The Mannerheim Line 1920–39

The Mannerheim Line 1920–39 PDF Author: Bair Irincheev
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 184908100X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 66

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Book Description
In the wake of the bloody civil war that followed Finland's independence from Russia in 1917, the border between the two countries was established across the Karelian Isthmus, an area long fought over by Russia, Finland and Sweden in their attempts to dominate the northern tip of Europe. Neither the Soviets nor the Finnish were comfortable with such a divide which was only 32km from the military and industrial city of Petrograd. As such, both sides began an intensive period of fortification and defensive planning. As the Winter War broke out in November 1939, the complex and heavily defended Mannerheim Line suffered intense bombardment. The armistice of 1940 saw Finland cede control of the entire Karelian Isthmus to the USSR, and a propaganda war ensued. Through an analysis of the background, and operational history of the Mannerheim Line, Bair Irincheev attempts to dispel such myths and provide an accurate assessment of its huge historical importance.

The Mannerheim Line 1920–39

The Mannerheim Line 1920–39 PDF Author: Bair Irincheev
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 184908100X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 66

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Book Description
In the wake of the bloody civil war that followed Finland's independence from Russia in 1917, the border between the two countries was established across the Karelian Isthmus, an area long fought over by Russia, Finland and Sweden in their attempts to dominate the northern tip of Europe. Neither the Soviets nor the Finnish were comfortable with such a divide which was only 32km from the military and industrial city of Petrograd. As such, both sides began an intensive period of fortification and defensive planning. As the Winter War broke out in November 1939, the complex and heavily defended Mannerheim Line suffered intense bombardment. The armistice of 1940 saw Finland cede control of the entire Karelian Isthmus to the USSR, and a propaganda war ensued. Through an analysis of the background, and operational history of the Mannerheim Line, Bair Irincheev attempts to dispel such myths and provide an accurate assessment of its huge historical importance.

The Finnish-Soviet Winter War 1939–40

The Finnish-Soviet Winter War 1939–40 PDF Author: David Murphy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472843940
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
This informative study explores the Soviet invasion of Finland, detailing the events of the Winter War of November 1939 to March 1940. The invasion was expected to be swift and decisive, however, the fighting qualities of the Finnish Army blunted the Soviet advance and inflicted high numbers of casualties. A combination of difficulties caused by the weather, the terrain, the Mannerheim Line defences and Finnish tactics resulted in a fascinating David vs Goliath type struggle. On 23 August 1939, a secret protocol was appended to the German–Soviet Non-Aggression Pact; as part of this, Finland was assigned to the Soviet sphere of influence. On 30 November that year, in an effort to protect against renewed German aggression in the East, the Soviet Union attacked Finland, beginning what became known as the Finnish-Soviet Winter War. This long-awaited addition to the Campaign series explores the events of the war of November 1939 to March 1940. Set against the background of the developing global conflict, the conflict saw the Finnish Army thwart the plans of the sizeable Soviet forces assembled against it, before finally being forced to concede. The major battles of the war, which took place in harsh winter conditions, are covered in detail, including the Mannerheim Line, the fighting in Ladoga Karelia and Kollaa, and the clashes in Finnish Lapland.

A Frozen Hell

A Frozen Hell PDF Author: William R. Trotter
Publisher: Algonquin Books
ISBN: 1565126920
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 474

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Book Description
In 1939, tiny Finland waged war-the kind of war that spawns legends-against the mighty Soviet Union, and yet their epic struggle has been largely ignored. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses-these are the elements of both the Finnish victory and a gripping tale of war.

Mannerheim

Mannerheim PDF Author: Jonathan Clements
Publisher: Haus Publishing
ISBN: 9781907822575
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Baron Gustaf Mannerheim was one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century, and the only man to be decorated by both sides in the Second World War. As a Finnish officer in Russian service, he witnessed the coronation of the last Tsar, and was both reprimanded for foolhardiness and decorated for bravery in the Russo-Japanese War. He spent two years undercover in Asia as an agent in the 'Great Game', posing as a Swedish anthropologist. He crossed China on horseback, stopping en route to teach the 13th Dalai Lama how to shoot with a pistol, and spying on the Japanese navy on his way home. He escaped the Bolsheviks by the skin of his teeth in 1917, arriving in the newly independent Finland just in time to lead the anti-Russian forces in the local revolt and civil war. During Finland's darkest hour, he lead the defence of his country against the impossible odds of the Winter War. This major new life of Gustaf Mannerheim, the first to be published for over a decade, includes new historical material on Mannerheim's time in China.

Finland at War 1939–45

Finland at War 1939–45 PDF Author: Philip Jowett
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782001255
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
In the face of Soviet invasion in 1939–40, and once again in 1941–44, the armies raised by Finland – a tiny nation of only 4 million people astonished the world by their effective resistance. At the end of both these campaigns – the Winter War, and the Continuation War – the fiercely patriotic defiance of vastly stronger Soviet forces by Marshal Mannerheim's soldiers won their country a unique prize: although forced to accept harsh terms, Finland was never occupied by the Red Army, and retained its independence. This book explains and illustrates, for the first time in English, the organization, uniforms, equipment and tactics of Finland's defenders.

War of the White Death

War of the White Death PDF Author: Bair Irincheev
Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN: 0811710882
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
On 30 November 1939 Stalin's Red Army attacked Finland, expecting to crush the outnumbered, ill-equipped Finnish forces in a matter of days. But, in one of the most astonishing upsets in modern military history, the Finnish defenders broke the Red Army's advance, inflicting devastating casualties and destroying some of the divisions that had been thrown against them. Eventually, in March 1940, the overhauled Red Army prevailed through the deployment of massive force. The Finns were compelled to cede territory and cities to their overbearing neighbour, but the moral victory was theirs. The courage and skill their army displayed in the face of the Soviet onslaught - and the chaotic and reckless performance of their opponents - had an important influence on the massive struggle that was about to break out between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. For this highly illustrated and original portrayal of this famously unequal struggle, Bair Irincheev has brought together a compelling selection of eyewitness accounts, war diaries, battle reports, and other records from the Finnish and Russian archives to reconstruct the frontline fighting, and he analyses the reasons for the Red Army's poor performance. Never before has the harsh reality of the combat in the depths of the northern winter been conveyed in such authentic detail. The arduous daily experience of the troops on both sides, the brutality of combat and the constant struggle against the elements are recalled in the words of the men who were there. AUTHOR: Bair Irincheev is an expert on the troubled twentieth-century history of Finland and Russia and has made a particular study of the Finnish army during the Winter War and the Continuation War that followed. He is based in Helsinki and recently compiled a highly illustrated survey of the Mannerheim Line which was Finland's principal defence against the Soviet Union. Among his previous publications is On the Roads of War: A Soviet Cavalryman on the Eastern Front. SELLING POINTS: * Compelling new account of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union * Based on eyewitness testimony, was diaries, battle reports, and other records from the Finnish and Russian archives * Authentic portrayal of frontline fighting in the harshest of conditions ILLUSTRATIONS: 90 illustrations *

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.

Encyclopedia of World War II

Encyclopedia of World War II PDF Author: Alan Axelrod
Publisher: H W Fowler
ISBN: 0816060223
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 911

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Book Description
A reference to the ideological, military, political, biographical, and social topics surrounding World War II, which is often considered the pivotal event of the twentieth century.

Swedish Volunteers in the Russo-Finnish Winter War, 1939-1940

Swedish Volunteers in the Russo-Finnish Winter War, 1939-1940 PDF Author: Martina Sprague
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786457538
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
Sandwiched between Nazi Germany and the "Russian Bear," Sweden walked a diplomatic tightrope on if and how it should support Finland during the Russo-Finnish Winter War. Social and political forces motivated the Swedish leadership to promote neutrality and avoid official military engagement, while at the same time the Swedish Volunteer Corps comprised the largest volunteer combat force (more than 8,200 strong) in any modern war. This book discusses the political background of the 1939-1940 Winter War; setbacks the volunteers suffered due to weather and terrain; and the ever-present fear that war would come to the Scandinavian Peninsula.

LIFE

LIFE PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
LIFE Magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th Century. It now lives on at LIFE.com, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Users can browse, search and view photos of today’s people and events. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use.