American Reacts Winter War: Soviet Invasion of Finland in WWII

Original Video: • Winter War: Soviet Inv...
Discord: / discord
Patreon: / mcjibbin
Hi everyone! I'm an American from the Northeast (New England). I want to create a watering hole for people who want to discuss, learn and teach about history through KZbin videos which you guys recommend to me through the comment section or over on Discord. Let's be respectful but, just as importantly, not be afraid to question any and everything about historical records in order to give us the most accurate representation of the history of our species and of our planet!
Having a diverse perspective is crucial to what I want to achieve here so please don't hold back! I want to learn about all I can! Keep recommending and PLEAESE join my Discord :) ( / discord )
#WinterWar
#WWII
#American
#Finland
#Soviets
#McJibbin
#Russia
#Warographics
#History
#AmericanReacts
#Reaction
PayPal: (please only donate if you think I deserve it and any amount is very appreciated) www.paypal.me/mcjibbin
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

I think its almost poetic that simo häyhä was born before the soviet union, and died over 10 years after it fell.

[@vassykka]

Simo Häyhä on hyvä tyyppi!

[@jarnettifritjof2246]

True. Yes, WE ( *finns* ) Were *badly* 'the underdogs' in *That* time of Winter War: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ3JgZtmapujjcU ..and? *Yet,* we manage to Survive 'as good as *its* Get'.. AND *That* was 'Some (pretty;) *Fine* Thing', youknow? - The *LEGEND* SIMO HÄYHÄ. (' kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKemo3hrg6imqtU ') RIP, Legend. *WE* all Salute, YOU. ( finnish *doc* Film 2019 - ' kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5zRm4CMZpJ8Y80 ') Simo said: ““ *I* only *did* my duty, and what I was told to *do* as *well* as I could.”” ..voiperkele. 'Yes, YOU *Did.'* ..SOONMORO *nääs*

[@nervanderi]

@@vassykka Pasifisti.

[@heikkisuora2500]

Well he had one job, and obviously he performed well

[@tonivepsa3631]

Lauri Törni story kzbin.info/www/bejne/apjIe6uVdrKlesk

[@loysanpera]

"Ruotsalaisia emme ole, venäläisiksi emme tahdo tulla, olkaamme siis suomalaisia." J.V. Snellman kirjoitti 1861 "We are not Swedish nor we want to be Russians. Finnish we shall be" J.V. Snellman 1861

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

Kreegah! Tarzan Bundalo!

[@Spugedelia77]

Kiitos

[@mathew9508]

BINGO

[@trinity3899]

Aivan

[@TuhannenTomppeli]

Kiitos talvisodan sotilaat!

[@robt3078]

That’s why i sleep well at night knowing that the great country of Finland is our closest allied. From Sweden

[@zinsanez]

We sleep well over here in finland as well 🤗

[@pelaajaman_5440]

And now Finland and Sweden are looking to join NATO in 2022 but it needs the approval of every NATO country. And turkey is one and turkey pleads negative on it

[@pekkas7534]

And i really do believe whatever happens Sweden & Finland will help each other. No matter if there is some internet "funny" trolls, they just dont understand reality and act like douchebags because they think they are tough and funny, from both sides Swe & Fin. But we all know that if there isnt anyone else holding our back, there is always Sweden. And thats what i call a brotherhood. We have both love and hate relationship with each other and why not, thats what brotherhood is all about.

[@samhartford8677]

Yeps. We understand. It's not your fault that we have a border with Russia and you don't. But I understand that your defence policy is based on giving Finland some gear, so thanks in advance!

[@veryrancid3128]

Hey to our big brother sweden! ♥️

[@melkor3496]

You are completely right to wonder why the USSR isn’t also blamed for starting ww2. The simple answer is because the fought on the allies side later.

[@ratyjoona]

They also weren't starting WW2 tho? Germany attacked first

[@kaothekangaroo890]

@@ratyjoona Yeah, but what if the Soviets didn't sign Ribbentrop Mołotow pact? I think Hitler would not be so confident and would not have attacked in September 1939, besides USSR attacked Poland two weeks after Germany, so they shoud be blamed at least a little bit.

[@ratyjoona]

@@kaothekangaroo890 War would have broken out regardless of the USSR. Hitler managed to exaggerate their numbers...and even USSR knew they were a target for Nazis. They just bought time.

[@kaothekangaroo890]

@@ratyjoona Hitler's plan was to attack and defeat France first then attack USSR, so you are right that alliance between Germany and Soviets wouldn't last, but by attacking Poland the only thing that USSR achieved is easier German victory in Poland. Btw Stalin's plan was to wait until German and French bleed out like 20 years earlier and then bring communism to whole Europe, so war was in his interest, he just didn't expect so swift German victory in France.

[@mkl21bis]

Yes, they were in winning side. But also, after the war western forces begin forming that Nürnberg war trial, and soviet Russia was asked also send Judge to trial. Soviets demanded guarantees that they will not be prosecuted starting the war in Europe alongside of Germany invading Poland and other east Europe states.

[@hennakauppinen6956]

Finland fought like hell even tho we are little country. I've spoken with veterans of those two wars and they all say the same thing: war is hell, we fought so you can live free .

[@huitase313]

Shit doesn't look good atm. I wish I don't have to say that same to my grandkids.

[@johankaewberg9512]

On behalf of Sweden I am sorry we didn’t do more.

[@newera478]

War is war, hell is hell. They are quite different. In war there are loads of innocent civilians who suffer. In hell you don't find innocents.

[@degreegamer2113]

my grandfather was in the winter war all that i remember about him that he listened to the song of the finnish veterans (veteraanin iltahuuto) and that he was strict.

[@janneojakangas5275]

Thanks to them, we live free and independed. All of my thanks to those men and women. Those were though times, and we stood our ground the best we could

[@VideoDotGoogleDotCom]

8:20 Well I sure DO blame the Soviets for starting WWII. It's just that they were on the winning side, so they got to write their version of history, unlike, say, Germans. I wish more people were aware of the Soviet actions.

[@kosarkosar7683]

One could also argue that the UK started the war because it signed an agreement with the Germans in which it gave them Czechoslovakia, which the Soviets opposed. The US also supported Hitler, even the ancestor of President George W. Bush with financial aid to sew Hitler and Stalin to fight and destroy each other, even in Spain before World War II there were only Soviets against Hitler. Poland also negotiated with Hitler on the division of the territories of its neighbors. Stalin was the last to sign an agreement with the Germans to buy time for armaments, because he knew that because of the situation they would have to defeat the Germans themselves, which was clear to everyone until the US imperialists began to distort the truth with their propaganda. The east of Poland was not inhabited by Poles and they accepted the Soviets as liberators because the Poles took advantage of the civil war in Russia and occupied this territory for themselves. This territory occupied by the Soviets from Finland was inhabited by Karelians and not Finns, so no one had the democratic right to own it. And the Finns really killed the Russians because they were less valuable to them, it wasn’t just Soviet propaganda. It is also necessary to know the policy in Finnish in those times, which advocated the thesis that Finnish territory reaches all the way to the Urals and beyond to Siberia, even with the Germans agreed to share the territory of the Soviet Union. Before that, Russia saved Finland from Swedish occupation and gave them more rights than them, they practically ruled Finland themselves because the Russians only wanted a buffer zone among the Swedes, because they attacked them for centuries until Russia was well armed.

[@Ghoulza]

@@kosarkosar7683 sorry but there is too much crap in what you've written for me to go through it all. my god just reading that crao makes my eyes hurt. so much bullshit. when I have more time I'll go over everything and explain why you are wrong. but seriously, I haven't read that much crap in a long time

[@thetom12395]

well most poeple know that the soviet union was a nasty scummy pile of shit at this point and yeah stalin wrote his own history but russia whent through a de stalinization period were alot of the disinformation came to light and the soviets actions were made public info

[@puttelainen1356]

@@kosarkosar7683 The writing has 300 years of history mixed up without consistency.

[@miskovanko8458]

Well fuck you read again the history books and learn that the soviets freed the almost all of the central Europe

[@ukuarpo8516]

Over 2000 Estonian volunteers were fighting in the Finnish army under the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200. This was a larger force than any other country had sent to the finns. And lets not forget that the population in Estonia was about 1mil at that time.

[@huitase313]

Soome poisid! Huge respect

[@diminpalkatoyj4254]

Its 1,3 now

[@MonkeyBusinessMan]

Respect for that. But I know that 9500 swedes fought for Finland as volunteers during the winter war

[@MelinaJamiee]

Where have you gotten your information from? This is not true. The largest foreign contingent came from neighboring Sweden, which provided nearly 8,760 volunteers during the war. The Volunteer Corps was formed of predominantly Swedes, as well as 1,010 Danes and 727 Norwegians. Source Wikipedia While there had been many Estonian volunteers in the Finnish Army already during the Winter War, the first men of JR 200 crossed the Gulf of Finland in early spring of 1943. Source Wikipedia Estonian people may very well have volunteered in the winter war but it wasn’t JR 200 since they didn’t get to Finland until 1943 and the winter war ended in 1940.

[@johankaewberg9512]

The Finn’s are heroes, but thank you for mentioning the Estonians, you are equally our brothers.

[@getass3290]

The reason why Leningrad was renamed to St Petersburg was because that was what it was called for the majority of it's existence when it was founded by Peter the Great. St Petersburg was renamed to Leningrad by the Soviets.

[@gyderian9435]

And before being St Petersburg it was called Nevanlinna, the place has a long history

[@arvalb0]

well it was actully founded by swedish vikings

[@robt3078]

I call it Nyen, that’s the name of the place when it was Swedish. From Stockholm

[@tatjanascutaru1070]

@@arvalb0 it was founded by russians on swedish territory

[@gyderian9435]

@@tatjanascutaru1070 "founded" as in changing the name and making new buildings on occupied territory but the area had a major trading hub already and was populated by the Finns

[@patrikiosvatemanopoulos]

Your question is very logical. The Soviets SHOULD be equally blamed for WW2

[@jukopliut]

If you accuse soviet about something you get one answer - And then what?

[@williambranch4283]

The communists got a pass for more reasons than the brain fart of Hitler attacking his own evil ally; from the NYT all during the Extermination of Kulaks ... because the Spanish communists opposed Franco, and because the German Communists (Anti-fa) opposed Hitler, and the French Resistance (communists who only resisted after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union). If Hitler had even a grain of intelligence, he would have kept Stalin onside, or at least prepared a defensive posture just in case Stalin got ideas. Churchill had no illusions, compared to FDR (anti-British) and his VP Henry Wallace (pro-Soviet). But Churchill got Harry Truman on his side at the first opportunity (pro-German and anti-Soviet from the day Japan surrendered). The invasion of the Soviet Union also caused massive Lend-lease from the US to them which was of great help.

[@finbarrsaunders]

Not really. The Soviets just signed a non-agression pact with Germany that's all. They didn't join forces with them, just said they wouldn't intervene when Hitler promised them Poland & the baltic states. Invading Russia made the non-agression pact worthless, and so then Russia joined the allies against the common enemy. It's still duplicitous, cowardly & despicable behaviour on the part of the USSR, but but they didn't technically start the war, they just agreed not to stand in the way of Hitler.

[@edgynuke5007]

But they won so they aren’t

[@ratyjoona]

For what reason they should be blamed? They didn't start the war

[@tsuhna1167]

"Only Finland - superb, nay, sublime - in the jaws of peril, Finland shows what free men can do." Sir Winston Churchill, January 20th 1940

[@zarahandrahilde9554]

Respectfully adding Ukraine to that list. -A fellow scandinavian.

[@katiska5940]

@@zarahandrahilde9554 Amen

[@jarnettifritjof2246]

True ( SIMO HÄYHÄ ). Yes, WE ( *finns* ) Were *badly* 'the underdogs' in *That* time of Winter War: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ3JgZtmapujjcU ..and? *Yet,* we manage to Survive 'as good as *its* Get'.. AND *That* was 'Some (pretty;) *Fine* Thing', youknow? - The *LEGEND* SIMO HÄYHÄ. (' kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKemo3hrg6imqtU ') RIP, Legend. *WE* all Salute, YOU. ( finnish *doc* Film 2019 - ' kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5zRm4CMZpJ8Y80 ') Simo said: ““ *I* only *did* my duty, and what I was told to *do* as *well* as I could.”” ..voiperkele. 'Yes, YOU *Did.'* ..SOONMORO *nääs*

[@WeeJiiWee]

@@zarahandrahilde9554 More timely than ever.

[@regun2434]

I hope ukrainians can someday say they kept russia where it belongs

[@ttopi]

Well my history teacher said it like this: "History is always written by winners." So, You'll always have to look for the two sides of the "truth".

[@paskasaatana6298]

Ww2 is perfect example

[@wildcatty1]

My grandfather (my mothers father) was a guerilla soldier in the Finnish Winter War against Russia. He wore those white uniforms and ski’s in the snow and fought for his country. He met my grandmother, who was from Karelia (a part of Finland which Russia wanted) during the war since he was stationed there. They married there during the war and he sent her to his hometown Kemi where she waited for him to come back. When the war then ended he came back and they lived many happy years together until he died of cancer in the 80’s. I live in Sweden, since my parents moved here before I was born but I have strong ties to Finland. This history of Russia attacking Finland in 1939 hits so different now because of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. I can’t imagine how the ukrainian people are feeling right now. 😢

[@evilmorty1980]

I feel U brother my both grandfaters was fighting at talvisodassa ja jatkosodassa.🫡🇫🇮🇧🇧🇺🇦🇸🇪

[@ristusnotta1653]

nah the Soviet tanks couldnt hold against Molotov Cocktails, they were so badly welded that the armor plates had gaps between them that the flaming liquid could go trough and they were usually thrown in the engine deck which had a big hole in the armor to allow the engine to take air from

[@mikahaahti8742]

When the Molotov Cocktails were used, they were thrown over the air intake grille on the engine deck on the back deck of the tank. this caused a fire in the engine compartment that stopped the tank.

[@ristusnotta1653]

@@mikahaahti8742 yep, exactly what i told

[@puttelainen1356]

In addition to the Molotovin cocktail, a one-meter-long log was also a good weapon. At a suitable point between the chains, it could be made that the tank no longer advanced but rotated in a circle. sometimes the chain fell out of place.

[@jounilojander8821]

Litle information about Molotov Cocktails yes it was thrown on the intake grill. But first tank must be stopped so birch block was put in between right place. After that tank could be destroyed either 3 or 4 kilogram anti-tank handgranade or Molotov Cocktail. If I don't remember wrong that granade had to put between turret... So you have to climb on moving tank and put it on place when jump off before tank crew notice.

[@ristusnotta1653]

@@jounilojander8821 they didnt NEED to be stopped first since they moved walking speed in Finnish terrain

[@marttivuorinen8475]

The dog breed that Simo Häyhä started breeding after war IS so fitting for him and his story. IT was Suomen pystykorva..Finnish spitzer. First of all it is Finlands national breed Second it is a hunting dog..smallesh But full of attitude. And last But not least..rifle that Häyhä used was called spitzer because front sights of The gun looked like spitzers pointy ears.

[@kallewi3583]

My greatgrandfather attended tens of battles killing dozens, finally got captured in Tornion valtaus by Nazis. Was moved to prison camp in norway, tortured, but escaped and wrote a book of the escape. It's great.

[@doctorpragmatic1740]

Finland actually produced one more soldier who is equally famous as Simo, Lauri Allan Törni (later Larry Allan Thorn) was actually a soldier of 3 armies. He fought for Finnish, German and American army. Hes buried at Arlington cemetery in DC

[@newgamerboy7815]

Afellow sabaton fan, I assume?

[@allanwielund9545]

Volunteers from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other countries mostly arrived too late to make a difference for Finland, and they only numbered a few thousand anyway. During The Winter War the germans were still friendly with USSR, so they didn´t send help. When Germany invaded in 1941, Finland joined them in "The Continuation War", but refused to advance beyond their pre-1939 borders. When the tide turned and Russia advanced, the germans DID send help to Finland, mainly anti tank weapons.

[@leeviv734]

In the continuation war germany told soviot union that finland was with them finland tried to refuse it but it was too late

[@ukuarpo8516]

Over 2000 Estonian volunteers were fighting in the Finnish army under the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200. This was a larger force than any other country had sent to the finns. And lets not forget that the population in Estonia was about 1mil at that time.

[@byggloket2590]

I want to correct you there. One battle. Where the majority of Swedes where in fighting. This was in the middle of winter war so it did a diffrance. Just a bit patriotic when it comes to my country. Sry 👍😅

[@mrbonanza3107]

@@byggloket2590 Have you heard that US and britts sended burgers to soviets but forests of finland are so grouded so they sended them to finns accidently. Lil piece of knowledge also soviets and US had plan to move finnish people to Alaska because we are handy in cold weather. Some countrys play kind but are evil some just are showing it (talking about Us and Ussr)

[@byggloket2590]

@@mrbonanza3107havent heard about that😅 Yeah, i mean just look whats happening whith Russia now.

[@ExecutiveSonda]

Real molotov cocktails mass produced by Finns didn't use rags, but storm matches to ignite the sticky mixture of alcohol, kerosene, tar, and potassium chlorate.

[@Tor128]

Molotov coctails was mass produset by ALKO which is still our hard liquer produser.

[@RoyalMela]

@@Tor128 Ans since Soviets were able to capture few Molotov Cocktails, they started bombing the Alko factory at Rajamäki, since bottles were the same liquor bottles Alko used to sell their booze in. That is why two air defence towers were erected in Rajamäki to protect the factory.

[@0Quiwi0]

Yeah. The difference between a fire bottle and what became Molotow cocktail back then was that the latter was very much engineered to work in war situations

[@juhokuusisto9339]

@@RoyalMela Soviets also copied the desing and made their own Molotovs.

[@osk9013]

Nice! You make good questions. - We have still a war veteran (a sniper, 98) at home. He said that since there were so many "boys" from countryside, it was understandable they were used to forest, winter and hunting. My favorite personality from wartime Finland is A.F. AIro (the virtual second-in-command of the Finnish army).

[@user-js5sh7rb8v]

A.F. Airo, pieni mutta pippurinen.

[@stefanbjorkroos483]

I love Finland and its peaople. Proud to say that ones we where practically the same country during 700 years. Wether they liked it or not. 🇸🇪❤️🇫🇮

[@user-js5sh7rb8v]

We were Österland. Same country, at the time, yes. Same people... mindset... No. Sweden today is ok i guess. Bit softies, but bra.

[@theahtopaine5260]

It's better to be part of Sweden rather than Russia...

[@Ah01]

Yeah, and with the 700 hundred years of common history the swedish main army entered finland twice: 1741 and 1788, at both times to orchestrate an offensive war against russia. Rest of the numerous conflicts we were more or less left to defend our country by ourselves. And of course forced to fight futile wars of conquest for the swedish kings, be it Narva, Breitenfeld, Lützen or Poltava. Useless colonial masters, but nice people nowadays. 😄

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Under the crown, but not the same country.

[@Datamike]

About the matter of winter... you have to keep in mind, the soldiers sent to Finland weren't actually Russians, but conscripts from countries that the USSR had conquered, and they had little experience fighting in general but even less so in freezing, northern winter. On top of that, they were very badly equipped, with almost no winter clothing. The Finns on the other hand were well adapted to cold conditions; with excellent gear, they were used to living in harsh winter, and they had good supplies. Every Finnish soldier also knew how to sky, how to move and act in deep forests. This is why the Finns were much better at moving and could practically run circles around the Russians. Finally, it turns out that the winter of 1939 - 1940 was the coldest in history. Today Finland has the world's leading winter war training academy, which is visited by top militaries from all around the world. In light of recent events, I feel sorry for any Russian soldiers if they decide to attack Finland again; if they thought they have it bad in Ukraine, they will find an entirely new level of misery in Finland.

[@serhiychayka4749]

Eight division were deployed to winter war from Kyiv military district! Tens thousands of soldiers Ukrainian nation where killed in Finland for russian sake. My grandfather been killed there as well.

[@juhokuusisto9339]

There were Russians in the winter war. Yes, there were divisions from Muscovite occupied territories of Karelia, Ukraine, Siberia etc. but there were definitely Russians. Hell, the 163rd Div. was from Moscow area.

[@MrBanaanipommi]

there is very many vids about winter war, i really suggest to watch them all.. one fact was that finland had only 1 combat ready tank in beginning of winter war, against thousands tanks of soviets :D

[@Glund117]

The Soviets do have great reason to be blamed for partiality starting ww2 but this wasn't highlighted during the war as they were an Ally.

[@timurlane4004]

How? i don not think Soviet invasion of Finland caused the Polish invasion

[@Glund117]

@@timurlane4004 nothing to do with Finland, they jointly invaded Poland, which started the war. Although the Soviet invasion of Finland put pressure on Germany to get going with their ambitions

[@timurlane4004]

@@Glund117 Oh nvm my English is not that great so i misunderstood your point :)

[@ratyjoona]

@@Glund117 USSR came to Poland afterwards, not at the same time. Thus they didn't start it.

[@mrbonanza3107]

@@timurlane4004 Was it fair to my people when ussr attacked for no reason first sweden threat as like shit for 600yr then russians came for 100yr but this is only for ruling time they always raided us, for examble my ancestors had been taken by russiand and sold as slaves and when we finally are independed you start war with us. And now putin wants to test us sending airplanes to our airspace, Can you just leave us alone like you already got most land in the world and you want more? Come here we got many simo häyhäs left!

[@spooksmysteries4971]

McJibbin, Thank you for your reaction. The soviet tanks of the time had their air intakes mostly on the up-side. Crashing a molotov into it would suck the burning diesel and tar, laced often with aluminium dust in the engine and in the crew compartment.

[@jipsumies3435]

And this is why Finland supports Ukraine.. History

[@mogges]

11:20 Sovjet was big and the most of the Soviet’s soldiers in the beginning of the war was from regions who not have extreme winter conditions.

[@Tiax776]

Molotov cocktails were used (or similar improvised incendiary devices) before the Winter War, eg. in Spain but the Finns gave it the name and made an improved version, which was much more reliable than using just a rag shoved in a bottle filled with petrol. Early Soviet tanks had the engine intakes at the back and those could be targeted with the Molotov Cocktails thus disabling the engines.

[@cste9146]

Finns were also the first to mass-produce them

[@worstcasescenario5242]

Great video. My family fled from Karjala (Karelia) and my grandfather fought in winter war - and all following to that

[@jebbus132]

The Molotov cocktail's way of disabling tanks works by throwing it on the tanks engine air intake so you can overheat the engine and internal space of the tank, sometimes spreading flames inside the tank.

[@lumihanki5631]

Molotov cocktail was more sophisticated than what curiosity explained, it didn't have a cloth for ignition, but two bengali matches on the sides, primary and a secondary, if the weapon didn't burst on first impact. Liquid was made out of benzine, tar, alcohol and lamp oil. It was specifically an antitank weopon, were it was thrown into the intake of the tank cabin where the fire and smoke would suffocate the tank crew or force them to exit and consequently be shot to death... .. Alkoholiliike OY AB (Finnish state alcohol monopoly company) would go on to produce well over 500 000 burn bottles named after Molotov during the war, and only three original bottles still remain today in museums in Finland.

[@Waterford1992]

Leningrad was renamed in 1991 after a referendum by its population.

[@Glund117]

It was renamed to its original name

[@Waterford1992]

@@Glund117 Thats what i said

[@Glund117]

@@Waterford1992 I'm not disagreeing just adding detail

[@jeppisnina]

So interesting video. Thank you!

[@tiaelina1090]

My father was 19 when Russia invaded Finland and he lied about his age and joined the Finnish army to fight the Russians. The stories he told about the winter war was amazing to hear. My father got wounded during the war. My mother was also a “Lotta” and she also spoke of the terrors during this time. Finnish soldiers were very smart at gorilla tactics.

[@matso3856]

"Not Germany?" 23:38 , no because at this time 1939 they had signed the Molotov Pact you mentioned earlier , and thus stopped most of the support heading for Finland, italian planes amongst other critical things.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

soviets should get the blame but they dont because they fought against the nazis later on, history is written by the victors.

[@huitase313]

Finland also kinda sneakly got away from the stigma that we were allies with the nazies and kinda part of the axis power.

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

In the begining Soviet union and Germany were alliences. Later on not so much ......

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

@@blackcoffeebeans6100 not really, in mein kampf hitler makes it clear he hates the jews and communists the most. i think stalin was just too naive, he saw an oppoturnity to advance his own power.

[@kessu1863]

11:20 fun fact Soviets adopted many tactics from Finns and used them against germans in winter

[@matswinberg5045]

Just as they did 2 centuries earlier, this time from the Swedes. It is reported that an overjoyed Peter the Great greeted captive Swedish generals after the battle of Poltava with the words: "A toast to our teachers".

[@NirreFirre]

This makes me, as a nordic citizen (🇸🇪), so much more convinced that we, together over the ages, and now with NATO membership within reach, will always be supporting each other and - perhaps even more important - be ABLE to do it, regardless of the numbers of human lives the oppressor in Moscow will send in the coming centuries. There's sometimes Swedish naivety about the eastern risk and threats, sometimes even a slight condescending way we adress our little brother but I think 🇺🇦 has really made the 2000's generations wake up (I'm 43 and have for example gone 160° on the defence budget, SAAB and BAE Systems ties to our government etc) and look towards the Finns as "the ones we should listen to and watch on how to prepare". Truly, respect!! 🇫🇮💙🤍💙

[@toniviinikainen8730]

We in Finland do blame the Soviets for the second world war. You were allied with them and let them keep enslaving all the countries they managed to conquer so it was akward to admit that you were allied with a terrible monster so you've been kinda downplaying with for the last 80 years or so. in 1939 they did it to my home country and now they are doing the same in Ukraine. I hope that Ukraine is also able to inflict some serious hurt to the invading Russian horde.

[@tiaelina1090]

Yep totally agree, my dad was 19 when Russia invaded Finland borders and lied about his age so he could enter the army and fight against Russia. He said that no one would come to Finland aid during the start of the war and said what really help Finland was the bitter cold and how unprepared the Russians were, and here we go again with Russia invading another country and the world sitting back and watching.

[@finnishculturalchannel]

Lauri Törni is considered as the most famous Finnish soldier: "Larry Thorne: "The Real Finnish Soldier of 3 Armies: Lauri Allan Törni" . There's also a documentary with a greater detail and commentary about his life: "Törni - Sotilaan tarina (A Soldier's Story) English Subtitles". He appears in "The Big Picture" TV series about the US military: "Phantom Fighters - The Big Picture". Aimo Koivunen is known for being possibly the first known soldier in a war who overdosed meth: "Soldier OD's on Meth, Has Crazy Adventure | Tales From the Bottle". Aarne Juutilainen's brother ilmari was one of the best fighter pilots in the WW2: "Finnish fighter aces interviewed 1944 (with eng sub) / Hävittäjä-ässät haastattelussa 1944". Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim has been elected several times as the Greatest Finn Ever by the Finnish people. Here's some history relating Finland's geopolitical position before the WW2, during and after it: Brief Introduction to Finnish Military History Sympathy For Finland (1939) Talvisota- The Winter War ([Rare video] Friends of Finland) Kermit Roosevelt talks with British volunteers for Finland's Winter War (1940) The American Volunteers who Fought Against Communism in the Winter War Sir Winston Churchill - Everyone can see how Communism rots the soul of a nation - 20 January 1940 015 - The Invasion of Finland - WW2 - 8 December 1939 What Was the Lend-Lease Act? | History The Most Dangerous Naval Route in the World - Convoy PQ-17 Vesikko Satunnaista sotilashistoriaa The Confusing Belligerent Status of FINLAND in WW2 Explained The Only Secret Recording of Hitler's Normal Voice | The Hitler-Mannerheim Recording Jamming Soviet Radios With Säkkijärven Polkka Brewster Buffalo | WW2's "Worst" Aircraft Wasn't All Bad The VL Myrsky: Finnish Storm Finnish Fighter Messerschmitt bf 109 (with eng sub) World's Most Successful Fighter Pilot...; Ilmari Juutilainen ! The Greatest Bomber Raids You Never Heard Of The Forgotten Story of the Red Army's Insane 'Soviet DUNKIRK' in WW2 Sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff: Worst Maritime Disaster in History German U-745 submarine found gulf of Finland Why Finland "joined" the Axis Strangers in a Stranger Land: Finland's Jewish Soldiers in WWII East Meets West 1945 - US-Soviet Linkup at the Elbe The Cold War Explained In 15 Minutes | Best Cold War Documentary How did Finland deal with the Soviet Union after the World War? The Cold War: Détente - The SALT Agreements, Ostpolitik and the Helsinki Accords - Episode 44 Mini-Documentary: Looking back at the Helsinki Accords

[@CMY187]

It’s interesting that you point out Stalin’s purging of the Soviet military, especially when comparing it to Hitler NOT doing the same only to then become furious many times at his generals disobeying his orders over and over while in the Eastern Front. TIKHistory has a video that I wish to recommend: Why Hitler didn’t trust his generals | Schleicher & the Fall of the Weimar Republic

[@TheFierceFinn]

Among some British volunteers fighting with the Finns was one Sir Christopher Lee.

[@olivierdk2]

10:19 You can stop it with the cocktails, just throw them over the ventilation/cooling openings in the back of the tank.

[@RaoulKunz1]

"The same is true of Volgograd (renamed Stalingrad in the soviet era)." Kind of yes, but the city was originally named Tsaritsyn after it's founding in the late 16th century expansion in 1589 and only named Stalingrad in 1925 because the then newly established General Secretary Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, Russified as "Joseph Vissarionovich" and using his way more awesome nom de guerre of "Stalin" ("The One made of Steel") felt this city needed to be named for him for some minor involvement in the Battle of Tsaritsyn as a commissar in the First Cavalry Army facing the White Don Cossacks supported by British armoured formations and elements of other White forces. In 1961, after purging all of Stalin's lickspittles, Nikita Khrushchev's administration decided to rename the city "Volgograd" ("Volga City" - the most generic imaginable name for a city on the river Volga ;) ) so as to get rid of the cult of personality that had been fostered around Stalin (and probably because Khrushchev was involved in the Battle himself as a commissar attached to General Vasily Chuikov's Stalingrad Front [a "front" being an army group sized formation]) and at least a little because he had suffered much ridicule from the man himself on many a social occasion. Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

[@Iaretreytrey]

i liked the video and you just gained another sub

[@julle006]

Thank you! There is another Finnish bad ass soldier (if interested): "Lauri Törni - The soldier who fought in 3 armies" kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6uVcqBvds2sZ5Y&ab_channel=SimpleHistory

[@ryannelson3220]

and from what i have been told, they have never found his remains...

[@jaskau2462]

@@ryannelson3220 It's quite controversial was there really Lauri Törni's(Larry Thorne's) actual remains on the helicopter crash site found from the Vietnamese/Cambodian border jungle some years ago, but what I have heard some DNA testing has "proofed" it was (???) 🙄

[@formatique_arschloch]

@@ryannelson3220 His remains were found 1999 and identified 2003. He was buried in Arlington.

[@ryannelson3220]

@@formatique_arschloch i found that out earlier today, but i do thank for putting out that info for others to see as well

[@formatique_arschloch]

@@ryannelson3220 Great, pleasure was mine.

[@Payne2view]

One of the rare entries in my Grandfather's diary (he usually used it to track his working shifts) is in Nov 30th 1939, where he notes, "Russia attacked Finland today. Bombed Helskinki."

[@Niko-zu7mj]

Fantastic reaction for very interesting event

[@MrBanaanipommi]

the way destroying tank with molotov is that they stop the tank (with log or something) then throw molotov into air intake of the engine and the soup is ready, it burns the tank inside and the crew :D

[@Belnick6666]

the "liquid fire" from the molotov cocktails could suffocate/stall the engines, ussr built tanks were no mercedes's and have lots of holes where smoke and fuel/fire could leak in. Imagine if they hit the driver hatch....how much of fluid and fire would spray in on him....but it was mostly used to damage the engines on the tanks

[@teemurrr9319]

Kollaa kestää. Good react vid my man, as a Fin I have to insta sub channel. Thank you.

[@keinapappa8981]

Last photo was taken in april1945 at 3 countries border mark (Finland, Norway and Sweden) after germans were driven out of finnish Lapland to occupied Norway (Lapin sota/ Lapland war) according to armistice treaty between Soviet Union and Finland.

[@kessu1863]

when the molotov coctail hit the top of tanks engine it set the engine up in flames and burned all the crew inside it

[@samhartford8677]

Oh man! That comment about 'how could Stalin not see that he was being stupid' is priceless. That's exactly the point about narcissistic sociopaths: They have a very limited sense of how thing work in reality, because they always work based on self-interest.

[@MrDefaultti]

General of the Infantry Adolf Ehrnrooth visited England in the 1970s. An English general asked how many Soviet troops were stationed in Finland. - A few hundred thousand, Ehrnrooth replied. - Where are they placed? continued to be titillated by the British general. - To a depth of two meters along the border, Ehrnrooth noted.

[@MrRisbergo]

Another famous fighter was Lauri Törni, who had to move to USA after the war, and change his name to Larry Thorne and went to US military (and into Vietnam war). Watch the movie Green Beret. Famous John Wayne acted as character named Larry Thorne. :)

[@huitase313]

He also was in the waffen SS

[@iida90]

When there was a winter war in Finland, my grandmother's cousin Kyösti Kallio was the president at that time but he got really sick and his health was in bad condition so Risto Ryti was doing his part also as a prime minister to help Kyösti Kallio to do the duty of the president. Kyösti Kallio died in 1940 because he was so sick.

[@MimiMangetsu]

Russia has done the false diplomacy and "mainila" shots in ukraine too. Rn Finland's military is preparing to defend Finland if necessary.

[@michaelkarlberg3131]

Molotov cocktail is a sticky liquid containing petrol and other stuff. This was thrown in the engin air vent thus blowing it up.

[@mah2126]

The Molotov cocktails were thrown into the air-vents (which had no kind of filter keeping burning liquid out) or through view slots. The armored outside could, as you suggest, handle a certain amount of fire. But the crew and munition inside could not. And the Tanks themselves did not do well with burning liquid spreading out inside, either. The results was usually burned out husks. THe crew stayed inside or tried to get out. Neither was a good idea with Finn soldiers directly next to the vehicle, waiting.

[@jaeger233]

my grandfather fought in winter war. he was counter artillery

[@c15a]

Was the T28 useful? Also since engines weren’t airtight back then, the fuel would drip down trough the ventilation and mess up the engine, causing the crew compartment to be flooded with toxic fumes from the burning fuel.

[@petrusinvictus3603]

Molotov- coctail was/is used to throw it to tanks air intakes, so get the fire inside.

[@sophiegeorge2816]

Russia were classed as an ally at the beginning and Germany invaded first, but yes they are both to blame

[@matthewarsenault463]

Molotov cocktails would enter the intake of a tanks motor and cause the motor to catch fire is from what I understand

[@hawkstable8889]

10:08 A fire in the air intake of the engine will cause it to asphyxiate and shut down, leaving the tank immobilized.

[@Cougarsmane]

It probably has been mentioned in a previous comment before, but the Molotov was quite effective against the tanks of that era because a tank's engine cannot run without air, and the soviet ones had a particular Death star-type of vulnerability: the tank's grills for air were exposed on the outside of the tank. This meant that a well aimed Molotov cocktail could land in such a way that the engine's air intake was compromised, it would gulp in a bottle of burning liquid, and this could do a whole lot of damage to the tank and possibly even kill the crew inside.

[@jmirsp4z]

attempted invasion* :D where is your soviet union now, huh? sincerely, a finnish person

[@matthewarsenault463]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend that would pretty much explain the west and the USSR during World War II

[@faicher]

To the molotov coctail's it also "exploded" the tank since the fuel was set on fire

[@0Quiwi0]

The molotov coctails were dropped on the vents of the tanks so the motor would overheat and/or the fire would spread inside the tank

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

~8:45 ... Bloody excellent question!

[@erikmarklund3033]

It was actually the opposite, St.Petersburg was renamed to Leningrad after the soviets took over the country. Then they renamed it back to St.Petersburg again after the union collapsed and the russian federation was formed. The soviets absolutely detested the monarchist system so having a system named after Peter the great was not something they wanted, so they renamed it to a figure they idolised, Lenin.

[@tryingtocorrect]

Well I am not the most neutral to answer this as I am Finnish :) , but.... I have studied quite a lot about Russia and WW2 and I would definitely say Russia is together with Germany *both* guilty of starting the WW2. So not only Germany. As you correctly pointed they invaded an together Poland first (it was agreed with Germany and russia), and then also they attacked Finland.

[@Khony]

One former soviet officer said after the treaty, that the soviet union conquered enough land just to bury their dead.

[@sertre123]

you should react to the sabaton history videos about talvisota, the white death and the soldier of 3 armies

[@Aquelll]

A lot of Soviet soldiers placed into Finnish front were from the southern pustas and never seen such amount of snow and cold. They also were not provided proper cold weather gear. Some even had no gloves at all.

[@Dimrim1]

Semu had a huge advantage in his height aswell, he was tiny af, 152 cm so if he wanted to duck under something he didnt really need to do much

[@Caldera01]

1. Why the Soviet aren't blamed? Because they were a part of the Allies, the side that won. Winners don't take blame. 2. Why the Soviets performed poorly in the winter? Couple major reasons, they expected a fast and easy war with no need for plenty of supplies. They also didn't use troops from the northern part of the Soviet Union. These were southerners, unfamiliar with snow. 3. Is Häyhä the most famous soldier? I assume you mean rank and file soldier and not the leading officers. Potentially today, yes, but if we go back even 10 years, he wouldn't even be the most famous Finnish soldier as that would have been Lauri Törni, or Larry Thorne, or The Soldier of Three Armies. But internationally I'm sure there were more famous soldiers. The fame of Häyhä is mostly from recent zeitgeist surrounding him. 4. Finland wouldn't receive German airplanes until Continuation War, when Finland joined Germany for Operation Barbarossa. Remember, Finland was given to Soviet's sphere of influence in the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-unaggression pact.

[@TheFuel89]

Facts right here.

[@Nevis1988]

Great react again :) ya should check someday finnish war movie "Tuntematon sotilas" (Unknown soldier) and ofc all everything finnish stuff :D

[@patu1989]

You should the out two movies about finnish wars. One is called Talvisota(winter war) and the other Tuntematon sotilas(the unknown soldier). You can find the miniseries verison from Talvisota with english subs on Dailymotion.

[@totallynotsarcastic7392]

8:18 Oh dear, that's a no-no question lol, a lot of people don't like it when folks ask such questions. But I'm glad you did, more people should👍

[@mhh7544]

And thats my grand dad behind that MG, its from Lemetti.

[@juhokuusisto9339]

Molotov Cocktail made in Finland isn't a bottle with a rag lit on top, but a capped bottle with bengal-matches (storm matches) taped to the sides. The Soviets didn't copy German Blitzkrieg from the western Europe campaing for the winter war, because it happened after the winter war. Why can't Simon "10 million channels" Whistler get these right?

[@teosto1384]

When the snow starts speaking finnish, you'd better be very afraid. It is true that some Russian people are very acclimated to cold weather but since Russia is such a big country there are people who may not have ever seen the snow. But most of why they couldn't handle the weather was because they weren't offered the proper winter gear. If I remember correctly, German soldiers experienced the same fate when invading Russia.

[@toomasargel8503]

09:37 You are 100% right . Thanks man !

[@sicknessnfilth1616]

I think it's cool that (Christoffer Lee) Saruman actually came to aid Finland at one of our nations darkest times though he was never let to the frontlines.

[@Lumperi65]

6:48 This building in Helsinki is nowadays polytechnic school. My school 1986 - 90.

[@Pyllymysli]

While the famous molotov cocktail would be a very serious thing for the tank crew, it isn't just for that. A petrol bomb will most definitely eliminate a tank. The tanks during era had their engine air intakes on top of the engine, which usually was behind the turret. If you threw a petrol bomb on the intake, which was the tactic, the engine would swallow the heat and fire, destroying the engine.

[@zergking8338]

these numbers off units lost in fight positions are sick

[@profittaker6662]

The coctal for molotov is Finnish invention thanking kindly Molotov for the 'breadbasket' they dropped in Helsinki.

[@HenriCore]

10:45 since they called St petersburg leningrad because it was called that at the time then they should have also called vyborg viipuri

[@Wintermist-SWE]

If you, at the bottom, know that informing those higher up that something isn't possible in the current situation could have you killed, you would probably project a situation showing it's entirely possible. Those same higher ups then think it is possible, and gives the go-ahead. No wonder plans failed if you can't be allowed to say it can't be done without changes.

[@lukum55]

The Soviets did later on get a well deserved reputation as winter experts, excelling at fighting in extreme cold. They did not start out that way though, they learnt it from the Finns and they did so the hard way.

[@joonatan782]

10:15 I think they threw molotov cocktails to motors ventilation so burning liquid will go there. Im not 100% sure.

[@kimcalonius2182]

You are right.

[@ttorum]

Winners will not be judged.

[@calsauron8459]

23:30 To answer your question. Germany supported Finland in continuation war, not during the winter war.

[@Alpi14]

There was one man who was almost or as famous as Simo Häyhä Was Lauri Allan Törni he fighted the whole Second World War.

[@gfhsxdf5769]

The molotov cocktailts were very efficient becaus russians poor welding and assembling quality, during winter war russian tanks had huge huge holes where the burning tar/petrol/alchol would pour in damaging the crew or engine

[@Ravtaku]

Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮