Soviet demands on Finland (October-November 1939)

cartesdhistoire:

"La frontière épaisse. Aux origines des politiques soviétiques (1920-1940)", Sabine Dullin, EHESS, coll. « En temps & lieux », 2014

The border between independent Finland and Bolshevik Russia was established by the Treaty of Tartu (October 14, 1920).

The German-Soviet Pact of August 23, 1939, placed Finland within the USSR's sphere of interest. The USSR demanded, starting on October 5, five islands in the Gulf of Finland, the disarmament of the fortifications on the Karelian Isthmus, a 25 km border retreat in Karelia, and the lease of the Hanko Peninsula, closing the Gulf of Finland, for use as a naval base. The Finns initially agreed to negotiate, but then refused the Soviet conditions on November 13. The "Winter War," initiated by the USSR on November 30, did not last long. By the Treaty of Moscow (March 12, 1940), Finland was required to cede all of Karelia, including Viipuri (Vyborg) and the shores of Lake Ladoga, some territories adjacent to Soviet Karelia, and the territory of Petsamo, which gave Finland access to the Arctic Ocean. The USSR also obtained Hanko.

Isolated and under intense pressure, Finland moved closer to Germany. When Germany attacked the USSR in 1941, Finland entered the war in turn. Finnish troops recaptured Viipuri and Petsamo, participated in the blockade of Leningrad, and seized Petrozavodsk, capital of the Karelian SSR. The Soviet counteroffensive launched in June 1944 led to an armistice signed in Moscow on September 19. The USSR regained all its 1940 conquests; In place of Hanko, it was ceded Porkkala, a veritable sword of Damocles 30 km from Helsinki. The Treaty of Paris (February 10, 1947) ratified these clauses. Furthermore, the Soviets obtained that the politicians in power in June 1941 be indicted and condemned. Finally, Finland had to pay considerable war reparations until 1952.

Collection: world-war-2 - Tags: territorial-claims, finland, world-war-2, winter-war, 1939 - Source: instagram.com