One of the most curious aspects for me about the winter war is that the Finnish Civil War - which happened just 21 years previously - does not seem to have split the population at all. The civil war was not as shown here an attempt by communists to overthrow the democratic government of Finland as no elections had taken place (other than for the Russian duma). Furthermore most deaths in the war were due to murder rather than battlefield. Despite this there appears to be little bitterness.
The national unity of Finland after the civil war was indeed low, but everybody in the country united without question and put aside their differences to fight under the same banner when Soviet Union invaded, even those who bitterly fought each other two decades earlier. The Soviet Union did not expect this, and it was one of the reasons why they initially thought they could crush the Finns with little effort.
@onedOLlarDuDE From what I can see, there was a great deal of national unity in 1939 which I find surprising in view of the short time span from the Civil War! I would be curious to know more of this.
In English this event is called "Spirit of the Winter War". I don't how to explain it but I think there's an article of it on wikipedia, you can read that if you like.
A curious and very valid point given towards the end - had the winter war not happened then the Soviets may not have learnt some of the lessons and perhaps Barbarossa would have been successful. Something to think about.
excellent doccumentary. i remember reading that when asked the soviets said they feared the finns far more than they did the germans . it really shows what a nation of patriotic free men can do.
As soon as I turn 18 and have got a ticket back to Finland, I'm going to the army. I want to fight for my land ! And a rather funny coincidence happened during one of the six parts. My name is Lotta and if I was born a few decades earlier, I might've been one of those Lotta's :),
Dr. Reis, Is Correct to say that Finland won. His comments about Estonia are also 100% Correct. I served in today's Estonian Army, there was a Great deal of Recognition of these facts, we were told that a study has been done and the results were shocking. The numbers estimated that had Finland surrendered like the Baltic States did, One Million Finns would have been sent to Soviet Concentration Camps Gulags to be killed. Estonia claims it learned it's lesson, I sure hope so.
@Gaehhn Yes ofc, I have no grudge agenst them ether. All I said was that i think their performance during the war is fascinating. They had all odds agenst them, they used knifes agenst guns for god sake!
@Gaehhn Simo Häyhä killed 542 soviets with his mosin nagant rifle, and roughly 200 soviets with machine gun, total more than 700 :) That's what I call killing machine. Got shot to jaw with explosive bullet and survived!
thank for uploading all the 6parts. Words have no worth to comment this event here and now. I can only preserve silence respectively for all human life`s lost in this massacre.
@Vandwo Excuse me for the late comment, but the Soviets were NOT human. They started the war. They're the ones responsible for all the misery caused by the the winter war.
I am glad every time i see someone bringing up this conflict.
Why? Because it reminds us about peace.
MrKiraff 2 days ago
Great to be able to see this.
lunhil12 3 days ago
Thank you for the upload, I did not know much about the Winter War, this has really expanded what I know, much respect to all those who fought.
reuvbre 1 week ago
Why Russians dont return what they stole from Finns???
tomitours 3 months ago
If people have the will to fight they will fight to death even with stick and stones
AirsoftJaeger 4 months ago
5/5
DeidaraGR 5 months ago
on otettava taas huomioon ettei tässä paljoo venäläisnäkökulmaa ole
pyllywaltteri 7 months ago
One of the most curious aspects for me about the winter war is that the Finnish Civil War - which happened just 21 years previously - does not seem to have split the population at all. The civil war was not as shown here an attempt by communists to overthrow the democratic government of Finland as no elections had taken place (other than for the Russian duma). Furthermore most deaths in the war were due to murder rather than battlefield. Despite this there appears to be little bitterness.
alanheath 9 months ago 3
@alanheath
The national unity of Finland after the civil war was indeed low, but everybody in the country united without question and put aside their differences to fight under the same banner when Soviet Union invaded, even those who bitterly fought each other two decades earlier. The Soviet Union did not expect this, and it was one of the reasons why they initially thought they could crush the Finns with little effort.
onedOLlarDuDE 6 months ago
@onedOLlarDuDE From what I can see, there was a great deal of national unity in 1939 which I find surprising in view of the short time span from the Civil War! I would be curious to know more of this.
alanheath 6 months ago 2
@alanheath
In English this event is called "Spirit of the Winter War". I don't how to explain it but I think there's an article of it on wikipedia, you can read that if you like.
onedOLlarDuDE 6 months ago
A curious and very valid point given towards the end - had the winter war not happened then the Soviets may not have learnt some of the lessons and perhaps Barbarossa would have been successful. Something to think about.
alanheath 9 months ago 13
@alanheath Not to mention, if Finland had decided to help Germany in the end, it could've gone differently.
Kazumaster 5 months ago
@alanheath they really didnt the soviets did the same thing at the battle of berlin and got slaughtered
jdoyle247 4 months ago
@jdoyle247 I don't think so.
alanheath 4 months ago
Very interesting documentary - haven't seen it before. Thanks for posting!
RandallJonesey 10 months ago
excellent doccumentary. i remember reading that when asked the soviets said they feared the finns far more than they did the germans . it really shows what a nation of patriotic free men can do.
nomadnametab 11 months ago
As soon as I turn 18 and have got a ticket back to Finland, I'm going to the army. I want to fight for my land ! And a rather funny coincidence happened during one of the six parts. My name is Lotta and if I was born a few decades earlier, I might've been one of those Lotta's :),
miekka968 11 months ago
Im enlisting in the Finnish army next january. Its gonna be an honor.
makk333 11 months ago
@makk333 stll think so?
pyllywaltteri 7 months ago
@pyllywaltteri of course. what should have changed my mind?
makk333 7 months ago
Dr. Reis, Is Correct to say that Finland won. His comments about Estonia are also 100% Correct. I served in today's Estonian Army, there was a Great deal of Recognition of these facts, we were told that a study has been done and the results were shocking. The numbers estimated that had Finland surrendered like the Baltic States did, One Million Finns would have been sent to Soviet Concentration Camps Gulags to be killed. Estonia claims it learned it's lesson, I sure hope so.
MrKaido93 1 year ago
@MrKaido93 And big respect and thank you goes to the thousands of Estonian volunteers too, the Soomepoisid.
SidHenderson 1 year ago
Comment removed
MrKaido93 1 year ago
thank you very much for posting this, it is not nearly well enough remembered
Poisonchicken 1 year ago
Comment removed
fantadigkvinna 1 year ago
@fantadigkvinna
yeah, but one specific Finn killed over 500 russians in this war, his name was Simo Häyhä (he also survived a headshot and died in 2002)
may he, all fallen Finns and, because I don't have a grudge against Russians and they are also human, all fallen Russians rest in peace
Gaehhn 1 year ago
@Gaehhn Yes ofc, I have no grudge agenst them ether. All I said was that i think their performance during the war is fascinating. They had all odds agenst them, they used knifes agenst guns for god sake!
fantadigkvinna 1 year ago
@Gaehhn Simo is the sniper in the world with most confirmed kills. n2 is a canadian in WW 1 and nr. 3 is a german on the eastern front
mikal14 1 year ago
@Gaehhn Simo Häyhä killed 542 soviets with his mosin nagant rifle, and roughly 200 soviets with machine gun, total more than 700 :) That's what I call killing machine. Got shot to jaw with explosive bullet and survived!
PaganFIN 4 months ago
@PaganFIN not mosin nagant, but M/28 it was made from parts of mosin nagant..
Drumsetti 3 months ago
thank for uploading all the 6parts. Words have no worth to comment this event here and now. I can only preserve silence respectively for all human life`s lost in this massacre.
Vandwo 1 year ago 10
@Vandwo Ty Brother!
ginhobergler 1 year ago
@Vandwo Excuse me for the late comment, but the Soviets were NOT human. They started the war. They're the ones responsible for all the misery caused by the the winter war.
Inkvisitio 4 months ago
@Inkvisitio as i recall soviet union was governed by a dictator, i don't think the regular russian had much choices about that war...
Darusdei 4 months ago
great
mbtemlett 1 year ago
5*****
petrwarry72 2 years ago
tanks mate.
ginhobergler 2 years ago