Couple mistakes and things you didn't mention: -Finland didn't win the Winter war, -Finland had to kick/ drive 200 thousand Germans from Lapland (the Lapland war), -Finland lost its second largest city Viipuri to Soviet Union -Finland wasn't occupied, -Finland paid it's final war reparations in 1952, -Finland held the summer olympics in 1952(very important), -Martti Ahtisaari is also the former Finnish President 1994-2000, -Finland was still a democracy, but there was self sencorship( aka people didn't do or publish anything that they thought would anger the Soviets), -And most importantly Santa Claus lives in Finland(Lapland)

Finn here. You butchering the names of finnish people is incredibly fun to hear

0:36 "Defeated" is a bit of a strong word. "Survived" might be more appropriate.

Thanks for the episode! Some errata: 1) Most of the land concessions happened in 1940 due to the peace treaty of the Winter War (Karelia, Salla). In 1944, the only major new land concession was Petsamo. There were refugees in 1944 because many of the inhabitants of Karelia had returnned to their homes covered by Finnish forward defence positions. 2) Finland was not occupied by Soviet Union (or any other powers) in 1944, except lease of Porkkala peninsula (1944-1956).

"Months of darkness, reindeer and stories of Santa Claus North. Well, maybe not that far North". Mate, those three things are everywhere in Finland during winter.

Despite some inaccuracies I'm thankful you made this episode. After all, just as you stated, Finland indeed was in the frontier of the Cold War and yet remained independent and became stronger against all the odds. Hoping to see more content about my 102-year-old home country in the future!

Paasikivi was not pro-russian nor left-wing. During the war, Finland had a small but significant peace-opposition who believed that the war was a mistake and Finland should sue for peace as soon as possible. The leaders of peace-opposition were Paasikivi and Kekkonen, two right-wing politicians. After the war, they were seen as having been right, and they were also acceptable for the Soviet Union. Paasikivi despised SU immensely, but his political credo was that Finland cannot change Geography, and therefore good relations were the only choice.

While Finland did indeed put up a really good fight during the winter war, they did not win it. They still lost a chunk of territory and their second largest city. They succeeded in protecting their independence so it wasn't a total defeat, but in the end they still lost. The amazing part is that they made the whole war a Pyrrhic victory for the USSR, since they suffered such terrible causalities.

man there were a lot of historical inaccuracies in this video

Being the great grandson of (Finnish) young man fleeing his home + country to avoid service in the Russian Army (late 1800s) love to learn about my heritage. Peace from Minneapolis Minnesota USA.

I asked if you were going to cover this in the comments of your last video, man was this a positive surprise! Although we didn't win the Winter War, a more accurate word is survive. P. S In Finland we believe that Santa lives in Lapland and not the North Pole, so yeah, that far north.

Finland did not "defeat" the USSR in the Winter War. The Soviets lost a lot of men, but they did not lose.

You made a little error at 1:48. Finland was forced to cede Karelia and Salla to the USSR according to the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940. Petsamo was ceded and Porkkala was leased to the USSR according to the Moscow Armistice of 1944, as well as the terms of the Moscow Peace Treaty being confirmed. So, the modifications of the Moscow Peace Treaty were the ceding of Petsamo, the leasing of Porkkala and Finland being obliged to pay reparations.

Finland: Knock knock Stalin: Who's there? Finland: Helsinki Stalin: ...I don't get it... Finland: And you NEVER WILL!

They also used Finland as a conduit for import and export, getting much needed western goods and luxuries

10:05 Finland was never occupied by the Soviet Union

I saw the Finish rep to the EU being interviewed by the BBC a while ago,and he was brilliant,he spoke with intelligence and pride in his country..His Dignity,when answering some of the arrogant questions put to him was palpable ..RESPECT, .to Finland,you deserve it👏🇬🇧

Dude - Finland lost the Winter War - that’s why they became cobelligerents ( not allies with Nazi Germany) against the USSR. BTW - even though Finland lost to the USSR - it was never fully occupied by the USSR as Finland ended the war with the Soviets in Fall 1944 - so the Soviets were still rather busy still fighting Nazi Germany. Sloppy and inaccurate writing guys

0:33 actually the soviets won it just wasnt a full conquest but in the end they still won

Finland was part of Sweden between 1249 - 1809, which is quite fundamental historically, culturally, linguistically. The ties are close. Finland during the Cold War is where the country had a different situation compared to its Nordic siblings, Finland was more closed off with very limited immigration, struggling financially, the Finnish language (the majority are natives of this non Indo-European language) many Finns left for Sweden, carefully navigating the Sovietunion etc. All of the Nordic countries had to navigate the Sovietunion but Finland had its own challenges there.

As a Polish guy, I wish my country did this instead of larping as superpower

As a Finn I wanted to give a like solely for the sake of "Suomi mainittu", but as others have mentioned, the video is not really as accurate nor as widely covering as I'd like it to be. Some incorrect facts stated were: - the Finns repaying their debt in cash (it was repaid in ships, among things) - Finland winning any wars. Sure, they are defensive victories, but Finland admitted defeat and was forced to sign the treatises both times. - Finland actually using that extension. - and more mentioned in other comments already. Some things I would have liked mentioned: - The entire province of Viipuri being evacuated following the 1940 Moscow peace treaty meant that the population of THE LARGEST province of Finland, in terms of population at the time, got displaced. Not too mention that it was a trade city and barely had any industry at all as a result. (I could go on and on about how special a city the was, but no matter) - Actually going into what actually were the discussions held by the west and the Soviets at the time. There's even a treaty named after Helsinki, the capital. There's some more stuff, but can't have it all.

1:27 Eh what, Finland lost the Winter War too. The peace terms were dictated by the Soviet Union and they were not that different from the peace terms after the Continuation War. Finland had some strategic victories and was able to retain independence against all the odds, but that's not the same thing as victory. 😉

I gotta say I have never once heard someone say Finland won the Winter War. Nothing about Finland’s position at the end of the war spelled ‘Victory’.

Red Army did not occupy Finland.

I served in the British Army from the late 60s for 27 years, then the MInistry of Defence. I "visited" neutral Finland and got very drunk, a USSR border story that no-one would believe. One of my friends, at university in Hull, in the early 90s was the daughter of a Finnish cabinet minister. We'd go to pubs and this buxom lady would get very "tired and emotional" normally getting up an dancing on tables until severely ticked off by licencees. Imagine social media frenzy nowadays. A sentiment at the time, and perhaps even now by many is that (oft quoted), "the Finns are the Zulus of Europe." They will fight against all odds, mad but magnificent. Thanks, David.

Just wanted to let everyone at the cold war team how much I appreciate you! Best part of my Saturday morning. Keep up the good work.

The Cold War, when are you gonna make a video on Juan Peron?

thanks for the upload

Why do you say that finald won the winter war? The losses you mentioned were under the treaty of Moscow of 1940.

Paasikivi was a member of rightwing party National Coalition and goverment formed after 1945 elections was an coalition goverment formed by social democrats, agrarian league, SKDL and few smaller parties.

Amazing video! I really didnt know much about it!!

Nice Video

Did you guys start using a new camera/lens? Looks a little different (in a better way) than before!

Guys, check you footage. I believe Walter Ulbricht is shown around 6:30 instead of a finish guy. Or there is a serious doppelgänger on the loose.

Very insightful

Thanks

Finland was not occupied. As a Fin the amount of mistakes in this video makes me grince. I just hope you do better research, so you don't spread miss information unintentionally.

When I visited my relatives in Finland in 1981 some of the older people talked about eating bread made from sawdust after the war. My parents packed up my sister's used child clothes and sent them to a second cousin there in the late 40's. I met the cousin. There was a joke that the 100 markka (Finnish money before EU) note had a picture of a naked couple standing on a lakeshore outside a sauna waving at a boat on the lake. The joke was that they were waving goodbye to the last reparation payment. Finnish humor.

It's also interesting that despite Finland's interesting situation they eventually got loads of new Soviet tanks, APCs, trucks, guns, and jets before many Warsaw Pact countries.

You should do similar videos on Norway, Denmark and Sweden in and the Cold War 😊 Perhaps also a video on the Swedish nuclear bomb program too.

USSR: we won't get involved in your politics Finland: nice *democratically elects a politician whos slightly anti-communist* USSR: remove him from your goverment or no more trading Finland: bruh

awesome video! please make two videos about this subjects: The Istrian exodus in Italy after ww2, and the nazi and fascist rat lines to Argentina during Peron´s goverment!!

First vid I watch on this potentially good channel and it says "Finland had defeated the Soviet Union during the Winter war" within the first 30 seconds, lol.

So many errors in this. I don't even know where to start...

>Makes video about Finland >Doesn't know anything about Finland

Not too bad but one thing an modern American might not understand is that the Communist party in Finland was allowed in Finland, not because of the Soviet Union, but because we in Finland wanted to prevent it from going underground becoming dangerous. When you give people responsibility they tend to grow into taking responsibility too. There was never among Finnish communist any greater interest in betraying the homeland , Finland. In fact, and this is quite funny, but also so very expected in advance. Finnish communist where able to very freely travel to the USSR and what they found was not much to like about. Also Russians where allowed to travel to Finland, and very soon they came with their list of gifts they wanted their Finnish friends to give them as they did not get it in the USSR. In Finland they where called "koti Ryssä", "my domestic Russian friend", in a very friendly way. So many funny stories from that time. In fact Finland came to have its small role in ending the Soviet Union as so many Russians came to understand that even a small democratic country can have a much higher standard of living than what the Soviet Union is able to provide. Well Finland is perhaps a "new" country but Helsinki was founded in 1550, not an old town in Finland, just a bit younger than when Columbus found America, so it depends on what you compare with.

Just today while watching Indy Niedell video about the winter war I thought you know you never hear what happened with Finland after they signed the Moscow armistice and the cold war. Ask and you shall receive. Thanks for video, its peeking my interest in the history of the non-aligned nations during the cold war more videos like this

4:55 this part keeps activating siri for me lol

Your opening remarks beg the very important question - what did Santa do during the Cold War? Were his elves Communist and his giving of gifts to The People Marxist in nature, or was he simply playing the part of a wealthy philanthropist - after utilizing sweatshop industrial labor like a Capitalist? Or were the elves laboring in gulag to produce those toys? Important history to cover!

The reparations were payed in goods like ships, trains, houses, electrical machinery, paper and wood. Finland was part of Sweden until 1809 and the cultural bonds never broke.

Finland was never occupied

Despite a few historical errors, I "liked" the video and enjoyed watching it.

Might have been a simple cost benefit calculation. Better to have finns helping the soviet economy than invade the country and be bogged down in a long guerrilla war.

1:20 martti ahtisaari is also former president of finland. i think you forgot to mention that :D

it honestly disturbs me how your head is tilted backwards a little.

Good video except we were NOT OCCUPIED.

Nice video. what is the name of the soundtrack that is played in the end (starting from 10:00 ( kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mbxxhZlhutXHlIU.html ) )?

Not bad at all. It's confusing. Well done.

The agreement of 18 June 1935 was crucial for the security of the Baltic Sea region British-German naval agreement. The agreement lifted the restrictions imposed on the German fleet by the Peace of Versailles. Britain agreed to allow Germany to increase its fleet to 35% of British tonnage. In practice, the agreement meant that when the war broke out, the Royal Navy could not operate in the Baltic Sea. For the countries of the Baltic Sea region, this in turn meant that the Royal Navy could not secure their foreign trade, nor could it provide military assistance when war broke out. By 1940, the small countries of the Baltic Sea had all come under the interest of Germany or the Soviet Union.

Finland did not win the winter war. I think you may be confused by the fact that they won initially but eventually they were forced to concede land to the Soviets after they were overwhelmed.

Please tell me you change that tea glass in the table!

Please name the music in last minute ???

Haven't watched this yet but this is actually something I've been waiting for awhile because while I'm generally knowledgeable about post-war Europe I actually don't know that much about the situation in Finland.

The coldest part of the war.

you did not mention island at the gulf of finland

Respect from Poland to Finland, they defend their homeland and survived the threats of Soviet hordes 🇵🇱❤️🇫🇮

Old video, put noticed that in 6.25 the guy looks like Walter ulbricht the leader of DDR and not the president of finland Paasikivi the first clip was Kekkonen.

And lets add the curiosity factor : there were finns serving in Stalins politbyro.

Circle the people you mention if there are more than one person in the picture frame

Ahtisaari was also a president from 1994-2000.

5:42 ,what's that guy shooting at? Looks very strange.

Finns were brave, skilled negotiators and very LUCKY - Stalin respected and trusted them. Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was an exceptional man. People in Poland/Czechia/etc should study Finnish 20th century history and learn from it. I am from Czechia, Czech 20th century politicians we such fools in comparison.

10:13 didn’t the Great War used to use that music?

All and all a fairy decent effort I would say. Especially knowing, from numerous similar attempts here on KZfaq to explain the recent history of Finland. There actually seems to be a belated, yet laudable interest amongst the international history buffs to take on Finland. A few comments. 1. To describe Finland as “a former part of the Russian empire” may be littarary right, yet it is totally misleading. Rather the description should be something like: ”A former part of Sweden having continued as a second Sweden called the Grand Duchy of Finland for a 100 ish years after Russian conquest in 1809. 2. Finland was certainly not occupied by the Soviet Union as is told in the conclusion. In fact Soviet Union tried in earnest three times to occupy Finland. In December -39, in February -40, and in July -44 to do just that. But failed. Therein lies the roots of the different treatment Finland received after the war. But as I mentioned, good effort. 👍

1:05 I swear I heard “fellow Corellians”

I watched the whole video and there was no mention of Finland's most important contribution to the world stage during the Cold War: Formula One and World Rally Car drivers!

Got a shirt! Thanks!

What is the name of the. Back ground music

Dankie. Thanx for this video. I never thought the relationship between Finland and the USSR was so complicated. It sounds more of the Finnish was lite-Commies. Martti Ahtisaari I recalled he was at the end not so much loved here. We only know that the Finns with aid of Natzi-Germany was at war with the USSR and they, with a small margin, hang on to there independence. Martti Ahtisaari was the head of the UN team in Suidwes-Afrika/ South Wes Africa (colonial Deutsch Zudwest Afrika) later called Namibia. After a long Bushwar (1966-1990) South Africa and the Germans of SWA against Swapo, Cuba, USSR agreed on the independence. The South Africa Army reports on the Namibian elections show that hours before the First non-racial elections SWAPO was again in war. Martti Ahtsaari was told about the SWAPO soldiers and he did nothing! South African Army had use again. MA neglected his powers.

7:46: Soviet troops of course meaning the troops in Porkkala. 3:15 Other reasons would be that the war ended with armistice (not unconditional surrender) as Soviets offensives were halted in 1944, coupled with the fact that Finland had respected the armistice by fighting the Lapland War with Germany. While other countries in East had been occupied. Without wanting to star a new unnecessary war (soviet interest had been fulfilled enough by ceased lands), Stalin would only make reasonable demands.

Finland defeated Soviet Union in winter war ? They accepted Soviet demands and only thing they achived was not beeing annexed. Which is great success for a small nation but we can't say they defeated the Soviet Union. Especially for history channel who claims to be historical and sceintific.

Hello cold war thanks for start talking about the Nordic countries role in the cold war. Greetings from a swedish "average joe"

How did Finland deal with the Soviet Union during Cold War? 2 words: Paasikivi, Kekkonen 1 word: Kekkonen.

Like the Korean War, Finland neither won nor lost. I hate that the Finnish president was sentenced to ten years in jail but thankfully served only three.

10:06 Finland lost both wars against the Soviet Union but was never occupied!

Santa Claus lives in Finland. His office is in Rovaniemi.

I haven't heard so many times the word "the north " since game og thrones

I’m a novice student of history and you filled by belly of Finnish history.

wow, do people realize how close it was for Finland to also have fallen behind the Iron Curtain, if Stalin so insisted? Then the Finland today would be completely different.

I am incredibly thankful for our leaders who guided us trough The Cold War. Without them things would be quite different.

Those hand movements.

Why Finland maintained its "independence" after the war was the Soviet Union's need for products that it could not effectively produce for its elite citizens. The end result of the war was thanks to German support. There were many German troops (220000), but they did not attack the Finns significantly when they retreated from Lapland.

А будут русские субтитры?

Finland lost the winter war. They just won some big battles.

great info but the music is WAY TOO LOUD

The most fun thing in the world is hearing non Finnish people trying to say Finnish names

The funny thing is the poor showing of Russian army against Finland did convince Hitler that war with Russia means “you just have to kick the door and all the house will colapse”. Finland-Russia war was a big factor in launching Barbarosa.

One correction, Finland did not win the winter war with Russia

SO when u loose 1/8 of a territory its a win?