JiiVee
10-29-2009, 11:44 AM
New historical research questions the dearly-held myth that the international community admired and applauded Finland's bravery during the Winter War, even though Finland was fighting one of the WWII Allies.
One of the most enduring common perceptions of Finland's image abroad was that the world viewed the Winter War as brave little Finland's valiant struggle against an impossible foe.
But this is not the whole truth, says Antero Holmila, a historian whose new book, Talvisota muiden silmin, ("The Winter War in Others' Eyes"), shows that media coverage was not as widespread or positive as Finns generally believe.
Soldiers in the mess. ( YLE ) In particular, British media and public opinion was fairly critical of Finland.
"Britain was only going to get into a war against the Soviet Union once the Soviet army marched over the Tornio River," says Holmila. "In other words, not until Finland was a completely occupied nation."
Tornio River forms part of the western border with Sweden.
World Unsurprised by Attack
The Soviet Union launched an offensive into Finland a few months after Germany's invasion of Poland. The League of Nations declared the USSR's attack illegal, but Finland received no aid because the Soviets were a crucial ally against Germany. ( YLE )
Holmila notes that apparently the rest of the world was less surprised by the Soviet Union's attack than Finland was.
"They already foresaw that the situation could lead to armed conflict, and so when the war was finally sparked, it wasn't much of a surprise except to the Finns," says Holmila.
He adds that the rest of the world did not feel that the war reparations Finland paid to the USSR were all that harsh. For Finns, however, the secession of Karelia is a tremendous historical and national wound.
Media Coverage a Political Tool
Coverage in France, however, was apparently far more visible and sympathetic, as was public opinion there.
But Holmila's research points to the fact that international media coverage of the war was rarely altruistic or objective. Finland's fight was used in many countries to drum up support for nationalist or anti-communist causes.
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/book_world_unimpressed_with_winter_war_heroics_112 0131.html
One of the most enduring common perceptions of Finland's image abroad was that the world viewed the Winter War as brave little Finland's valiant struggle against an impossible foe.
But this is not the whole truth, says Antero Holmila, a historian whose new book, Talvisota muiden silmin, ("The Winter War in Others' Eyes"), shows that media coverage was not as widespread or positive as Finns generally believe.
Soldiers in the mess. ( YLE ) In particular, British media and public opinion was fairly critical of Finland.
"Britain was only going to get into a war against the Soviet Union once the Soviet army marched over the Tornio River," says Holmila. "In other words, not until Finland was a completely occupied nation."
Tornio River forms part of the western border with Sweden.
World Unsurprised by Attack
The Soviet Union launched an offensive into Finland a few months after Germany's invasion of Poland. The League of Nations declared the USSR's attack illegal, but Finland received no aid because the Soviets were a crucial ally against Germany. ( YLE )
Holmila notes that apparently the rest of the world was less surprised by the Soviet Union's attack than Finland was.
"They already foresaw that the situation could lead to armed conflict, and so when the war was finally sparked, it wasn't much of a surprise except to the Finns," says Holmila.
He adds that the rest of the world did not feel that the war reparations Finland paid to the USSR were all that harsh. For Finns, however, the secession of Karelia is a tremendous historical and national wound.
Media Coverage a Political Tool
Coverage in France, however, was apparently far more visible and sympathetic, as was public opinion there.
But Holmila's research points to the fact that international media coverage of the war was rarely altruistic or objective. Finland's fight was used in many countries to drum up support for nationalist or anti-communist causes.
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/book_world_unimpressed_with_winter_war_heroics_112 0131.html