The Winter War was a 105 day conflict fought in some of the most inhospitable conditions known to man. Today it has captured the imaginations of thousands of people, ranging as an example of what men can do when they are free and have love for their nation, to being an outright meme.
This modern David and Goliath struggle will see its 80th anniversary in 2019.
The war devastated the nation, but despite succumbing to the overwhelming material might of the Soviet Union, it held its head high and retained its sovereignty through sacrifice, loyalty and sisu.
Today there is still many untold stories about the conflict. Besides the basic premise and the famous battles at Raate Road and the Mannerheim Line, little is known outside the borders of Finland.
This project is my contribution to bringing the stories of the Winter War to a wider audience. It is also my way of honouring those veterans who gave up their freedoms, so that we can enjoy ours today. It is divided into two main parts, Articles and Pro Patria. Articles will look at battle, tell stories and give deeper information to this war. Pro Patria, meaning ‘for the homeland/fatherland’ or more commonly ‘On behalf of the Fatherland’, will highlight individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep Finland free.
Posts will appear on various social media platforms using the hastags, #winterwar80 and #talvisota80
Articles
- The Road to War – The Shelling of Mainila
- The Road to War – The Pummanki Incident
- Heroes of Finland – Kalle Matias Rajala – The First Hero
- Heroes of Finland – Jorma Kaijus Gallen-Kallela – The Patriotic Artist
- The Soviet’s Plan for the Winter War
- The Bombings of Helsinki
- Finland’s Plans for the Winter War
- International Response to the War
- Weapons of War – Molotov Cocktail
- Order of Battle – Finnish Infantry Regiment
- The First Dogfight
- The Sausage War – An Army Marches on its Stomach
- The Battle of Tolvajärvi – The First Victory
- Onward, Muslim Soldiers – Finland’s Tatars during the Winter War
- Heroes of Finland – Jorma Sarvanto – World Record Fighter Ace
- The Aura II Disaster
- Decorations of Finland – Winter War Medal
- Decorations of Finland – Winter War Campaign Crosses
- Heroes of Finland – Diego Manzocchi – A strange and tragic tale
Pro Patria
- Kalle Matias Rajala
- Jorma Kaijus Gallen-Kallela
- Lauri Johannes Ojanperä
- Martti Vihtori Elo
- Lauri Matias Tilus
- Aarne Jalmari Manninen
- Martti Ilmari Ala-Turkia
- Kalle Juntunen
- Veikko Olavi Pulkkinen
- Gustaf Sigurd Hedberg
- Uuno Valter Holopainen
- Väinö Olavi Majanen
- Eino Makkonen
- Oskar Ahtiainen
- Mauno Artturi Kiviristo
- Bruno Johannes Heliste
- Julia Shemeikka
- Feyez Kayenuk
- Osmo Ala-Juoni
- Erkki Vilhelmi Pyöriä
- Mikko Majuri
- Ahti Aabraham Forsell
- Bruno Valdemar Gustafsson
- August Hatakka
- Väinö Ilmari Huttunen
- Viljo Hujanen
- Erkki Valtonen
- Aimo August Linkosalmi
- Lasse Veikko Harjumäki
- Mikko Kuitunen