This book explores the unlikely coalition between Germany and Finland in World War II, and their joint military operations from 1941 to 1945. An oft overlooked participant of the war, Finland fought against the Soviets in the infamous and illegal Winter War, alongside Germany in the Continuation War of 1941, and finally against former ally Germany in the conclusive and bloody Lapland War. In his prologue Lunde covers the turbulent history of Finland, from its separation from the Soviet Union in 1917 to its isolation after being bludgeoned in 1939?40. Lunde examines both Finnish and German motives for forming a coalition against the USSR, and how?as logical as a common enemy would seem?the lack of true planning and preparation would doom the alliance. Lunde posits that it was inconceivable that the highly professional German General Staff allowed itself to accept the militarily unsound and shaky coalition that was waged between Finland and Germany. The war aims were not discussed nor harmonised, there were no campaign plans with tasks and missions spelled out past the initial assault, no effective main effort established, inadequate force levels, and an unsound command structure within various headquarters. Practically every rule in the book was broken. In this book, Henrik Lunde, the renowned author of Hitler's Preemptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940 (Casemate) once again fills a profound gap in our understanding of World War II. REVIEWS: An under-examined corner of the Eastern Front: united only by their shared Soviet enemy, this coalition's lack of planning and ill-defined objectives meant the Germans stranded an army and the Finns sued for a separate peace. -World War II Magazine Filling a gap in our understanding of World War II sums it up neatly for me. I'd always thought that Finland, like Switzerland, remained neutral during the conflict, and this present volume therefore comes as something of an eye-opener for me. Lunde's research into the politics and negotiations is second to none, and the result is a very readable account of one of the more surprising coalitions, albeit one that didn't survive, of the war. Fascinating. -WWW.BOOKSMONTHLY.CO.UK A detailed description of the odd coalition between Germany and Finland during WWII, and their joint military operations from 1941-1945 -Military Times SELLING POINTS: New, unparalleled examination of Germany's greatest ally 18 pages of illustrations
