After WW2, why did Stalin let Finland off with some loss of territory rather than occupation and crushing reparations?

Why didn’t Stalin conquer Finland?


Now they could with enough men and effort have conquered finland in its entirety. But stalin opted not to this was because it would have cost a great deal in terms of lives and material.

Did Finland regain territory after ww2?

With assistance from the Nazis, Finland briefly recaptured its lost lands, but from 1944 onwards the Soviet Union regained control.

When Did Stalin demand territory from Finland?

Hostilities ceased in March 1940 with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty in which Finland ceded 9% of its territory to the Soviet Union. Soviet losses were heavy, and the country’s international reputation suffered.



Winter War.

Date 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940 (3 months, 1 week and 6 days)
Result Moscow Peace Treaty

What territory did Finland lose in ww2?

Finland lost nearly 23,000 men in that so-called Winter War of 1939-40. As a result of the treaty signed at the end of the Winter War, Finland had to cede parts of Karelia, Salla, and Kuusamo provinces to the Soviet Union, as well as islands in the Gulf of Finland.

Why was Finland not part of Soviet Union?

Finland ceded 11% of its territory – including the major city Vyborg – to the Soviet Union, but prevented the Soviets from annexing Finland into the USSR. Of all the continental European nations combating, as part of World War II, Helsinki and Moscow were the only capitals not occupied.

What did Finland do in ww2?

Finland participated in the Second World War initially in a defensive war against the Soviet Union, followed by another battle against the Soviet Union acting in concert with Nazi Germany and then finally fighting alongside the Allies against Germany.

What happened to Finland after WWII?

During the early postwar years, Finland’s domestic affairs were marked by economic difficulties. After World War II the country was left with the task of absorbing about 300,000 refugees from the areas ceded to the Soviet Union and at the same time paying war reparations.

Did Finland regain its land?

At the Treaty of Moscow (March 12, 1940), Finland had to cede Finnish Karelia and Salla, a total of 35,084 sq. km, to the Soviet Union, and “lease” Hango, with an additional 117 sq. km. In the fall of 1941, Finland regained these lost territories.

How was Finland punished after ww2?

Aside from human casualties of war, including over 95 000 dead, and damages from bombing, Finland lost 10 percent of her territory, including the second-largest city before the war and 30 percent of electricity generating capacity, and had to resettle 12 percent of her population.

Why did the Soviet Union invade Finland?

Following the invasion, defeat, and partitioning of Poland by Germany and the Soviets in 1939, the Soviet Union sought to push its border with Finland on the Karelian Isthmus westward in an attempt to buttress the security of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) from potential German attack.

Was Finland occupied during WWII?

Finland was invaded by Moscow in November in 1939 in what became known as the Finnish-Soviet Winter War. Battles lasted until March 1940, when Finland, overwhelmed and outnumbered by Soviet troops, agreed to a bitter peace treaty, losing several territories but maintaining its independence.

Why did Finland switch sides in ww2?

The main reason for Finland’s siding with Germany was to regain territory lost to the Soviets in the Winter War of 1939 – 1940. As opposed to Axis Power states and affiliates, Finland granted asylum to Jews and had Jewish soldiers serving in its military. It also refused to participate in the Siege of Leningrad.

How much territory did Finland lose in the Winter War?

By early February 1940, the Finnish Army was exhausted and their defensive lines eventually overrun. Outside help never materialised. Finland was forced to sign the Treaty of Moscow on 12 March 1940, which ceded 11 per cent of its territory to the Soviet Union.

When did Finland surrender in ww2?

By the Treaty of Moscow of March 12, 1940, Finland surrendered a large area of southeastern Finland, including the city of Viipuri (renamed Vyborg), and leased the peninsula of Hanko to the Soviet Union for 30 years.

When did Finland gain independence from Russia?

December 6, 1917

Just over 100 years ago, on December 6, 1917, Finland officially declared independence from Russia. The Declaration of Independence had been signed on December 4 by the Senate (then Finland’s highest governing body) and was adopted by the Finnish Parliament two days later.

How did Finland became independent?

After Russia was taken over by the Bolsheviks in November 1917 Parliament issued a declaration of independence for Finland on December 6, 1917, which was recognized by Lenin and his government on the last day of the year.

How did Sweden lose Finland?

On 17 September 1809, the period of Swedish rule over the rest of Finland came to an end when the Treaty of Hamina was signed, ending the Finnish War. As a result, the eastern third of Sweden was ceded to the Russian Empire and became established as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland.

Who did Finland declare independence from?

the Russian Empire

Finland declared its independence from the Russian Empire on December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution. The United States recognized Finland on May 7, 1919, in a letter from Secretary of State Robert Lansing to Finnish Foreign Minister Rudolf Holsti.

Why did Finland declare independence from Russia?

Proclamation of Empress Elizabeth (1742)



On 18 March 1742, during the Russian occupation in the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), Empress Elizabeth of Russia issued a proclamation in the Finnish language to the Finnish people asking them to create a Finland which would be independent from both Sweden and Russia.

What flag is white with a blue cross?

The flag of Finland

The flag of Finland (Finnish: Suomen lippu, Swedish: Finlands flagga), also called siniristilippu (“Blue Cross Flag”), dates from the beginning of the 20th century. On a white background, it features a blue Nordic cross, which represents Christianity.

Who did Finland side with in ww2?

Nazi Germany

In fact, Finland allied itself with Nazi Germany during the second world war not to prevent Soviet conquest but to win back territories lost to the USSR as a result of the winter war of 1939-40. The peace treaty that ended the war in March 1940 left Finnish independence intact.

Was Finland in the Soviet Union?

Following the Swedish defeat in the war and the signing of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn on September 17, 1809, Finland remained a Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire until the end of 1917, with the czar as Grand Duke.

Who is Finland Allied with?

In the European Union, Finland is a member of the Eurozone, and in addition, the Schengen treaty abolishing passport controls. 60% of foreign trade is to the EU. Other large trade partners are Russia and the United States.

Is Finland friends with USA?

Finland and the United States currently have good relations. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Finland after it declared independence in 1917, and officially established diplomatic relations in 1920.

Do you have to join the military in Finland?

According to the Constitution of Finland every Finnish citizen is obligated to participate in national defence. Every male Finnish citizen aged 18-60 is liable for military service, and women can apply for military service on a voluntary basis.

How much money do refugees get in Finland?

The reimbursement is EUR 2 300 per year as regards persons over 7 years of age, and EUR 6 845 in case of children under 7 years. As regards quota refugees, the reimbursements to municipalities for their services and support will continue for four years.

Does Finland take refugees?

Asylum seekers become refugees if they are granted asylum. Since 2000, Finland has received 1,500–6,000 asylum seekers each year, aside from 2015, in which a record number of asylum seekers, 32,476, arrived following the refugee crisis.

Can I seek asylum in Finland?

You can apply for asylum in Finland if you have a justified reason to fear persecution in your home country. Reasons for the persecution can include origin, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions.

How much is reception allowance in Finland?

The reception allowance is granted to you by your reception centre and paid by the Finnish state. It is meant for your necessary basic needs.



Meals at the reception centre.

Meals at the reception centre
an unaccompanied minor under 16 years 27,86 euros*
an unaccompanied minor between 16 and 17 years 50,15 euros*


How can I get asylum in Sweden?

If you are seeking protection in Sweden, you must submit your application for asylum either to the border police when you enter Sweden, or to one of the Migration Agency’s application units. The Swedish Migration Agency cannot approve an asylum application which is submitted at a Swedish embassy.

How can I get asylum in Norway?

You cannot claim asylum if you want to come to Norway to work or study. The need for protection is the only reason for which asylum is granted. If you want to come to Norway for any other reason, you must apply to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for a residence permit.