 1939–40
One of the most captivating (yet little known) stories of World War II concerns the valiant Finnish defence against the invading Red Army through the winter of 1939–40. The Soviet Union's invasion of Finland in November 1939 prompted a combination of shock and outrage in the international community. Yet, three months after the invasion of Poland by Germany, reaction amounted to little more than the Soviet expulsion from the already dead League of Nations.
In all respects, the results of what became known as the Winter War conflict seemed a foregone conclusion. The Soviet Army was reputed to be the best in the world, and the Finns outnumbered 4 to 1 in men, 200 to 1 in tanks and 30 to 1 in aircraft. However, to everyone's surprise, the Finns resisted the Soviet advance and became an international cause celebre. For over three months and with little outside assistance (much to the shame of the West), it looked as if they just might achieve the impossible and keep the huge Red Army at bay.
The opening of the Russian archives has allowed Edwards this opportunity to explore the story in a greater depth than historians have previously been afforded, and he offers a new interpretation of this oft misunderstood war. Despite their eventual capitulation – the Moscow Peace Treaty saw Finland cede about 9% of her territory (excluding its population) and 20% of its industrial capacity to the Soviet Union – yet the geopolitical consequences were profound, as Nazi Germany watched the Soviet difficulties from a close distance. This was to have significant influence on Hitler's future direction with regards to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
Edwards reflects on the confidence gained by the Hitler's generals, previously so nervous about intentions to invade Russia that they contemplated a coup d'etat to avoid it, were now convinced they could win. In both Britain and France, the spectacle of the Soviet invasion of a neutral neighbour undermined the confidence of the left (although he wryly notes that the headline of the Daily Worker on the opening day of the invasion was "HEROIC RED ARMY SMASHES MARAUDING FINNS"). The Labour leader Clement Attlee expelled one pro-Soviet MP and cleared the way for a coalition with the Conservatives, in many respects reshaping the entire party in the process.
Yet paradoxically, the Finnish blunders in many respects also helped revive the Red Army. With the results of his earlier purges clearly on show, Stalin promoted outspoken technocrats like Zhukov and accepted reforms that would later enable the Russians to survive the German assault in 1941 and ultimately reverse the defeats.
White Death is itself well researched and written, providing an excellent account of the precursors to the conflict, as well as the conflict itself. Equally strong is the presentation of both the Finnish defence as well as the quandaries faced by an invading force stronger in numbers, yet ill-equipped for the task at hand. Edwards makes obvious the strengths of the typical Soviet soldier, supremely tough and startlingly courageous, but engaged in an ill thought out fight in an unfamiliar and frightening environment. Moreover, thoroughly incompetent leadership (until the promotion of Timoshenko) compounded their misery. Similarly, he demonstrates the flexibility and imagination of the overstretched Finns
The abrupt end at the Treaty of Moscow leaves so many unanswered questions that could easily be reshaped into a new volume on the Finn-Soviet dispute. What of the Karelians forced to leave their homes in light of the treaty? What of the (also little known) 'Continuation War' of 1941–4? Highly recommended to anyone into military history, or indeed the fascinating history of Finland itself.
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