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I'd like to know a better answer, and hope this starter will provoke one.
There could be two reasons:
(a) The Soviets were nervous, in the late 1930s, about the proximity of the Finnish border to Leningrad (Petersburg.) Until the pact of mid-1939 was signed with the German government, the Soviet one would need to plan for a possible German attack through Finland, with which the Germans had been on friendly terms for twenty years. Leningrad would in such circumstances be hard to defend.
(b) There is a long-running wish in Russia for a warm-water port. Helsinki would not provide a warmer one than Leningrad, but if (big "if") a successful war against the Finns resulted in Sweden being intimidated by Soviets on its border, the prize of Gothenburg would be within Soviet grasp; and while Gothenburg may not be exactly warm, it does have open access to the Atlantic; the Baltic is a big salt lake with a narrow exit which any enemy in Denmark, Sweden or Norway could readily dominate. This may be why the Swedish government, while stopping short of joining the Winter War on Finland's side, did allow some 8,000 "volunteers" to go to Finland's aid, equipped with a useful part of the Swedish Air Force.
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As with most of the reasons for conflict during WWII, the reason goes back to the end of World War I.
Until 1918-1919, Findland had been a part of Russia but with the chaos of the Communist Revolution, the Finish people revolted and won their independence. Lenin and the Bolsheviks had enough trouble fighting the civil war to worry about breakaway republics like Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, etc and Finland.
The Soviets signed a secret pact, dividing up Poland with the Germans and this pact also allowed for the Soviets reclaiming the breakaway republics. The Soviet Union asked for land concessions from Findland for "defense of the Motherland." The Fins refused and the Soviets invaded.
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War between Finland and the Soviet Union was called the?
The Winter War .
Is Finland axis or allies or neutral of world war 2?
Finland fought on the side of the axis powers(allied with Germany) against the Soviet Union.They did this to regain the territory that they lost to the Soviets during there invasion of Finland in 1939.Finland supplied a all volinteer division to the German SS during the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941,and also invaded the Soviet union itself to reestablish its original borders with Russia that were established after World war I.The Finnish goverment fought 3 different wars with the Soviet Union between 1939-1944.
Who were Finland's allies during World War 2?
Finland fought the Soviet Union in the 'Winter War', which started in 1939 and ended when the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed in 1940. Finland ceded Karelia to the Soviets. In World War Two, Finland fought against Russia but was an unofficial member of the Axis Powers. The Soviets conquered Finland on their way to Germany.
Did Australia fight against the Finland in World War 2?
Yes and no. As part of the British Commonwealth, Australia fought against Germany and Italy. Germany and Finland essentially aligned themselves to oppose a common foe-the Soviet Union. During the early stages of WWII, Britain actually gave aid to Finland in defense of attacks by the Soviet Union on Finnish territories. When Finland aligned with Germany, Britain declared war on Finland. Thus, the two become enemies by default. However, they never actually had combat with each other.
What was the last year Finland was involved in armed conflict?
the last war against Soviet Union ended in 1945, after that Finland has not been in armed conflict in its own territory
What countries border the Soviet Union to the west?
The Soviet Union no longer exists. When it did, the countries on its western border were Norway, Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania.
Was Finland ever a part of the Soviet Union?
Finland was never part of Soviet Union but it gained it's Independency from Russia.
What oceans border the Soviet Union?
No oceans border the Soviet Union, as it no longer exists. When the Soviet Union did exist, the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean both bordered it.
Does the Soviet Union border Iran?
When the Soviet Union did exist (1919-1989), it did border Iran. However, the Soviet Union no longer exists. The current countries of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were all part of the Soviet Union when it did exist, do border Iran today. Russia does not.
In 1940 the Soviet Union received border territory after a four-month war with?
The USSR fought a border war with tiny Finland. This war fell under the radar in the Western world. As a concession to end hostilities Finland ceded territory to the USSR.
Why was there war between Soviet Union and Finland?
The Soviet Union wanted to secure bases in Finland so they would be able to defend their own country in case of a Nazi invasion. Also, Finland was a known supporter of the Axis powers.
Who did the US defeated in hockey 1980?
I believe that what you are asking about is the ice hockey final in the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY in 1980, when USA defeated the overwhelming favorite Soviet Union in what has become known as "the Miracle on Ice"
Did Finland chossse to join the world war 2?
Not at first, because the Soviet Union attacked Finland. That Winter War 1939-1940 was over, however Finland did decide to join Hitler in his attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941.
Was the phony war between Finland and the Soviet Union?
winter war
Why did Finland join the world war 2?
To fight the Soviet Union.
War between Finland and the Soviet Union was called the?
The Winter War .
Would you have helped Finland during its attack in 1939?
Answer: Yes. Answer: Finland was not attacking anybody. Soviet Union attacked Finland in 1939.
