Winter War

The Winter War was a military conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union. It lasted from November 1939 to March 1940. The war began when Soviet forces crossed the Finnish border. At that time, Europe was already unstable because World War II had started earlier in the same year.

Finland was a small country with a limited army. The Soviet Union was much larger and had more soldiers and equipment. The Soviet government was led by Joseph Stalin. The Soviet Union wanted to move its border farther away from the city of Leningrad, now called Saint Petersburg. Soviet leaders said this was for security reasons.

Fighting took place during a very cold winter. Temperatures were often far below freezing. Snow covered forests and lakes. Finnish soldiers were trained to move in winter conditions. They used skis and white clothing to blend into the snow. These methods helped them slow down Soviet advances.

The Finnish army used simple weapons and strong knowledge of the land. They defended a line of fortifications called the Mannerheim Line. A fortification is a defensive structure built to protect soldiers. The Soviet army suffered heavy losses during early attacks. However, the Soviet Union continued to send more troops and supplies.

After several months of fighting, the Soviet army broke through Finnish defenses. Both sides were tired and low on supplies. Peace talks began in early 1940. In March 1940, Finland and the Soviet Union signed the Moscow Peace Treaty. A treaty is a formal agreement between countries.

The war ended with Finland keeping its independence. However, Finland had to give up some land to the Soviet Union. The Winter War showed that a smaller country could resist a larger power for a time. The conflict also influenced later events during World War II in Northern Europe.