From one war to another
The Second World War broke out in early September 1939 when Germany attacked Poland. Finland was invited on October 5 to Moscow to discuss "important questions of mutual interest".
As the talks were in progress, additional military manoeuvres were being held in Finland. Troops were stationed on the Karelian Isthmus and north of Lake Ladoga, all the way to the Arctic Ocean. The greatest number of men were in Karelia, because that was where the Soviet Union was expected to strike hardest. In late October the Soviets began to move troops towards Finland's eastern border. Negotiations between the countries discontinued on November 13. Two weeks later the 'Mainila shots' were fired, marking the beginning of the Winter War. The Finnish troops on the Isthmus had to retreat immediately to the main defensive position. But the Soviets' strong initial attack gradually lost impetus, and in the second phase Finland caused severe losses to the Red Army.
Peace with the Soviet Union on March 13.
Trench warfare continued on the Isthmus until January 1940. As the war went on, Finland became more and more the underdog. A new attack launched by the Soviets on February 1 exhausted the Finnish troops. Peace negotiations were started in February. In the peace treaty signed on March 13, the Soviet Union annexed 40,000 km2 of land, amounting to about 10% of Finland's national assets.
With the Winter War behind it, Finland now had a unified army, although the lack of resources meant it had not been able to stop the enemy. This formed the starting point for the restructuring of Finnish defence.
The new peacetime organization was introduced in August 1940. The army consisted of five corps, made up of 12 brigades, a jaeger brigade and a cavalry brigade. The troops were stationed on the eastern border from Virolahti to Savukoski.
The Salpa Station was built on the eastern border and the Harparskog Station on the Hanko peninsula. Military supplies and equipment were supplemented as orders placed during the Winter War began to arrive. Finnish industry was busy manufacturing new and reconditioning old weapons.
Finland once again sought help from abroad against its eastern adversary. As it appeared that help would not be forthcoming from Sweden, eyes turned towards Germany. Co-operation with Germany started in early autumn 1940: German troops were allowed transit through Finland and Finland was given permission to buy weapons.
The Germans were planning a part for Finland in Operation Barbarossa. As a result of the negotiations, German troops, warships and aircraft arrived in Finland in early June 1941.
When Operation Barbarossa started on June 22, 1941, German troops attacked the Soviet Union also via Finland. The Red Army responded by bombing Finnish airfields and population centres on June 25. In the evening of the same day Prime Minister Rangell announced in a radio speech that Finland was again at war with the Soviet Union.
|
