On November 26, 1939, seven artillery shells struck the Soviet village of Mainila, close to the Finnish border. The Kremlin immediately blamed Finland, claiming four of its soldiers were killed. Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov used the incident to cancel a non-aggression pact between the two nations. However, Finnish border guards had observed the truth: the shells were fired from inside Soviet territory. It was a false flag operation, engineered to create a pretext for war. Just four days later, the Red Army invaded Finland without a formal declaration. Soviet planners, expecting a swift victory to celebrate Joseph Stalin's 60th birthday, believed the campaign would be over in two weeks. They were about to be proven wrong.
The Winter War
In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, expecting a quick victory, but met fierce resistance that gave the world the 'Molotov cocktail'.
Chapter 1
A Shelling of Lies
0:47
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Soviet Union invade Finland?
The Soviet Union invaded to improve its strategic position against Germany by gaining Finnish territory. The official justification was a fabricated border incident at the village of Mainila, where the Soviets shelled their own territory and blamed Finland.
What was the 'Molotov cocktail'?
It was an improvised firebomb used by the Finns. After Soviet minister Vyacheslav Molotov claimed bombers were dropping 'food aid,' Finns sarcastically called the bombs 'Molotov bread baskets' and named their gasoline-filled bottles 'Molotov cocktails'—a drink to go with the food.
Who was Simo Häyhä?
Simo Häyhä, nicknamed 'The White Death,' was a Finnish sniper and the deadliest in recorded history. He is credited with over 500 confirmed kills in less than 100 days, using a rifle without a telescopic scope to avoid detection.
Learn more
To continue the story, download the Chunks Microlearning app
Or get it straight away:
Download on iOS
Download on Android