Finland's war of choice,

[sail32]

“ FINLAND'S WAR OF CHOICE, The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II ", Book by Henrik O. Lunde.

A detailed look at politics of the Winter War and the Continuation War.

“ Finland at War 1939 – 1945 “, Book by P.Jowett, B.Snodgrass and illustrated by R. Rugger

A abbreviated look at the Winter War and the Continuation War.

Some things I found interesting;
Britain and France declared war on Germany but not Russia over the Polish invasion.
When the continuation war started, Britain and the US carried on with diplomatic relations with Finland.
Finland broke with Britain when the British bombed Petsamo in 1941.
Operation EF (1941) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_EF_(1941)
Finland and Germany never close the Murmansk, Archangel line, down which 25% of lend lease flowed. Alaska and Persia being two other routes.
Finland and the US kept up relations through out WW2.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Finland and the US kept up relations through out WW2.

Interesting. The whole business of Finland and the belligerents wasn't simple, the Germans were just a necessary evil to them to survive Soviet aims.

Grizz

 

[homeboy1]

War makes strange bedfellows. A little country caught between giants. Worked out for them as they avoided invasion and survive to this day as a sovereign nation.

 

[mbogo3]

The Finns had a blue Swastika .

 

[Robert Nicholson]

War makes strange bedfellows. A little country caught between giants. Worked out for them as they avoided invasion and survive to this day as a sovereign nation.

Caught between an rock and a hard place! They did very well to have the outcome they achieved.

 

[Victor Simon]

The Finns had a blue Swastika .

I'd pick a blue swastika over the red hammer and sickle in a heart beat.

 

[rifleman762]

I'd pick a blue swastika over the red hammer and sickle in a heart beat.

Finland had a blue swastika in the air force since 1918 before the Nazis existed.

 

[swcw]

The Finnish situation of the Second World War was extraordinary. Horribly complex political situations, both in regards to the Allies, and to the Axis. The Finnish government was interesting, in that Risto Ryti was a hardcore Anglophile and really wanted to strengthen relations with Britain. The Winter and Continuations Wars are probably my favourite historical conflicts.

 

[Horilka]

All had swastikas, even Russian Commies had swastika.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Swastikas had various meanings and were used by various peoples but have now become identified with only one meaning.

 

[Juster]

They kept the Soviets busy, so good on them.

 

[donor]

Finns knew very well what Stalin is planning.

They had very good example in Estonia,Latvia and Lithuania.Finnish intelligence services were cooperating with their counterparts in that region as well as with Polish officers before and after Sept 1939.

They did what the possibly could under circumstances and they did it very well.They still do exceptional job.


What I found interesting in that book were details of dealings of Mannerheim and his officers with German OKH and Hitler-he took what he could but gave as little back as possible.

Background and events of Lapland War are very interesting.While winter and continuation wars get all publicity this one is often forgotten.

 

[53Izzy744]

Swastikas had various meanings and were used by various peoples but have now become identified with only one meaning.

Hey now, don't let something silly like facts get in the way of a good story!

 

[mbogo3]

Swastikas are on the Palace gates of Nepal.

 

[SteelCap]

Finland and the US kept up relations through out WW2.

Interesting. The whole business of Finland and the belligerents wasn't simple, the Germans were just a necessary evil to them to survive Soviet aims.

Grizz

The enemy of my enemy is my friend so the saying goes...

 

[grelmar]

Read up on Lauri Torni (aka Larry Thorne).

Started off fighting in the Finn army (because, FU Commie scum)

When Finland eventually capitulated, joined the Waffen SS (because, FU Commie scum)

After the war, was arrested and imprisoned, in Finland, for violating the Finnish peace treaty with the Soviets and fighting with a foreign army.

Eventually released, he left Finland in disgust, was a merchant sailor for a while, before jumping ship and swimming ashore in the US. After floating around for a few years, doing odd jobs, joined the US Army as Larry Thorne. Quickly rose through the system, because even though he hid his past, he very clearly had some serious skills.

Ended up with US special forces in SE Asia, (because FU commie scum), field commanding clandestine MACV-SOG ops, because, really, FU Commie Scum. Died in a helicopter wreck in 1965 in Quang Nom Province. His remains were discovered in 1999.

Medals he racked up in his one man, 25 year "FU Commie Scum" crusade:

Finnish decorations

2nd class medal of Freedom, 26 July 1940
1st class medal of Freedom, 24 August 1940
3rd class Cross of Liberty, 9 October 1941
4th class Cross of Liberty, 23 May 1942
Mannerheim Cross, 9 July 1944
1st Div. Memorial Cross
Border Jaeger Troops Cross
Defense Forces Bronze Medal

German decoration

Iron Cross, 2 class, 11 December 1943

United States Army

Badges

Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge

Decorations and medals

Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal with "V" device
Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with star
Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

 

[TANK1867]

Thank-you for that^^^^^^^

 

[uglydukwling]

Swastikas had various meanings and were used by various peoples but have now become identified with only one meaning.

The swastika pre-dates Nazism by several thousand years. It has been a symbol of more ethnic groups than you can catalogue.

For Canadian content, we have the Cree. There's even a town in Ontario called Swastika (the home of Ontario Gun and Tackle). It always amuses me when racist idiots paint swastikas on Native-owned buildings. If the Nazis are really that stupid, there's hope for civilization, after all.

 

[35Wailin]

The Finns had a blue Swastika .

The Finns had been using the swastika before the Nazis adopted it.

It was actually a symbol of luck, I believe, before the Nazis used it to represent evil.