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Friday 18 December 2015

Finland at War: the Winter War 1939-40

During a visit to our local shopping centre, I decided to buy myself an early Christmas present ... a copy of FINLAND AT WAR: THE WINTER WAR 1939-40 by Vesa Nenye with Peter Munter and Toni Wirtanen.


The book was published earlier in the year (September to be precise) by Osprey Publishing (ISBN 978 1 4728 0631 4) and is a hardback with 304 well-illustrated pages.

The war that Finland fought against the Soviet Union over the winter of 1939-40 has always interested me, and I look forward to reading this book over the Christmas holiday.

10 comments:

  1. I would be most interesting in reading your comments on the book in due course, once you have read it, as I Have an interest in the Finnish involvement in WWII, but have not been able to examine an actual copy "in the flesh". A second volume covering the period 1941-45 i.e. the Continuation War and the War against the Germans, from the same author, follows in I think, March next year.

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  2. David Bradbury,

    I will certainly pass on my thoughts about the book once I have finished reading it. So far I have only managed a quick flick through it, but I was quite impressed by what I saw.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  3. This looks promising. I am reading War of he White Death by Bair Irincheev, which is very good, although the maps are lacking somewhat. I am trying to find an affordable copy of the film Talvisota too, clips of which look excellent.

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  4. Springinsfeld,

    I have read several books about the Winter War, and look forward to reading this one as well. I also own a copy of a DVD of a film (THE WINTER WAR: THE TRUE STORY OF A BATTLE AGAINST ALL ODDS) set during the fighting that features what appears to be replica T-26 tanks and I-16 fighters. It is well worth seeing if you can get hold of a copy.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  5. Another excellent Finnish war film is Tali-Ihantala 1944 (2007). It covers the decisive battle of the Continuation War in documentary detail. It features real StuG IIIs, T-26, T-34/85 and some very good mock-up KV-2s and ISU-152s.

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  6. David Bradbury,

    Thanks for the suggestion. I will try to find a copy that has either been dubbed into English or that has English subtitles.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  7. Looking forward to the book on the Continuation War (Jatkasota) coming out next Spring. There's very little in English on that, unlike the Winter War.

    The Tali-Ihantala film is generally available with English subtitles. Worth watching. Quite episodic in the nature of the Cornelius Ryan based films about the same year.

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  8. Nundanket,

    I will certainly be buying the book about the Continuation War, and for the reason you stated.

    I have yet to find a DVD of the film you mention, but I am hoping to do so over this weekend.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  9. I was in Foyles in Lonon last week and noticed that the successor volume is now available, covering the Continuation War and Lapland Wars. The style is identical to the first volume. Excellent maps, a good selection of photos and biographies of significant commanders involved, now including the Germans. I did not purchase a copy as I was on my way to a social event, but it is a book I intend to buy at an early opportunity. Just thought you might like a "heads-up"!

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    Replies
    1. David Bradley,

      Thanks for letting me know that it has been published. I have it on order, and expect it to arrive in the near future.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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