Author: Peltimikko

The Soviet major offensives of 30 November - 22 December 1939 in the Winter War.

Soviet troops annexed the Eastern half of Poland shortly after Hitler invaded the country, but the Russians launched the little-remembered "Winter War" against Finland in November 1939.

The vastly outnumbered Finnish troops put up a surprisingly stiff resistance, imposing heavy losses on a Russian army that wasn't well prepared for combat in the bitterly cold environment of a Finnish winter. Finland fought the Soviets to a standstill, losing about 10 percent of their territory but maintaining their sovereignty. Finland's hostility toward the Soviets forced the relatively liberal democracy into an awkward de facto alliance with Nazi Germany. As a result, Finland was diplomatically isolated after the war and wasn't invited to join the anti-Soviet NATO alliance.

(Source: Vox)