Post by Dowly on Dec 14, 2015 9:09:20 GMT
I figured as the Winter War is a somewhat unknown conflict, some here might be interested to know how it progressed.
As the war started on the 30th of November 1939, I've got some catching up to do, so I better get right to it.
***
26 November 1939
"Leningrad military district HQ announced that on November 26 at 15:45 all
of a sudden artillery fire was opened from Finnish territory aimed at Soviet
troops stationed 1km Northwest of the town of Mainila. The Finns fired seven shells."
-Soviet information agency, TASS
"Due to the provocative and deliberate shelling aimed at Soviet troops from
Finnish territory, the Soviet government has been forced to declare that
the Finnish troops concentrated near Leningrad are not only a threat to
the city, but a hostile act towards Soviet Union, which has already caused Soviet casualties.
[..]
As a result, the Soviet government suggests that the Finnish government
immediately moves it's forces in Karelian Isthmus farther from the border,
20-26km away to prevent further provocations."
-Diplomatic note to Finnish ambassador Yrjö-Koskinen from Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov
Foreign Press in Mainila
***
27 November 1939
Finnish investigation concludes that the shells were fired from the Soviet side
of the border and answers Molotov's note:
From the Finnish side, it was possible to see the town of Mainila, which is just
800 meters away across an open field.
Based on the sounds of the shelling heard on the Finnish side, it can be said
the shots originated 1,5-2km Southeast of the impact area.
***
28 November 1939
The fact that the Finnish government denies it's part in the shelling which caused
casualties, can not be explained, other than to mislead public opinion and mock the victims.
Only the lack of responsibility and contemptuous attitude towards the general public have been
able to dictate this attempt to explain this heinous case as nothing more than Soviet artillery training accident right at the border.
-Part of a second Diplomatic note from Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov
Soviet officials in Finland are called back to Soviet Union.
***
29 November 1939
Three Finnish border guards go missing from Puumanki border guard post.
Doors and window frames show damage consistent with rifle butt strikes.
Investigation concludes that they were kidnapped by Soviet soldiers.
Moscow Radio announces that Finnish soldiers had attacked across the border
in the same area and that the defenders had pushed the attackers back over the border.
Soviet Union severes diplomatic ties with Finland.
As the war started on the 30th of November 1939, I've got some catching up to do, so I better get right to it.
***
26 November 1939
"Leningrad military district HQ announced that on November 26 at 15:45 all
of a sudden artillery fire was opened from Finnish territory aimed at Soviet
troops stationed 1km Northwest of the town of Mainila. The Finns fired seven shells."
-Soviet information agency, TASS
"Due to the provocative and deliberate shelling aimed at Soviet troops from
Finnish territory, the Soviet government has been forced to declare that
the Finnish troops concentrated near Leningrad are not only a threat to
the city, but a hostile act towards Soviet Union, which has already caused Soviet casualties.
[..]
As a result, the Soviet government suggests that the Finnish government
immediately moves it's forces in Karelian Isthmus farther from the border,
20-26km away to prevent further provocations."
-Diplomatic note to Finnish ambassador Yrjö-Koskinen from Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov
Foreign Press in Mainila
***
27 November 1939
Finnish investigation concludes that the shells were fired from the Soviet side
of the border and answers Molotov's note:
From the Finnish side, it was possible to see the town of Mainila, which is just
800 meters away across an open field.
Based on the sounds of the shelling heard on the Finnish side, it can be said
the shots originated 1,5-2km Southeast of the impact area.
***
28 November 1939
The fact that the Finnish government denies it's part in the shelling which caused
casualties, can not be explained, other than to mislead public opinion and mock the victims.
Only the lack of responsibility and contemptuous attitude towards the general public have been
able to dictate this attempt to explain this heinous case as nothing more than Soviet artillery training accident right at the border.
-Part of a second Diplomatic note from Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov
Soviet officials in Finland are called back to Soviet Union.
***
29 November 1939
Three Finnish border guards go missing from Puumanki border guard post.
Doors and window frames show damage consistent with rifle butt strikes.
Investigation concludes that they were kidnapped by Soviet soldiers.
Moscow Radio announces that Finnish soldiers had attacked across the border
in the same area and that the defenders had pushed the attackers back over the border.
Soviet Union severes diplomatic ties with Finland.