Word: finnish
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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First came the droves of bombing planes over all main Finnish cities. Apparently most came from Russia's new bases in Estonia (see map). They showed ability in reaching their objectives on schedule in formation through low, overcast clouds, but their bombing aim was wretched. At Helsinki, the capital, they aimed at the big central railroad station, freight yards, post office, and at the west harbor (navy yard, transatlantic piers), but mostly hit apartment houses blocks away, shattered the windows of their own legation. Aiming at the city's water supply, they hit the new Olympic Stadium. They...
...land, the Russian attack was launched at four places. In the northern corridor the objective was Finland's ice-free port of Petsamo. Heavy snow prevented the use of artillery here and Finnish counter-attacks recaptured Petsamo after its seizure. Russian prisoners taken were found to be ill-equipped for zero weather; many had frozen feet. Noncombatant Finns fled into Norway in busses camouflaged with bedsheets, were strafed from the air by Red fliers. Some 800 Finnish troops, equipped with skis, stood off the attack of several thousand Russians, but had orders to retire into Norway when Red reinforcements...
...Finland's upper defense line in Viipuri Province (formerly Karelia). Here the Russians evidently advanced in close formation for the Finns told of shooting down two entire companies (800 men) with "machine pistols," a Chicago-type sawed-off machine gun, reputedly capable of 250 rounds per minute. A Finnish soldier, speaking over the radio, said: "I don't believe the Russians are used to us seal shooters. Compared to a seal's head in the water, they [Russians] are almost too big a target. You hardly know where...
...tank attack preceded the infantry advance. Unlike the Poles,*the Finns were ready with anti-tank guns and heavier field artillery. They claimed to have smashed up 54 juggernauts in five days as they fell back on their fortified Mannerheim Line. At Terijoki, seat of the new Red puppet Finnish "Government" (see p. 26), they left land mines which they claimed blew up thousands of Russians...
...series of holding attacks to fix the defenders in positions, set them up for more crushing blows. The Finns said 40,000 of their men were standing off 80,000 Russians. Except at the Mannerheim Line, which the Salmi and Suojärvi attacks were evidently calculated to outflank, Finnish tactics were guerrilla retreat, using forests and lakes (not yet frozen solid) for cover and obstacles...