Texan Reacts to Kings and Generals Winter War Pt.2

[@LightxHeaven]

Even though Sweden never gave any official support to Finland, I’m glad many of us volunteered to fight with our brothers-in-arms. There was so much internal pressure from so many Swedes to support Finland that it didn’t matter too much what Moscow thought. And the amount of supplies we gave to the Finns made a difference, so there’s at least that.

[@rayceofhistory]

That's one of my favorite parts of this whole thing is the volunteers from Sweden who came to fight. Because nothing made them. They weren't involved directly, and it could have actually been detrimental to do so, but they grabbed their guns and went anyway. I love that.

[@melkor3496]

@@rayceofhistory A saying at the time from Swedes because of a book was ”Finlands sak är vår” which roughly translates to The Finnish cause is ours. Basically their struggle is ours too and we must support them.

[@melkor3496]

@@rayceofhistory What light said is correct and to put it mildly Sweden sent a shit ton of equipment to Finland in all kinds of things to help them hold on.

[@tonya5818]

There was a great material help at the beginnig from Sweden. Actually swedish citizens wanted to help more, but goverment started to back out. Justice Minister Westmar said that it is againts the swedish laws to collect volunteers to foreing wars. And because of that the number of volunteers was not as big as it was going to be. 16.2.1940 The goverment of Sweden gave a public declaration, that Sweden is not sending any troops to help Finland(for Finland that has been a huge hope to happen). That declaration was also huge relief to Russia and shortly after that they conquered Sortavala and Viipuri. Public feeling in Finland after Swedish declaration was "they turned their backs to us and why didn't Sweden just stay quiet." Nations Union(now United Nations) told countries to help Finland, after that Finland, France and Britain asked Sweden a permission to use swedish railways to transfer French/British troops to Finland (by seas it was too dangerous ja slow) but 27.2.1940 Foreign minister of Sweden said powerful NO. Troops never came. After Finland was achieving huge victories in the battlefield, and Russia knew that west was planning to send troops, Russia wanted to start peace negotiations and wanted Sweden to be peace mediator. Soon Finland realised that Sweden, in that role, was too curry favoring for Russia, and wanted U.S.A to help with peace negotiations.

[@wtfronsson]

Public opinion in Sweden was towards mustering a great force, pretty much an entire army to send to Finland's help. "80-100 thousand men" was on the table, and apparently there was no shortage of actual volunteers either. But certain politicians used their influence in quite dishonest ways. Bureaucratic wrenches were being thrown in the gears. Cases of censoring the press by coercion are recorded. So basically a few men succeeded to thwart the Swedish people's will. Less than 10% of the originally planned troops ended up taking part, which is crazy considering they apparently had the volunteers for a full force. Lies, propaganda. Also known as corruption. One could say Sweden's leaders were simply trying to remain neutral. Ok, but is that supposed to be a good goal? The right play? What did "neutrality" get Finland? A communist invasion. Why would Sweden ever think they weren't simply next in line if Finland falls? Material aid from other countries was vital, and Sweden was the greatest contributor. That being said, Finns captured more Soviet equipment than all the aid AND foreign deals put together. And pretty much all of the Soviet equipment was better as well. Also, there was less of a logistic problem when the ruskies just delivered it to our frontline. It's fair to say the actual greatest material contributor was the Soviet Union.

[@mattirauhalahti3346]

Nice job ! My grandfather and other relatives fought there in Tolvajärvi/Ägläjärvi/ Aittojoki in group Talvela. lieutenant colonel Pajari was grandfathers chief officer, grandfather was second lieutenant. Grandfather and Pajari known each other well, before the war they were part in the same volunteer military organization for a decade. Pajari visited our farm many times before the war, leading military practices. Pajari was allmost deaf, brave soldier. Always the front line with soldiers. Finnish soldiers practice before the Winter war ,and skiing skills were important against massive enemies. Our little villages casualties in that area was huge, but Finlands is free country, even now. My relatives survived, but many neighbours dont. Sorry my english, i dont use it very much.

[@rayceofhistory]

The English is great👍

[@EiraAimo]

Its not all about logistics. Some troops were gathered from southern and warmer parts of Soviet russia and they were not used to this kind of weather. Surviving and maintaining good form requires special knowhow, no matter what gear etc you have.

[@attesih]

Finns also had problems with logistics but they didn't had much to send so it didn't matter that much :)

[@magnusk9724]

Hello, will you continue this series ?

[@rayceofhistory]

Yes, the next video comes out tomorrow.