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Letter Re: Lessons Learned from Finland's Winter War
Dear Jim and Family,
I got notice through Amazon about an interesting novel: "The Winter
War", by William Durbin
This sounds like it would be a good choice for historical fiction, though its
listed under the Children's section. The Winter War (Taalvisota) in 1938-39
details the invasion of Finland by communist Russia. I've studied it extensively
and its a depressing tale, though heroic, because the Finns eventually lost
and the Russian incompetence spurred Hitler to invade Russia, thinking it would
be an easy victory and give him access to oil. Hitler might have held on longer
if he hadn't tried to take the Russian oil by force. America and most of Europe
supported the Finns in their battle to protect themselves from the overwhelming
masses of the communist invaders.
The Winter War is a good example of guerilla fighting with bolt action sniper
rifles, mostly captured weapons reworked into proper condition and accurized,
fighting against thousands of tanks, aircraft and 4:1 odds. Skiing cross country
through the forest, the Finns destroyed a million Russian troops with the help
of their cold winter and isolating the troops from their supply lines. It was
a nasty war and the Finns were eventually defeated but its still quite educational
for mental preparation, tactics, use of available resources, and applying your
advantages to the situation. Its amazing what people can do when they have
to. Especially when the enemy is as incompetent as the Soviets were, sending
their troops in with Summer weight uniforms and allowing their supply lines
to be cut, having massacred their battle hardened generals for not being good
party members. The communists did everything wrong in that war, and they paid
a high price for it. That's where the old joke about Soviet Minesweepers comes
from, only its not a joke. They really did walk arm in arm
singing great patriotic songs till their legs were blown off. Gruesome. Somehow
I doubt that's in this
book. The real Taalvisota is a dark chapter of history and one every survivalist
should know. Best, - InyoKern
JWR Replies: See the "Tolvajarvi" chapter of my novel "Patriots:
Surviving the Coming Collapse".. It is an homage to the tenacity
of those that fought in the Winter
War.
