Quote:
Originally Posted by Moth
The word "Finlandization" was born out their situation during the Cold War. Yes, they did not suffer any occupation or puppet government, but they had a gun pointed at their head and knew their were limitations on what they could and could not do.
Basically, the USSR took them out of the game via forced treaties, coercion and suttle threats. Certainly better than what happened to Eastern Europe, but still an infringement of sovereignty.
And I believe Finland did receive Marshall Plan funds and was the only country to repay them in full.  |
Actually, Finland was the only country to pay their WWI debt to the US. One source said they stayed out of the Marshall Plan to avoid antagonizing Russia.
Finland's defense against a Goliath power is one of history's great stories. It wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration to call it a modern Thermopylae. Stalin sent his best troops, thinking that a show of arms would make the Finns capitulate, and he would annex a portion or all of Finland. Outnumbered four to one, the Finns made the Russians pay dearly for every foot of ground gained in very difficult terrain. Battles were fought in blizzards and bitter cold of -30 and -40. The white-suited Finns appeared like wraiths out of the snow, striking suddenly and disappearing into the forests. Many soldiers, especially poorly clad Russians, were often found frozen in battle stance.
Except for some aid and volunteers from Sweden, Finland was virtually alone. It's estimated that the Russians suffered a million casualties in a war of only four months. Once the Russians found that the cost of penetrating the Mannerheim Line was prohibitive, the war ended.
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