Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Documentary on Finnish tactics of the Winter War. Check out Last Train Home: thqn.net/48pkGIX Thanks to THQ Nordic for sponsoring this video!

In this history documentary we continue our series on the Finnish Winter War. In part 1 (youtu.be/hq97DtfX1UE?si=0BizHThWecpmxQDl) we looked at the historical tensions between Finland and Russia leading up to the Winter War as well as the Finnish preparations for this looming conflict. In doing so we discussed the overall defensive strategy and as well as the typical equipment of Finnish soldiers.

Now in part 2 we will turn our attention to the organization of the Finnish forces, their training, and their tactics. This is all then put into practice with a review of the history of the Winter War. We specifically cover the Battles of the Karelian Isthmus agains the Mannerheim line as well as the battle of Suomossalmi and the Battle of Raate Road which employed the famous Finnish Motti tactics.

Sources:
Vesa Nenye, with Peter Munter and Toni Wirtanen: Finland at War: The Winter War 1939-40 (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2015)
Pasi Tuunainen: Finnish MIlitary Effectiveness in the Winter War 1939-1940 (Helsinki: Palgrave MacMillan, 2016)
Philip Jowett, Brent Snodgrass, Raffaele Ruggeri: Finland at War 1939-45 (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2006)

Credits:
Research = Mark Evans
Script = Mark Evans
Narration = Guy Michaels
Production = Penta Limited

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:26 Recap
04:42 Unit Organization
09:59 Tactics and Training
13:32 Service History
15:10 Battle of the Karelian Isthmus
16:22 Battle of Lake Ladoga
17:18 Battle of Suomossalmi
19:15 Motti Tactics
21:27 Battle of the Arctic
22:26 Battle of the Mannerheim Line
23:45 End of the War

#history
#military
#documentary