The Winter War

Following ordinary Finnish reservists from a rural regiment, the film depicts the grueling cold, fear, and camaraderie of frontline combat during the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland. It portrays the war's brutal realism without glorification, following its soldiers from mobilization through exhausting battle to eventual armistice.

The Winter War was fought between Finland and the Soviet Union from November 1939 to March 1940 after the USSR invaded Finland; despite being vastly outnumbered, Finnish forces inflicted disproportionate casualties before ultimately ceding territory in the Moscow Peace Treaty.

Widely regarded in Finland as one of the most realistic depictions of the conflict, closely based on veterans' accounts and military detail.

The Soviet Union invaded Finland after Finland refused territorial demands. Finnish forces, far smaller and heavily outnumbered, inflicted severe losses before being ground down.

Fighting centred on the Mannerheim Line and the forests around Suomussalmi, where Finnish ski troops destroyed encircled Soviet columns. The Moscow Peace Treaty ceded roughly a tenth of Finnish territory.

Directed by Pekka Parikka

Cast: Taneli Mäkelä, Konsta Mäkelä, Timo Torikka, Vesa Vierikko

Positioned at 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940 within the Winter War phase of the war, as part of the Winter War. This is entry 23 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Winter War
• Finland
• Soviet invasion
• cold-weather combat

• 

  Ambush

  Summer 1941

• 

  The Unknown Soldier

  June 1941 – September 1944

• 

  Swing Kids

  1939

• 

  Life Is Beautiful

  1939–1945

• 

  1939 Battle of Westerplatte

  1–7 September 1939

• 

  Westerplatte

  1–7 September 1939