Winter War

battle_name=Winter war

Foreign support

World opinion at large supported the Finnish cause. The World War had not really begun yet; for the time being the Winter War was the only real fighting going on, and thus was a major focus of the world's interest. The Soviet aggression was generally deemed totally unjustified. Various foreign organizations sent material aid, such as medical supplies. Finnish immigrants in the United States and Canada returned home, and many volunteers (one of them actor-to-be Christopher Lee) travelled to Finland to join Finland's forces: 1,010 Danes, 695 Norwegians, 372 Ingrians, 346 Finnish expats, and 210 volunteers of other nationalities made it to Finland before the war was over. Foreign correspondents in Helsinki wrote, and even greatly exaggerated, reports of supposed Finnish ingenuity and successes in combat.

Related Topics:
United States - Canada - Christopher Lee - Danes - Norwegians - Ingria - Expats - Helsinki

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Sweden, which had declared itself to be a non-belligerent rather than a neutral country (as in the war between Nazi Germany and the Western Powers) contributed with military supplies, cash, credits, humanitarian aid and some 8,700 Swedish volunteers prepared to fight for Finland. Perhaps most significant was the Swedish Voluntary Air Force, in action from January 7, with 12 fighters, 5 bombers, and 8 other planes, amounting to a third of the Swedish Air Force of that time. Volunteer pilots and mechanics were drawn from the ranks. The renowned aviator Count Carl Gustav von Rosen, related to Hermann Göring, volunteered independently. There was also a volunteering work force, of about 900 workers and engineers.

Related Topics:
Non-belligerent - Neutral country - Nazi Germany - Swedish Voluntary Air Force - January 7 - Carl Gustav von Rosen - Hermann Göring

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The Swedish Volunteer Corps with 8,402 men in Finland — the only common volunteers who had finished training before the war ended — started to relieve five Finnish battalions at Märkäjärvi in mid-February. Together with three remaining Finnish battalions, the corps faced two Soviet divisions and were preparing for an attack by mid-March, which was inhibited by the peace agreement. 33 men died in action, among them the commander of the first relieving unit, Leutenant Colonel Magnus Dyrssen.

Related Topics:
Swedish Volunteer Corps - Battalion - Division - Leutenant Colonel

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The Swedish volunteers remain a focus of dissonance between Swedes and Finns. The domestic debate in Finland had in the years immediately before the war given common Finns hope of considerably more support from Sweden, such as a large force of regular troops, that could have had a significant impact on the outcome of the war — or possibly caused the Russians not to attack at all.

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