It would feel a bit strange to say Finland was Nazi during Winter War because during Continuation War Finland was Axis aligned when the USSR attack in Winter War is the biggest reason Finland sought closer ties with Germany.
The Soviet Union feared that the noted anti-communists in control of Finland would allow it to be used as an operating base for the Nazis.
The USSR attempted diplomatic resolution to those fears with Finland.
They were denied.
The USSR invades Finland to secure safety from that fear.
They win.
The noted anti-communists in control of Finland then allow it to be used by the Nazis as a base for the Nazis, and support them in attacking the USSR.
You’re saying the Continuation War happened solely because of the Winter War, and that the noted anti-communists were in no-way ideologically aligned with the Nazis before the USSR’s attack?
The USSR wanted Finland to give it areas including the main Finnish defensive line. Knowing what happened with Czechoslovakia and “just a few areas” and knowing what happened to Baltics, it’s easy to see what road that would’ve taken Finland down on.
You’re saying the Continuation War happened solely because of the Winter War
No, I’m saying Finland sought help from the Nazis because during Winter War Finland was left completely alone, the preferred alliance direction of Nordics or UK/France/US panning out to not have done much at all. And both sides, USSR and Finland knew it was just a temporarily truce and another war was coming. Obviously Finland didn’t want to be alone, again.
the noted anti-communists were in no-way ideologically aligned with the Nazis before the USSR’s attack
Mostly the Finnish leadership were noted anglophiles.
Area cutting through the Finnish main defensive line and an important peninsula and harbor close to Helsinki vs. areas in the middle of nowhere in Karelia. It wasn’t a one-sided suggestion, in fact by area I think the offer was bigger, but it’s easy to see why it wasn’t accepted when you consider what would be given and where.
Sure. But both sides saw another war coming and with how close Finland was to being fully occupied, the worry was that this time Soviet Union wouldn’t stop until they had achieved that. Understandable worry in my opinion, even though fighting alongside Nazis is a black mark on Finnish history.
For sure. But both sides saw another war coming and with how close Finland was to being fully occupied, the worry was that this time Soviet Union wouldn’t stop until they had achieved that. Understandable worry in my opinion, even though fighting alongside Nazis is a black mark on Finnish history.
No I really meant that both sides knew that this wasn’t over. Both considered it unfinished (heh) business.
The same USSR that recognized Finnish independence in 1918?
The very same (or well, it had changed a bunch but still). Though the Soviet attempt to conquer Finland during Winter War, that had just happened, might’ve been a bit more prominent in peoples’ minds than 1918.
Wasn’t Finland aligned with the Axis directly after the Winter War? Doesn’t seem like a huge stretch.
It would feel a bit strange to say Finland was Nazi during Winter War because during Continuation War Finland was Axis aligned when the USSR attack in Winter War is the biggest reason Finland sought closer ties with Germany.
So:
The Soviet Union feared that the noted anti-communists in control of Finland would allow it to be used as an operating base for the Nazis.
The USSR attempted diplomatic resolution to those fears with Finland.
They were denied.
The USSR invades Finland to secure safety from that fear.
They win.
The noted anti-communists in control of Finland then allow it to be used by the Nazis as a base for the Nazis, and support them in attacking the USSR.
You’re saying the Continuation War happened solely because of the Winter War, and that the noted anti-communists were in no-way ideologically aligned with the Nazis before the USSR’s attack?
The USSR wanted Finland to give it areas including the main Finnish defensive line. Knowing what happened with Czechoslovakia and “just a few areas” and knowing what happened to Baltics, it’s easy to see what road that would’ve taken Finland down on.
No, I’m saying Finland sought help from the Nazis because during Winter War Finland was left completely alone, the preferred alliance direction of Nordics or UK/France/US panning out to not have done much at all. And both sides, USSR and Finland knew it was just a temporarily truce and another war was coming. Obviously Finland didn’t want to be alone, again.
Mostly the Finnish leadership were noted anglophiles.
And offered more area in Karelia in return, it wasn’t some kind of a one-sided deal
Area cutting through the Finnish main defensive line and an important peninsula and harbor close to Helsinki vs. areas in the middle of nowhere in Karelia. It wasn’t a one-sided suggestion, in fact by area I think the offer was bigger, but it’s easy to see why it wasn’t accepted when you consider what would be given and where.
They could’ve fucking taken the loss of their territory, instead of fighting alongside the fucking Nazis.
Sure. But both sides saw another war coming and with how close Finland was to being fully occupied, the worry was that this time Soviet Union wouldn’t stop until they had achieved that. Understandable worry in my opinion, even though fighting alongside Nazis is a black mark on Finnish history.
For sure. But both sides saw another war coming and with how close Finland was to being fully occupied, the worry was that this time Soviet Union wouldn’t stop until they had achieved that. Understandable worry in my opinion, even though fighting alongside Nazis is a black mark on Finnish history.
Not if they accepted the loss.
The same USSR that recognized Finnish independence in 1918?
No I really meant that both sides knew that this wasn’t over. Both considered it unfinished (heh) business.
The very same (or well, it had changed a bunch but still). Though the Soviet attempt to conquer Finland during Winter War, that had just happened, might’ve been a bit more prominent in peoples’ minds than 1918.
Alright, man. I’m getting frustrated here, but that’s just because I’m not as knowledgeable on the topic as I should be.
It feels to me like you’ve presented joining with the Nazis as an unavoidable move for the Finns.
I feel like it’s clear that it could’ve been avoided, but I’m just not knowledgeable enough to drag that argument down by the hamstring.
I’ve got some reading to do, thanks for the replies.