Customer Reviews

The Winter War: Russia's Invasion of Finland, 1939-1940

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This books reads like a revised grad school thesis; full of great information but not written in an appealing narrative format. Random information jumps in from all sides, totally unexplained historical figures are referred to then disappear. Each chapter has numerous footnotes which make it exceedingly irritating to constantly refer to, almost all of these could've been written into the text or made into bibliography. The author pre-supposes voluminous knowledge of European history and politics, writing about many unexplained treaties, events, and figures. The book has some great first hand accounts and I give the author great credit for the depth of research on the subject, but the narrative is simply difficult to read and the maps are not very helpful. Far too much of the book focuses on British politics of the time, and far too little is included about Finnish daily life, politics, history, war stories etc. Many sentences are very awkward and make for difficult reading. Overall I've enjoyed the book for its content but it could be so so much better with a careful re-write.

I haven't finished this book. I'm doubt that I will. The writing in this book is atrocious-I counted 76 words in one sentence! Mr. Edwards isn't able to bring sentences to an end, and some of his sentences simply make no sense. Here's a verbatim excert from the first chapter-"However,the legacy of that war,a sulpherous resentment on the part of some elements of the working classes, enthusiastically supported by Soviet agitprop, of what they regarded as bourgeois represssion of a populist movement, had made for a delicate political tightrope upon which Mannerheim, in the judgement of a traumatized civil administration, had then been considered perhaps unsuitable to step after he had served briefly as regent." Good God!That's over 65 words! Why would any publishing house release a book like this? This subject is long overdue for a re-examination,which is why I bought the book. I was wondering what newly released Soviet documents would bring to light. I'm not sure, given Mr. Edward's prose, that I'd know even if I read the entire book.I honestly don't get any pleasure from trashing someone else's hard work, but this is just awful.

The definitive books on the 1939-40 Winter War are Alan Chews's "The White Death" (Published in 1971) and William Trotter's "A Frozen Hell." This book is a later take on the subject and provides at times a different perspective to the above two books, which are both unashamedly (and deservedly so) full of admiration for the Finn's struggle in this very unequal war.

Edwards covers the subject matter familiar to anyone with previous reading on this subject - the diplomatic prelude, the crisis as it unfolded, the initial Soviet assault and it's failure, the battles in the north and in Ladoga-Karelia, the Finnish counter-attacks, the reform of the Red Arny and the subsequent final Soviet assault. Where Edwards provides additional depth to previous books is in his coverage of the reforms conducted within the Red Army (source material on this subject is now more freely available as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the publication of books on this subject) and on the Anglo-French diplomatic maneouvers ostensibly aimed at supporting Finland but in practice aimed at cutting Germany off from the Swedish iron ore supplies, a gambit which would inexorably have drawn Sweden into WW2.

Edwards provides much more insight into these areas than previous writers, as well as providing a final chapter, "'Outcomes", which briefly analyses the results and impacts of the Russo-Finnish War. There's also extensive footnotes and commentary by the author at the end of the book, together with a good bibliography and some good photo's.

Overall, I found the book informative, well-written and easy to follow and read. It certainly complemented a number of other books I've read on the War and added to my knowledge of facets of the conflict, particularly the anglo-french angle and the duplicity of Winston Churchill ("the most dangerous person in the world is an English Gentleman at bay" as someone, it may even have been Churchill, once put it) in seeking to draw Scandanavia into the greater war. Fascinating book amd well worth the read for any serious student of this now little-known prelude to WW2.

The paperback version has a slightly different title.

I cannot agree more with the reviewers who have criticized the writing. Mr. Edwards worked on Wall Street, and frankly the book reads like a Wall Street report calculated to mislead investors. I'm certain that wasn't his objective, but his editor should be ashamed. Not only are there numerous (and almost unreadable) run-on sentences, but his overuse of adjectives ruin the more disciplined sentences. He has not mastered paragraph writing, either.

Assuming that most of the facts are in order, I would recommend to Mr. Edwards a complete rewrite. It is a fascinating subject, and I'm sure he has the knowledge and could produce a fine book. He just needs a new editor and fact-checker.

This account of the Winter War offers a decent, blended story that places the players of WWII's European Theatre into a unique context that is often overlooked once the invasion of France begins in the spring of '40.

The Soviet invasion of Finland was as trumped up as the German invasion of Poland was, while being FAR less successful. Combining insight from Finnish, Soviet, German and Allied positions gives a view of where the players stood with each other. The foundation of the Cold War can be seen being built here.

The military action is more of a high level detail of the attack & ongoing conflict. You are given a feel for the challenges & suffering on both sides while not delving into specific details.

I found this book offers surprising insight into Allied views of the Soviets during the Phony War period. It makes me wonder how truly strained political dealings with this "ally" were.

Yes, I did find the text to be a difficult read at times. All critique of grammar, editing and writing style set aside, this is a nice supplemental history that provides an interesting context for the start of WWII in the ETO.

Robert Edwards does a solid job replaying the Soviet Union's illegal, unprovoked and blundering invasion of Finland in the winter of 1939-40. He provides a great introduction to the brutal, brief and tragic war between a small nation and its colossal, dysfunctional and bellicose neighbor. Edwards covers all the major fronts: diplomatic, political, and military. He covers, if briefly, the actions and decisions of all the principle players in Finland, the Soviet Union, Germany, Sweden, England and France.
His descriptions of the December dismemberment of the initial Soviet attacks by the hugely outnumbered, minimally equipped and heroic Finns is graphic and compelling. Edwards' narrative is complemented by useful maps of the major engagements - though the text occasionally refers to locations that are not marked on the accompanying maps.
Using original documents and contemperaneous first hand accounts from key players, Edwards produces and overhelming case that the invasion of Finland by the Soviets was unprovoked, illegal and largely enabled by the pact between Hitler and Stalin that essentially left the Baltic States and Finland at the mercy of the paranoid and homicidal Stalin and Soviet leadership. Hitler's invasion of Poland set the stage and Stalin quickly seized the opportunity to reassert Russian hegemony over their smaller neighbors. The Finns were the only ones to emerge from this brutal war with honor. Stalin and his cohorts showed their true character as delusional, inhumane and homicidal tyrants. On the heels of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the invasion of a small peaceful neighbor ensured that the Comintern puppets in the West lost influence in left wing parties in England and France. The Swedish and Norwegian Governments deserted their fellow Scandinavians - clinging to their neutrality as a means of saving their own skins. The British and French were in turn inept, unrealistic and manipulative. Roosevelt and in particular Cordell Hull, the Secretary of State, appear brutally and willfully callous and apathetic - the product of propaganda induced disbelief at the baseness of the Soviets.
Edwards lays out the unforeseen benefits of the terrible sacrifices of the Finns in resisting the Soviets. The Soviets miscalculated again in leaving Finland capable of rising again and reclaiming their lost territories this time with the help of Hitler. Hitler and the Germans miscalculated in assuming that the horrendous Soviet ineptitude of the initial invasion reflected the true nature of the Soviet war fighting capabilities and in overlooking the fate of those who would fight winter wars without the proper equipment and logistics. The Finns were the least morally compromised allies of the Nazis: their subsequent joint operations with and facilitation of the Nazi invasion of Russia was legitimate payback for Stalin's unprovoked aggression.
As other reviewers have noted, Edwards does have an idiosyncratic writing style which made the first couple of chapters very hard going. A good editor could have done wonders. However, by the third chapter the story is so engrossing that the convoluted sentences, narrative jumps and obscure vocabulary cease to be distractions.

This book abounds with information on the rarely discussed Winter War. However it's so dryly written and includes so little anecdotal information, that it can at times, itcan be a bit of snooze. Great book if you need the information, not so great if your looking to sit next to the fire and read a book that will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime.

Mr. Edwards has done a great job in describing the Finnish-Soviet "Winter War" at the geo-political, strategic, and operational (lightly) levels. He gives the reader an excellent glimpse of the world's leader's views on, and reaction to, the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland in 1939...while also providing details on how the Finnish and Soviet strategies evolved before and during the struggle. Mr. Edward's "The Winter War" is a must-read for anyone interested in the David vs. Goliath war that Finland fought against the U.S.S.R. in the winter of 1939-40.The Winter War: Russia's Invasion of Finland, 1939-40

This book is a brisk, fast-paced but ultimately satisfying account of the Winter War (1939-1940). I was a bit skeptical about buying this book, but glad that I did. The Winter War is no stranger to the historical treatment, but in the past authors have written primarily from a Cold War-informed perspective. Past writers (not all of them scholars) of the conflict have focused on the brave Finns fighting the communist menace.
This is understandable, but such perspective has tended to color those accounts in such a way that omits a deeper understanding of the conflict in terms of the Molotov-Ribbentropp pact and the environment of the Phony War. Edwards shows a sharp appreciation of the sources and an eye for narrative that brings the story along, from the frozen battlefields around Lake Ladoga to the diplomatic counsels in Moscow and Stockholm.
This book all but replaces previous military histories of this conflict for the general reader. Military buffs would benefit from the holistic treatment given this conflict, to be sure. Those just starting in on the Winter War would also do well to start here and pick up more detailed battle narratives later.

Sh

Should

First of all, I read about 3 military history books a week, every week going back about 12 years. I am very interested in the subject the author discusses.

BUT, I have no idea who his editor was or if his editor was drunk when he read it. It is nearly impossible to read. His sentences go on for nearly a whole paragraph between periods. In long sentences, 10 lines long, he uses numerous commas, semicolons, and dashes that creates fragmented thoughts that are hard to hold together.

Even though English is this authors first language, I look forward to it's translation into a book of readable English. I am sad that I had to put it down after two chapters, because the subject is very interesting. My head just hurt too much to follow his rambling writing.