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Hello!
Ruy wrote: "Did the Soviets attain their strategic goals (other than complete occupation of Finland)? "
Ruy. It seems no-one knows what the real Soviet strategic goals were in Finland during Winter War. Not very distant past Winter War was officially not even a war - just a border clash.
For Soviet Union Finland was a "problem" not per se but because it was seen as a corridor for an invader and dangerously near Leningrad. It looks like Stalin's Soviet Union tried to solve the "Finnish problem" simply by taking the full control of the area. It is nyances if this was to be military, political or economical control or mix of some or all.
What happened after Winter War? Finland searched for support from Germany. Germany was the only place to go after fall of France and occupation of Denmark and Norway which blocked away even the faintest hope of help from UK. The other direction fo help of course would have been East...
So by Summer 1941 we have Finland to join in the German war against Soviet Union. Exactly what was supposed to be prevented by Winter War and related politics.
About numerical superiority in Winter War. Like it is said in battle one Finn is worth of ten Russians. Problem was the eleventh one. Does someone on this forum really think that Finland fought for victory during Winter War!? Christ sake, the fight was for SURVIVAL.
Enough said,
Kari
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