AH Vignette: Armed forces of Fascist Finland in 1939

[Jukra]

Siikaniemen Lukio, Viipuri, 15 September 2018 (Siikaniemi High School, Viipuri, Finland)

...Now, students, it's exam time! Remember, these themes are ones which are routinely asked about in matriculation examination! Yes, I know weekend is near! Yes, Russian speakers have as difficult questions as you have! You may turn your question papers now!

"Finland, like rest of the new nations which had become independent after the First World War, ended it's democratic experiment fairly quickly.

Essay questions. Choose TWO questions you want to answer.

a) Why was the support for democracy low in Finland?
b) Why did Mäntsälä coup in 1932 succeed?
c) From General to President, from President to Johtaja (Leader), political career of K.M.Wallenius 1918-1939 and the radicalization of Finnish Far Right
d) Analyze the cartoon from "Svenska Dagbladet", dated 25 August 1939 which describes Wallenius with his pants down after hearing from Molotov-Rippentrobb pact? Why is Wallenius described in such state?
e) Development of communist underground movement in Finland 1918-1939
...
Bonus Question: Following is an excerpt from Wallenius's secret speech in Defence Council in 1936:

"The youth of the nation must be hard as Finnish granite, flexible as juniper and and resilient as reindeer's leather. The coming war with Soviet Union will be our Armageddon. We don't have resources for a long war. Any war must be short, decisive and end up in a victory. It will be our Alpha and Omega. In a battle between David and Goliath the will trumps material."

a) How did the speech implement itself in Finnish education and Finnish defence policy in prewar years?
b) The Religious symbolics in Wallenius's speech and during Lapua Regime in general?

....


Wargamer's Gazette 11/1975 "Flames in the North, Campaigns in Scandinavia 1939-1940"

...Finnish Armed Forces got a huge budgetary boost after 1932 when Lapua Movement effectively seized power and yet another boost in 1935 when President (later Johtaja) Wallenius was elected to power. In 1939 Finland, in paper, had a very large military force. Typical of the fascist dictatorships of the era, it had numerous failures both in training and morale. ...Conscript service was for two years, with some 1/2 of each age cohort accepted after political screening.

OOB Finnish Armed Forces (Suomen Asevoimat), 20.10.1939

FINNISH AIR FORCE (Ilmavoimat)

Lentorykmentti 2 (Flight Regiment 2)
-Lentolaivue 24 (36x Fiat G.50)
-Lentolaivue 26 (30x Fiat CR.32)
-Lentolaivue 28 (29x VL Myrsky, license built Fiat CR.42)

Lentorykmentti 4 (Flight Regiment 4)
-Lentolaivue 42 (36x Junkers 52)
-Lentolaivue 44 (30x Junkers 86)
-Lentolaivue 46 (24x VL Viima, license built Savoia-Marchetti SM.79)
-Lentolaivue 48 (30x Savoia-Marchetti SM.79)

Lentorykmentti 1
-Lentolaivue 10 (12x VL Puhuri, a domestic design, monoplane with fixed undercarriage)
-Lentolaivue 11 (30x Heinkel He-50)
-Lentolaivue 12 (24x Caproni A.P-1)
-Lentolaivue 13 (20x Breda Ba.64)
-Lentolaivue 14 (36x Henschel HS.123)

Lentorykmentti 3 (New fighter regiment, no equipment yet)

Mission of the Air Force bombers was to strike at Leningrad's economical and political targets to break Soviet will. Fighters would guarantee air superiority over Field Army, while close air support and reconnaissance would ensure ground force manouver.

FINNISH NAVY (Merivoimat)

-CB Ilmarinen
-CB Väinämöinen
-6x Spica-class torpedo boats built in license (Viha, Voima, Veri, Tahto, Uhri, Pyhyys {Hate, Force, Blood, Will, Sacrifice, Holiness])
-Cruisers "Viena" and "Aunus" on order from Italy
-3x minelaying submarines (Vetehinen, Vesihiisi, Iku-Turso)
-6x torpedo submarines Type-II (Vesikko, Hauki, Ahven, Lohi, Taimen, Säynäjä)
-1x midget submarine Saukko
-12x MTB's type Thornycroft, 12x MTB's type MAS
-Strong coastal artillery

Mission of the Navy would be to attack Red Banner fleet from the outset of the war in order to gain the initiative.

FINNISH ARMY (Maavoimat)

(Rough composition)

18x Infantry divisions (2x infantry regiments, 1x field artillery regiment with 2x light artillery battalions, 1x light battalion. Bicycles for every infantryman.)
1x Armored division (200x L-3 tankette, 3 motorized Jaeger Battalions, 1x light artillery regiment)
1x Cavalry division (6x Cavalry regiment, 1x tankette battalion, 1x light artillery battalion)
9x Infantry Corps HQ's (3x Heavy field artillery battalions (122mm) each)
1x Mobile Corps HQ's (1x Heavy field artillery battalion (122mm)
3x Army HQ's (Army of Isthmus, Army of Viena, Army of Aunus)
1x Army Groups HQ (Karelian Army Group)

Of the infantry divisions, there were four regular divisions composed of conscripts and the Armored and Cavalry division close to their TOE strength.

Finnish Army was a force trained and indoctrinated in destroying the enemy by superior skill, superior mobility, and above all, superior will.

SUOJELUSKUNTA (Former voluntary defence organization developed as political shock troops)

18x assault battalions "Kaarti" (Guards Battalion), named after the regions (Viipurin Kaarti etc.) Each Army Infantry division backed by one
36x home defence battalions in charge of counterrevolutionary activities.
1x Suojeluskaarti Battalion (Protective Guards), personal bodyguard of Johtaja.
18x Replacement Divisions trained out of over-age reservists and all able bodied men, with 9 infantry battalions each. Training of these units began with mobilization.

 

[Jukra]

(from an alternateworlds.com discussion, 20.10.2009)

GreaterFinlandFanBoy:

Today is the 70th Anniversary of the Finno-Soviet War. Finland had massive amounts of equipment in production and on order? WI Wallenius decided to delay his move until Spring 1940 (so called Touko (May) variant of Aalto (Wave) attack plan.) In effect, Touko Aalto instead of Loka (October) Aalto? Could we have a Greater Finland then?

PegasosFIN:

While the numbers are, indeed, impressive we must remember that many deliveries would have been delayed by the War. Czech deliveries were already suspended by occupation of Czechoslovakia and Germany sure would not let anything but insignificant deliveries as it's own forces were in dire need of additional arms. French negotiations were under way but they would have most likely been composed of older arms. Sweden might or might not have delivered Bofors products, it was in midst of it's own re-armament and only had some 200 fighters and twelve infantry divisions equipped. There were also just enough "Lodjur" tanks for three brigades.

Delivering arms to Finland would have been a political impossibility despite back channel negotiations between Finnish and Swedish armies.

As for so-called Japan deal, it was a desperate pipe dream. Domestic production would have resulted in more infantry arms for sure, but Finnish Army's faults were in artillery and training...

Vozhd-II:

Fascist Finland lost fair and square, and if you continue with your NATO-flirtations the end result will be the same as in 1939.

MontanaBeaver:

Stop. This is no forum for current politics. Thread locked.

 

[arctic warrior]

So a Facist Finland with a serious Communist underground movement by Oct. 1939 already rearmed and ready to strike! I would expect the Soviets to be seriously uneasy about this and it seems no Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact..
Would the yearly intake be enough to supply the troops - but then the div.s only have two regiments each. Italian style. And a serious home counter insurgency force too. So the Replacement Div.s would be politically unrealiable..
Finns still able to hold off the Soviet onslaught when it comes post the initial Copenhague'ning of Red Banner Fleet.
Coup and then no Continuation War?

 

[Jukra]

TO&E, Finnish Infantry Regiment 1939

HQ (Commander, Propaganda Officer, Regimental Priest + 12 persons)
HQ Company (169 persons, motorized)
Mortar Company (83 persons, 6x 81mm mortars, motorized)
Service Company (200 persons, motorized)
Transport Company (Motorized)
Horse Detachment (for cross-country movement)

Three Infantry Battalions, each with

Battalion Commander and Staff (including Propaganda Officer and Battalion Priest)
HQ Company (120 persons, motorized)
AT-gun platoon (2x Böhler 47/32 AT-gun, motorized)

Each battalion had four assault companies, every person with a bicycle

HQ Platoon
AT Platoon, with 4x Solothurn AT-rifles

4x Assault platoons, each with
Platoon leader (Pistol)
Assistant platoon leader (Suomi SMG)
2 Messengers (Rifle)

Each Assault platoon with
4x Assault squads, each with

1x Squad leader (Suomi SMG)
3x Submachinegun men (Suomi SMG's)
6x Rifleman
1x Light Machinegunner (Lahti LMG)

EDIT: One can see historical Finnish OOB's here:

https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/MAIN.html

 

[Jukra]

So a Facist Finland with a serious Communist underground movement by Oct. 1939 already rearmed and ready to strike! I would expect the Soviets to be seriously uneasy about this and it seems no Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact..
Would the yearly intake be enough to supply the troops - but then the div.s only have two regiments each. Italian style. And a serious home counter insurgency force too. So the Replacement Div.s would be politically unrealiable..
Finns still able to hold off the Soviet onslaught when it comes post the initial Copenhague'ning of Red Banner Fleet.
Coup and then no Continuation War?

You'll see soon! There is a MR Pact this timeline. I have to change the yearly intake to roughly 1/2 of age class. Notice the level of Swedish rearming in this TL...

 

[Jukra]

Finland's Folly in 1939 - Understanding the incomprehensible (International Journal of Military Studies 11/2001)

The Finnish decision to attack in October 1939 was seen as incomprehensible folly of fascist dictatorship, but considering the fate of Baltic Republics next year perhaps it just hastened the fate of Finland. Why did Finland attack? The study of incomplete archival records of Finnish Army suggests various motivations for the decision...

One of the mysteries has also been the main axis of the Finnish offensive, or North of Lake Ladoga? This had both military as well as ideological considerations. Finnish "Greater Finland" ideology had pressed for acquisition of Karelia since independence, so possession of Eastern Karelia was a goal in itself. The military consideration was, that in Karelian Isthmus Finnish Army would not have material resources to break through defences of Leningrad. North of Lake Ladoga Finnish forces could employ their superior mobility and training in deep woods, being able to destroy Soviet forces piecemeal.

In Karelian Isthmus the Finnish defence had both it's offensive and defensive elements. Army of Isthmus had three corps totalling six divisions. This force would delay and destroy via mobile warfare any incursion headed towards Viipuri. Karelian Isthmus was equpped with strong defensive position, so called Mannerheim line, to be defended by six Replacement divisions which would be trained while Army of Isthmus would destroy any attempt by Soviet standing forces of assaulting Viipuri.

Of the rest of the Replacements Divisions, six would be directed to Karelia in order to defend defensive position in River Svir and six were directed to Northern Finland (above Joensuu line) for an immediate offensive towards the White Sea, the idea of the offensive being to rob Soviet forces of any logistic bases.

The reliance of quickly trained Replacement Divisions in the fairly long trained Finnish Army might be considered strange, but it had it's roots in Finnish mythology from the Finnish Civil War. Then, hastily trained and equipped conscript units led by German trained Jaeger officers had proved decisive against the ill-trained Reds.

 

[Jukra]

100 Greatest Military Failures of All Times (Military history VLog series, posted on Youtube 20.10.2017)

Number 69: Stalin surprised by Finland

So, it's 1939, Molotov-Rippentrob pact was just signed and alongside all other goodies, Baltic Republics and Finland were ceded under Soviet sphere of influence. Now, the Secret Protocol was a public secret and Finnish leadership knew about it. While German diplomats tried to assure Finland that it would be the best for Finland to make concessions instead of confronting Soviet Union, Wallenius was influenced by visions of Armageddon.

So, after Moscow called for negotiations on 10 October 1939 Finnish Army was mobilized. Ten days later, Finland attacked Soviet Union which was surprised with Stalin's pants down. Soviet intelligence had been feeding Stalin information on Finland being in a revolutionary situation, which was kind of true, and with reports of Finnish lack of strength against Soviet Union, which was also true. What they did not expect was that Wallenius was certain that any Soviet demands would be followed by more demands. In hindsight with fate of Baltic Republics, he was probably right. Wallenius hoped that with the quick offensive he would be able to inflict so great casualties that Soviet offensive upon Finland would be delayed, and perhaps joint Anglo-French-German alliance against Bolshevism would be achieved. Meanwhile, at least he would make Finland great again.

Stalin, on the other hand, expected Wallenius to be sensible enough for piecemeal tactics.

So, on early morning of 20 October 1939 when 100 Finnish bomber came on Leningrad and Finnish Navy made the daring assault on Kronstadt Soviet Union was totally and utterly surprised. It also destroyed any potential sympathy for small Finland being the defender, as foreign correspondents were toured in Leningrad some days later. It was Guernica all over again.

The significance of strategic surprise achieved by Finns did not escape Stalin. After suitable number of executions the Soviet intelligence machine was redirected and Soviet military preparedness was greatly improved. Wallenius did achieve strategic surprise, Hitler did not. The lesson of a strategic surprise was learned by Norway too. After Stalin's Red Army on it's Northern Border and Hitler as a potential threat from the South Norway certainly did not have any lack of alertness, as rudely learned by German on 9 April 1940...

My followers, after watching this I think you know what will be the failure number 70... prepare for a rude Norwegian Surprise - or why an invasion of Norway was no KdF cruise!

 

[Jukra]

Naval Attache of Imperial Japan - Report on Finnish attack on Kronstadt - TOP SECRET 30/11/1939

1. The Finnish attack on Soviet Red Banner fleet was daring and well-executed and performed with sufficient mass - in effect the whole Finnish Fleet was involved. CB Väinämöinen and CB Ilmarinen were deployed as distant support, while Finnish MTB's were the vanguard of the attack. Finnish torpedo boats were employed only after MTB's had infiltrated . Finnish minelaying submarines were employed in dual role of offensive minelaying and frogmen support.

2. Soviet casualties were heavy. BB Marat was destroyed, BB Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya damaged, alongside three destroyers sunk.

3. Finnish casualties were 1/3 of attacking motor torpedo boats (7 out of 21), two torpedo boats and all the frogmen deployed.

4. Frogmen ensured sinking of BB Marat.

5. After this operation the only Soviet naval operations have been guarding the Kronstadt base.

Lessons applicable for Imperial Navy:

The most effective way of destroying enemy naval strength is by surprise attack to his base right at the start of the conflict. Finnish naval officers mentioned our operation in 1904. What the Finns lacked was a naval aviation arm. Employment of so called frogmen, trained by Italian concept, was innovative and effective, even when their operations were hindered by cold waters.

 

[Jukra]

Diary of Military attache of United Kingdom - Report on Finnish Army operations North of Lake Ladoga, 1 December 1939

...the recent tour given by Finnish Military in Karelian Front for me and our foreign collegues was extensive. Clearly there are hopes of generating anti-Soviet sympathy by displaying mass graves dug by Soviets and the poor condition of Karelian villages. However, our sources indicate that behind this humanitarian mask Finnish Army has been performing mass executions of Soviet Prisoners of War who are not of Finnish Stock, converting Orthodox churches to Lutheran ones, putting civilians of Russian origin into internment camps and being utterly harsh to any of it's own soldiers who have been trying to desert or do not seem to have sufficient zeal.

As for tactical conduct of Finnish Army, it appears to be perfect for the conditions. Routinely, the Finnish forces approach Soviets using bicycles. When they find them a small portion fixes them (seems 1 company out of 4 is the prescribed solution) while majority outflanks them using the forests. Equipment is man and horse portable. Infantry firepower is tremendous with use of automatic weapons. Personally I wonder if something like these kind of operations could be executed in our Asian colonies, such as Malaya and Burma, should they ever become attacked? The artillery is very light and they certainly cannot hold themselves in a serious defense against an operation seen during the Great War. The forces also lack heavy machine guns necessary for sustained defense.

The use of amphibious flanking manouver by Finnish Navy in Lake Ladoga was another bold move. The Finnish forces have now reached River Svir and Petrozavodsk, which Finns call Äänislinna, and are moving towards North. Leading officers seem to think this will force Soviets to negotiating table. Personally I think the Soviets will strike back soon, and with force Finns cannot comprehend. On the other hand, winter is coming.

 

[Jukra]

Finland after Final Victory? (Fascist journal "Ajan Suunta", 6 / 12 / 1939)

...While our victory has been delivered to us by means of modernity, such as airplanes, tanks and motor torpedo boats, they are only toys which we can use to on our path to our Final Destiny. The natural condition of Finnish People is one of smallholder family farms. We can repopulate the Eastern Karelia with families of Finnish Lutheran smallholders who will also be part-time soldiers. There everyone can have connection to the land, the forest, the nature and God everywhere in his natural surroundings. Man can be a soldier, a farmer and a father, master of his own house. Woman can be a wife, mother of many pure Finnish children, and mistress of the house. No noisy factories, no African music, no laziness.

As for Äänislinna, our nation's newest city, after purging out all Bolshevik, Jewish, Russian and Orthodox filth it can become our sacred city where Temple of Kalevala will be built to connect us to our forefather's spirit. Perhaps we can discover the joint roots of Ancient Finnish beliefs and Christianity and continue Luther's mission of purifying Christendom to a status where no influences of Jewishness exists...

(NOTE: This is an attempt to construct an ideological publication of a Finnish Fascist state and implies no racism on my behalf! Finnish fascists of TTL are wackos, like all fascists everywhere! )

 

[Ramontxo]

Siikaniemen Lukio, Viipuri, 15 September 2018 (Siikaniemi High School, Viipuri, Finland)

...Now, students, it's exam time! Remember, these themes are ones which are routinely asked about in matriculation examination! Yes, I know weekend is near! Yes, Russian speakers have as difficult questions as you have! You may turn your question papers now!

"Finland, like rest of the new nations which had become independent after the First World War, ended it's democratic experiment fairly quickly.

Essay questions. Choose TWO questions you want to answer.

a) Why was the support for democracy low in Finland?
b) Why did Mäntsälä coup in 1932 succeed?
c) From General to President, from President to Johtaja (Leader), political career of K.M.Wallenius 1918-1939 and the radicalization of Finnish Far Right
d) Analyze the cartoon from "Svenska Dagbladet", dated 25 August 1939 which describes Wallenius with his pants down after hearing from Molotov-Rippentrobb pact? Why is Wallenius described in such state?
e) Development of communist underground movement in Finland 1918-1939
...
Bonus Question: Following is an excerpt from Wallenius's secret speech in Defence Council in 1936:

"The youth of the nation must be hard as Finnish granite, flexible as juniper and and resilient as reindeer's leather. The coming war with Soviet Union will be our Armageddon. We don't have resources for a long war. Any war must be short, decisive and end up in a victory. It will be our Alpha and Omega. In a battle between David and Goliath the will trumps material."

a) How did the speech implement itself in Finnish education and Finnish defence policy in prewar years?
b) The Religious symbolics in Wallenius's speech and during Lapua Regime in general?

....


Wargamer's Gazette 11/1975 "Flames in the North, Campaigns in Scandinavia 1939-1940"

...Finnish Armed Forces got a huge budgetary boost after 1932 when Lapua Movement effectively seized power and yet another boost in 1935 when President (later Johtaja) Wallenius was elected to power. In 1939 Finland, in paper, had a very large military force. Typical of the fascist dictatorships of the era, it had numerous failures both in training and morale. ...Conscript service was for two years, with some 1/2 of each age cohort accepted after political screening.

OOB Finnish Armed Forces (Suomen Asevoimat), 20.10.1939

FINNISH AIR FORCE (Ilmavoimat)

Lentorykmentti 2 (Flight Regiment 2)
-Lentolaivue 24 (36x Fiat G.50)
-Lentolaivue 26 (30x Fiat CR.32)
-Lentolaivue 28 (29x VL Myrsky, license built Fiat CR.42)

Lentorykmentti 4 (Flight Regiment 4)
-Lentolaivue 42 (36x Junkers 52)
-Lentolaivue 44 (30x Junkers 86)
-Lentolaivue 46 (24x VL Viima, license built Savoia-Marchetti SM.79)
-Lentolaivue 48 (30x Savoia-Marchetti SM.79)

Lentorykmentti 1
-Lentolaivue 10 (12x VL Puhuri, a domestic design, monoplane with fixed undercarriage)
-Lentolaivue 11 (30x Heinkel He-50)
-Lentolaivue 12 (24x Caproni A.P-1)
-Lentolaivue 13 (20x Breda Ba.64)
-Lentolaivue 14 (36x Henschel HS.123)

Lentorykmentti 3 (New fighter regiment, no equipment yet)

Mission of the Air Force bombers was to strike at Leningrad's economical and political targets to break Soviet will. Fighters would guarantee air superiority over Field Army, while close air support and reconnaissance would ensure ground force manouver.

FINNISH NAVY (Merivoimat)

-CB Ilmarinen
-CB Väinämöinen
-6x Spica-class torpedo boats built in license (Viha, Voima, Veri, Tahto, Uhri, Pyhyys {Hate, Force, Blood, Will, Sacrifice, Holiness])
-Cruisers "Viena" and "Aunus" on order from Italy
-3x minelaying submarines (Vetehinen, Vesihiisi, Iku-Turso)
-6x torpedo submarines Type-II (Vesikko, Hauki, Ahven, Lohi, Taimen, Säynäjä)
-1x midget submarine Saukko
-12x MTB's type Thornycroft, 12x MTB's type MAS
-Strong coastal artillery

Mission of the Navy would be to attack Red Banner fleet from the outset of the war in order to gain the initiative.

FINNISH ARMY (Maavoimat)

(Rough composition)

18x Infantry divisions (2x infantry regiments, 1x field artillery regiment with 2x light artillery battalions, 1x light battalion. Bicycles for every infantryman.)
1x Armored division (200x L-3 tankette, 3 motorized Jaeger Battalions, 1x light artillery regiment)
1x Cavalry division (6x Cavalry regiment, 1x tankette battalion, 1x light artillery battalion)
9x Infantry Corps HQ's (3x Heavy field artillery battalions (122mm) each)
1x Mobile Corps HQ's (1x Heavy field artillery battalion (122mm)
3x Army HQ's (Army of Isthmus, Army of Viena, Army of Aunus)
1x Army Groups HQ (Karelian Army Group)

Of the infantry divisions, there were four regular divisions composed of conscripts and the Armored and Cavalry division close to their TOE strength.

Finnish Army was a force trained and indoctrinated in destroying the enemy by superior skill, superior mobility, and above all, superior will.

SUOJELUSKUNTA (Former voluntary defence organization developed as political shock troops)

18x assault battalions "Kaarti" (Guards Battalion), named after the regions (Viipurin Kaarti etc.) Each Army Infantry division backed by one
36x home defence battalions in charge of counterrevolutionary activities.
1x Suojeluskaarti Battalion (Protective Guards), personal bodyguard of Johtaja.
18x Replacement Divisions trained out of over-age reservists and all able bodied men, with 9 infantry battalions each. Training of these units began with mobilization.

I have looked in Google and Finland 1939 population was something like 3'7 millions. Can you give the total personal complement for each arm of the Finland military?
Anyway thanks a lot for your time line.

 

[Jukra]

I have looked in Google and Finland 1939 population was something like 3'7 millions. Can you give the total personal complement for each arm of the Finland military?
Anyway thanks a lot for your time line.

The OOB above is for a hypothetical Fascist Finland, not OTL Finland, OOB's which you can find from example https://www.jaegerplatoon.net/MAIN.html.

But back to speculation, with divisional strength of roughly 10000 men (remember, they're very light divisions!) and very weak Corps formations, I'd put the total Army strength to maybe 250 000. As for Navy, roughly 25 000, Air Force 20 000, the Suojeluskunta, roughly 20 000 for Assault Battalions and Protective Guard Battalion. Totalling some 320 000 for frontline forces. These forces are of older age than OTL Winter War forces due to less conscripts per age class called.

Home defence forces: Some 20 000 Home Defence Battalions comprised of older Suojeluskunta personnel.

Replacement divisions: Roughly 1000 training and leadership personnel for each Replacement Division, for some 18 000. Some 200 000 in Replacement Divisions. For these forces only very basic equipment, such as rifles and HMG's.

Suojeluskunta in TTL is different from OTL. In OTL it became a respected voluntary defense organization with less and less focus on the role during the Civil War. In TTL it is radicalized as the elite ideological force for Lapua Regime.

 

[Jukra]

Excerpt from an uncensored interview of Georgy Zhukov, recorded in 1969, 25 years after VE day

..on 15 November 1939 I was recalled hastily to meet Stalin in Moscow. After usual pleasantries he gave the request, which I immediately understood as an order, to become a military commander of operations against Finland. I had already heard that numerous local commanders had been executed. Some were bunglers, sure, but also failed by Stalin...

After getting a grip with the situation I could clearly see the strengths of weaknesses of Finnish fascists. They were masters of warfare in the woods, and probably masters of the winter too. However, their forces were very light and most of their forces were in North of Lake Ladoga. The best avenue of approach to Southern Finland, which held the most economic importance of Finland as well as the capital Helsinki, was Karelian Isthmus which was defended by few of their field divisions and mostly by their drafted militia.

So, it began. A military operation instead of ideological hodge podge. I was given free hand to conduct operations. I thought thirty divisions would be enough for Karelian Isthmus and some twenty for the Northern, secondary operations. The offensive in North would begin on 7 December 1939 to tie up their forces, with main focus on River Svir.

The main operation on Karelian Isthmus on 18 December 1939, Stalin's Birthday.

As for Navy, I had no use for them. They had failed utterly and icy season was coming. But then, I was boldly approached by Admiral Yumashev who had also been recalled from the Far East. The plan he proposed was bold to regain the honor of the Soviet Fleet and I gave it my full support. This time, the operation would not be in the Baltic but in Lake Ladoga...

 

[Jukra]

Norrländska Socialdemokraten (a Swedish newspaper) on 23 / 12 / 1939

(a cartoon describing a Finnish General saluting Johtaja Wallenius)

General: Johtaja, our forces are advancing towards Final Victory!

Wallenius: Great, but I thought the news from the front were bad?

General: No, Our forces in the North are advancing towards South, our forces in South are advancing towards West!

Wallenius: Let's make Finland Great Again! Where's my plow?

(Finnish propaganda was a standing joke in Sweden during the Fascist Reign, especially during the Finno-Soviet War. The regime's idealization of smallholders was seen to be at an absurd level, even by Swedish Farmer's League Party)

 

[Jukra]

Swedish Radio News 30 / 12 / 1939

"This is the Finnish Language News from Swedish Radio."

"The Soviet TASS reports that Soviet Army has broken through Mannerheim Line and is advancing towards Viipuri. North of Lake Ladoga TASS reports Finnish forces are retreating towards Finnish borders. Our sources report serious riot incidents in Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. In Stockholm, leader of Finnish Social Democratic Party Väinö Tanner and leader of the Agrarian Party Kekkonen have published a joint communique for Finnish regime to join a national government which would begin peace negotiations with the Soviets and bring back democracy to Finland. It has been reported that Marshal Mannerheim has flown from Portugal to Stockholm in order to negotiate with Tanner and Kekkonen."
..
"The Swedish Prime Minister Hansson has announced that the full mobilization of Swedish Army has been completed. Our forces are ready whether the threat comes from South, East, North or West."

 

[Jukra]

Excerpt from NKVD orders on Finland 31 / 12 / 1939

"In Soviet Karelia there has been incidents where Soviet citizens have turned traitors by co-operating with Fascist occupiers by going to their internment camps. Traitors must be liquidated."
...
"When advancing to Finland it must be remembered that the country has been impregnated by fascist propaganda. Especially dangerous are the elements of Finnish Social Democratic Party, or SDP, the Social Fascists. They are fascists with socialist mask. Law and order must be returned. Any of the so-called "revolutionary councils" in Finnish militia or replacement units must be approached friendly, but must be put under our own cadre control. Important ringleaders should be eliminated, rest turned for re-education..."

"...All persons having Suojeluskunta uniforms can be either eliminated immediately or turned to further processing by special units. Female fascists of Lotta Svärd organization can be used for whatever purposes the local units want to use them for..."

 

[Jukra]

Pravda Editorial 3 / 1 / 1940

"New Finnish government of the People, by the People, for the People"

In recently liberated provincial capital of Viipuri the brave underground resistance has come to surface and the new legitimate government of Finland has been formed. Led by Otto Wille Kuusinen, the new government will help Soviet Union to bring the conflict to the end quickly. Across Finland spontaneous demonstrations have arisen to support the new People's Government. Meanwhile, captured documents in liberated town of Kajaani have shown how Finnish Social Fascists are plotting in co-operation with Swedish Social Fascists to bring Finland back under Swedish King's control. This is surely no surprise, as behind every Social Democrat is a nationalist, and behind every nationalist a fascist. It can be questioned, whether there are elements in Finnish Swedish speakers who would rather support a reactionary regime rather than new, democratic form of government.

Finnish fascist government, now ending it's reign of terror, was covertly supported by Anglo-French imperialists trying to drive a wedge between Communists and National Socialists. Their designs now blunted, they are making protests in vain about supporting Finnish sovereignity or even backing up so-called Finnish Shadow Cabinet of reactionaries, social fascists and militarists residing in Stockholm. But we are ready. We will make democratic elections in Finland as soon as possible and we are sure that Kuusinen's Government will have close to, or even more than 100% support by Finnish workers and peasants...

 

[arctic warrior]

You'll see soon! There is a MR Pact this timeline. I have to change the yearly intake to roughly 1/2 of age class. Notice the level of Swedish rearming in this TL...

I see. I did think the Swedish rearmaments being way bigger than OTL.
So the Swedes are moving troops up to the border ready to "aid" Finland.
Nice touch with the Norwegians of 9. April 1940 though they were better understanding the danger of airtransport than Denmark - they did try impede landings by para's and aircraft on the airfields.

 

[Jukra]

I see. I did think the Swedish rearmaments being way bigger than OTL.
So the Swedes are moving troops up to the border ready to "aid" Finland.

Well, actually it's the USSR trying to justify it's anti-Swedish pogrom to come...

 

[Jukra]

1 February 1940

"This is the BBC News... The Finnish fascist government has surrendered it's field forces in Finland as Red Army forces approach capital of Finland, Helsinki. In Viipuri, the Soviet appointed Prime Minister of Finland Kuusinen thanks the Red Army and the Finnish People's Army for their brave fight. The location of country's fascist leader, Wallenius, is yet unknown."
...
"In Spain, General Franco has applauded the Finnish fight and has agreed to take some Finnish refugees. In Italy, Mussolini has declared he is sending a convoy to Sweden to fetch a contingent of Finnish refugees."
...

Völkischer Beobächter 2 February 1940 (The NSDAP Newspaper)

...In the recent fight between Soviet Union and Finland one can learn two crucial lessons. First is the racial one. Finns, descendants of Mongols despite some Swedish stock, were ultimately unable to resist Russians. Like Mongols they could act well as a cunning horde, but could not survive in a fair fight with a superior race. Second is a social one. Finnish political system was not radical enough but included several reactionary elements and thus was unable to resist more advanced communist one....
...
Our sympathies, however, lie with the Swedes who resided in Finland. Some 10% of the population are of Swedish Viking-Aryan origin and they were responsible for all the cultural and artistic achievements of Finland. They must surely long for their racial Viking home in Sweden and we can be sure that our Government will make every effort in co-operation with Swedish and Soviet governments to make that happen.