Swords of the Wolves wrote:
Well, most every country has an independence day, except for a few. I actually thought Finland was occupied by Sweeden, not Russia, but well, we all learn something new every day, don't we?
Finland is orginally been born in Sweden...and well Sweden...lost Finland for Russia somewhere in Nikolai 1'st or 2'st time...in Sweden was Kaarle Gustav 4 if I remember right...
Finland soon got Autonimical system on their goverment and soon got rid of Russia, but however in 1918 Finland faced bloody Civil War against so called 'Red Finland' and White Finland. White was for freedom and red was for communism...German Army sent a group to help Finland, German army invaded into Helsinki and red army finally surrendered... Finland was independenced ^^
Then again...Third Reich rose into power and happened that 'Europa sharing' between Hitler and Stalin...Stalin's forces thought that Finland was a weak opponent...unlike Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania(sp?) Finland didn't lay down their weapons Winter War was enar...Russia though that Finland was very weak well Finland WAS weak...lack of weaponry, ammo, Airsupport, artillery, AT and no Motorizied units...and omg...Soviet Threw like over 1 milion infantry in...Finland had about...less than 600 000 soldiers on lines...I saw a news article from a newspaper (in a war museum) there read "Ryssiä kaatu jo patalioonittain" (Soviet soldiers dies already like patalions...something like that xD)
Well Soviet union wasn't prepared for Finland landscape, tanks could only drive on roads and no where else...also infantry had some problems in deep snow...Finland army destroyed whole Russia Division on a one road..."Raateen Tie"
After about 100 days war was over. Peace started well for a while...
Finland bought weaponry and other stuff from Sweden and from German. during the time Finland was again underattack by Russia, this time German was on Finland's side giving weaponry, tanks and airsupport and artillery, well at least some German had Lapland to cover and Finland from Laatokka Lake. Finland and German army surrounded St Petersburg aka Leningrad if I remember right while German went deeper...
On the Time of 1944 Soviet union attacked into Finland attempting to make a Final Crush and capture Finland, how ever Finland withdraw and withdraw suffering loses...on Tali-Ihantala...It was the victory that stopped Russia and Russia finally made peace...the option was to Chase German out from the Lapland over 300 000 German Soldiers got stuck in Lapland. Finland first tried to 'play chase' German off but Russia found out that there was no war...so they pushed Finland forwards. War started and the bloodiest battle was on Tornio (A city near Sweden and Finland's border) well nowadays still can find some Old War material, Rifles graveyards and so on...even Waffen-SS Grave yards are on Lapland and some iron pieces from tanks and etc...heh...
ps. I won't say that this information is like...*very true and that exactly happened* it is just close it...
