"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. 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 upin 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 where involved in the Second World War, Finland was never occupied by foreign forces." Seppo Zetterberg, FINFO: Main Outlines of Finnish History.
To sitemap - Historical Highlights of Finland
Last reviewed: December 8, 1997.
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