Customer Reviews

Finland at War 1939 - 45 (Elite)

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Finland at War 1939-45, # 141 in Osprey's Elite series, is an excellent introduction to the role of the Finnish Army in the Second World War. Authors Philip Jowett and Brent Snodgrass demonstrate a firm grip of this subject and provide a wealth of useful and hard-to-find information on the Finns. This volume belongs on the bookshelves of anyone seriously interested in the Eastern Front.

The opening section spends about 12 pages outlining the chronology of the three wars that Finland fought in the period 1939-45; the 1939-40 Winter War and 1941-44 Continuation War against the Soviet Union and the 1944-45 Lapland War against the Germans. However the chronology section actually has a fair amount of detail and provides a good introduction to the subject. The heart of the volume lies in the 25-page section which discusses the organization of the Finnish army, covering all the major branches as well as paramilitary formations such as the Civil Guard and Foreign Volunteers. A brief section discusses tactics, including the use of "motti" encirclement attacks and snipers. A final section discusses weapons, including small arms, machineguns, anti-tank weapons and artillery (unfortunately, mortars were omitted). Overall, there is a wealth of information in this thin volume and it is one of the better of Osprey's Elite titles.

Eight pages of color plates by artist Raffaele Ruggeri depict the Finnish military and para-military forces from 1939-45. The photographs in the volume are also very good and most have not been printed in English-language books before. Perhaps the only area that gets a bit skimped on is in the areas of training and higher staff functions at corps-level, but this is understandable given the size restraints. Overall, a superb volume.

This book has the best illustrations I've ever seen. It includes black and white photographs, colored illustrations, clearly defined timelines and some very taut, straightforward writing.

I'm not Finnish and my interest in it and its role in World War II was slow developing. I'd read bits and pieces about Finland's stand against impossible odds in military histories.

One thing led to another and I finally ended up buying some books and trying to figure out how this tiny Nordic nation managed to fight off the Red Army and survive the vicissitudes of World War II. Jowett and Snodgrass bring a clear, well-organized summary of this very complicated period of history.

When did the "Winter War" end? What was the "Continuation War" and the "Lapland War?" How did Finland manage to avoid being occupied by the Red Army like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were?

This brief (64 page) book provides very clear answers to these questions. It's easy to read and organized so that it makes a great quick reference.

If you're interested in military history, Finland, World War II, Germany, Russia, 20th century European History, collecting militaria, or if you like a good David and Goliath story, this book's for you. I like it and gave it five stars.

This book is very well written and easy to read. It gives a very good overview of the Finnish military during WWII. If you don't know about heroic little Finland, and their fight for survival against Russia, then you are missing some great inspirational history. I consider this book a must-have for the Finnish military history buff.

Yet another excellent submission from Osprey!

20th century warfare featured a number of of "David vs. Goliath" encounters, ...the Winter War of 1939/1940 was one of the most dramatic of these.

Finland, a nation of about 4 million people, mobilized approximately 100,000 troops to face a massive Soviet invasion force that was at least four to five times larger. After bravely holding their ground in 1939, Finland was forced to yield (somewhat) to the inevitable weight of Soviet numbers. However, in 1941, the Finns quickly found new hope by assisting Germany in their efforts against the U.S.S.R. This book summarizes Finland's combat experience in the Winter War (1939/1940), the Continuation War (1941-44) and the Lappland War (1945).

The Finns fielded an army that was mostly composed of infantry, with not enough artillery. Finnish armor assets were so small, that most Finnish soldiers had never seen a tank before, ...until they saw Soviet armor bearing down on their defenses!
In support of the army, Finland deployed a small but very proficient air-force and navy. The deeds of Finnish aviators is truly worthy of its own book! Finland was not a wealthy nation, but they were a stable country, whose economy was largely based in agriculture, lumber, and mining.

The Soviet Union unleashed its massive armed-forces, lacking very little in terms of arms. They lacked very little in bulk man-power, artillery, and armor. Air support was provided by one of the largest and best equipped air-forces of the time. All of this was supplemented by a rapidly growing Soviet industrial base geared for the mass production of armaments.

Considering the factors involved, one would generally assume that the U.S.S.R. would easily and inevitably gain the victory. This was not to be!

Although the Soviet Union did prevail as a large member of the Allied effort in World War II, their "victories" over the Finns were largely political in nature, rather than tactical or strategic. Finland was not absorbed into the Soviet Union largely due to two factors: a brave and highly skilled military, and a brave and stubborn commander, Karl Gustav Mannerheim!

Despite the vast disparity in troops and war-gear, the Finnish and Soviet forces were quite different.

The Finnish fighting-man was generally a skilled infantryman who was very well-trained. He excelled in marksmanship, field-tactics, and survival in his climates harsh elements. Most Finns grew up in rural areas, learning to hunt, shoot, and ski from an early age. Finland had a Civil Defense organization, the Soujeluskunta, (similar to the Boy Scouts) that provided expert training in military-related skills to its youth. The Finns were also blessed with a vast pool of serious combat-leaders, both commissioned and enlisted. Civilian contributions in support of the armed-forces was of inestimable value, such as the volunteer nurse-corps, the Lotta Svard. This collective attitude toward military readiness MADE A DIFFERENCE in the fate of Finland.

The Soviet fighting-man, had a truly wretched lot. Typical of a communist regime, vast numbers of Soviet soldiers were forcibly consripted enmasse, and deployed to the front-lines with only minimal training. In fact, they were expendable. We will probably never know precisely how many of these unfortunates were slaughtered in mindlessly reckless frontal assaults. The Soviet Union, at least at the time of the 1939 Winter War, had no significant lack of weaponry. By some estimates, the artillery bombardment they inflicted on the Finnish Mannerheim Line was comparable to that of all four years of trench-warfare on the Western Front in World War I! The Soviets seemed to lack nothing in tanks, of all sizes. Some Soviet tanks were large multi-turreted monstrosities that certainly made a psychological impact on the defenders, ...but the Finns learned very quickly how to defeat enemy armor with limited arms. The Soviets were greatly crippled by a profound lack of leadership. Most of the skilled combat-leaders they had, were either in the gulag, ...or in a mass grave. The tyranny of Stalin's regime created an environment in which individual initiative could get one arrested and executed quite expediently, ...even if your actions resulted in success!

If you are reading about the Finnish war experience for the first time, or a "veteran" reader on this topic, this addition to the Osprey series is an excellent overview and summary. Much emphasis is placed on describing the overall campaigns, and the make up of Finland's land-forces, including mention of the several thousand Swedish volunteers who went forth to help their Finnish neighbors, knowing full-well that Sweden would be next on the list for Soviet aggression and domination.

Only one thing is lacking in this book. More mention of Mannerheim would be desired, as it was his leadership efforts, both militarily AND politically, that kept Finland from becoming an S.S.R. at war's end.

A good book explaining the war between Finland and USSR, lists the equipment, vehicles and artillery.

Some good pictures; detailed color plates of various uniforms,a couple of helpful maps, but only a cursory history of the war. "Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-40" by William R. Trotter is a fine and detailed history of that war - "Finland at War" is a somewhat useful companion and does tell a little about the Continuation War.

title is readily available in shops in england at a cheaper price. delivery was a little lengthy. content of book: not the best osprey title but useful considering lack of material on this subject.