86 anni fa, il Daily Express riferì che “I finlandesi si arrendono”

Just thought it was a funny headline, and interesting for people to see. This is from the December 1st, 1939 issue of the Daily Express.

I wonder what their sources were or if they just made everything up.

The world could be so different today if some actions really took place. In February 1940 France considered bombing and destroying most of the soviet oil industry.

The OG three day special operation

For those not in the know, this headline is entirely wrong! The Finns definitely did not surrender! Quite the opposite in fact.

Although their troops were outnumbered by about 1 million to 300k they fought the Russians tooth and nail. Fighting continued for several brutal winter months until the Finns, fearing the worst, decided to settle for a negotiated peace rather than risk defeat. They lost territory in the peace but were not defeated and kept their sovereignty. They later asked the Germans (who by then had also become Russia’s enemy) to help them kick the Russians out. Unfortunately that move also cost the Finns because (obviously) Germany eventually lost the war and the Finns were stuck with being allied to the nazis which meant Finland got stiffed in the resulting peace and were forced to pay reparations – for being invaded.

Although the two wars and the link to the nazis did cost the Finns dear it was arguably also very successful in defining and retaining their nationhood because I think (someone will no doubt correct me if I’m wrong) but of all the European capitals of countries involved in WW2 (excluding neutrals) only Moscow, London, and Helsinki were never occupied.

Huh, who would of guessed that The Daily Mail was a crap publication.