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The Finnish
Civil War was fought from January to May 1918, between the
"Reds" (punaiset), Communists together with Social Democrats, and
the "Whites" (valkoiset), forces of the Conservative Senate
intending to maintain status quo (retained independence and constitutional
monarchy without parliamentarism). Finns have many names for this conflict:
vapaussota (War of Liberty), kansalaissota or sisällissota (Civil War),
luokkasota (Class War), punakapina (Red Rebellion), torpparikapina (Torppari
Rebellion), veljessota (the war between brothers). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Civil_War The Winter
War broke out when the Soviet Union attacked Finland on November 30,
1939. Stalin had expected to conquer the whole country by the end of 1939,
but Finnish resistance frustrated the Soviet forces, which outnumbered them
three to one. Finland held out until March 1940, when a peace treaty was
signed ceding about 10% of Finland's territory, and 20% of her industrial
capacity, to the Soviet Union. Finland was also forced to cede the Finnish
part of Karelia, including Finland's second largest city Viipuri, in all
nearly 10% of the territory),. Some 422,000 Karelians, lost their homes.
Military troops and remaining civilians were hastily evacuated to avoid
becoming subjects of the Soviet Union. After four months of fighting, at
least 127,000 Russian soldiers had lost their lives. Finnish losses had been
limited to around 27,000 men. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War |
The Continuation
War (Jatkosota in Finnish) was fought between Finland and the Soviet
Union between 1941 and 1944. The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on
December 6, 1941, but didn't participate actively. Material support from, and
military cooperation with, Nazi Germany was critical for Finland's struggle
with the big neighbour. The war was formally concluded by the Paris peace
treaty of 1947. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War The Lapland
War is a name used for the hostilities between Finland and Germany
between September 1944 and April 1945. Military casualties were relatively limited:
1,000 lost lives for the Finnish troops, and about 2,000 for the Germans http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War
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Finnish Wars Finnish Wars Finnish Wars Finnish Wars Finnish Wars Finnish Wars Finnish Wars |
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Illustrations: Left:
Finnish Konepistooli m31 – Right: Finnish soldier during the continuation
war. Last page: Lahti m35. |
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