A fully illustrated account of the Soviet invasion of Finland in the winter of 1939. When the Soviet Union invaded Finland in late 1939, what transpired was a true "David and Goliath" conflict. When Finland refused a number of Soviet demands, including the ceding of substantial border territories ostensibly to enable the Soviets to protect Leningrad, the Soviets responded by launching an invasion. The invasion involved a large Soviet army, with several thousand tanks, and a large air force. But to the world's surprise the Finnish Army-many of them reservists without proper uniforms and limited ammunition-and Air Force battled overwhelming odds, and managed to resist Russian attacks for over two months, inflicting serious losses. Geography played its part as much of the Finnish-Soviet border was impassable, meaning that Soviet numerical superiority was of less import. Operating in the winter, with temperatures ranging as low as -43F, the Finns' determined resistance won them international reputation. Although hostilities finally ended in a peace treaty that saw Finland cede 9% of its territory, Soviet losses had been heavy, and Finland retained its sovereignty. This fully illustrated text will cover the forces involved and all stages of the Winter War. AUTHOR: Interested in military history from an early age, Philip Jowett has published many books over the last twenty-five years, specialising in the armies of Asia in the first half of the twentieth century, the Russo-Japanese War, and the armies of the Second World War. A rugby league enthusiast and amateur genealogist, he is married and lives in Lincolnshire.
