…started exactly 70 years ago on 25th June 1941 with air raids by Soviet Union. After that Finland officially joined Germany’s attack that had started a few days earlier. Was Finland just reclaiming the land that was lost during Winter War (1939-40) or was Finland interested in the German promise of getting it back with interest?
In reality Germany had used Finnish soil and resources from the beginning. Was Finland fighting its own war against Soviet Union as is still being said officially? Finland wasn’t officially an Axis power. Was the economical and political situation really so bad that Finland had no choice but to take part in the war?
The real controversy started once Finnish troops crossed the pre-WW II border with Soviet Union. “Now we are on a robbing mission” is said during that moment in Finland’s best-known book and movie The Unknown Soldier. It’s normal to get better cards for the negotiation table, it is also normal to advance to better defense positions but what was the true goal of Finland?
Once Germany’s luck changed, Finland also faced a heavy counter attack but more about that later. It will be very interesting to hear what current and future historians will think about the Continuation War.
Read more from Wikipedia
I have read “The winter war” and found it fascinating.
The English translation is unfortunately horrible.
Additionally dialects of Finnish are an essential part of the style and atmosphere so it’s even more difficult to translate to other languages than many other books.
The book I read was written by an American who lived in Finland and researched the topic very well. I thought the book was well written. I had a lot of admiration for Finns after reading the book.
I haven’t heard of more than one English translation and it unfortunately isn’t even the same book. There are scenes that are not in the original!
I’ve read some random excerpts and wasn’t very convinced.
Thanks for this post. It’s a great introduction to the heavy subject… and a teaser for those who are interested to follow your links.
Have a happy Saturday !
I didn’t think the book I read was a translation. I don’t have it any more and I can’t remember the author. I will find out who it was.
Ppusa, “The Winter War” != “The Unknown Soldier”.
Sorry, I didn’t notice it was “the winter war”
This “The Winter War” by William R. Trotter is a good read
but novel “The Winter War” by Antti Tuuri
is one of the most boring books I’ve ever read in Finnish.