Why did Finland align with Germany during WW2?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 тра 2024
- #finland #history
In this video I delve into the intriguing historical circumstances that led Finland to align itself with Germany during World War II. Join me as I explore the complex factors that influenced Finland's decisions at this time!
If Finland wouldn't have become co-belligerents with Germany during the WW2, Finland wouldn't even exist today as we do now. Finland would either be a part of Russia, or a post-Soviet state where Finns would be an ethnic minority.
Losing our sovereingty to Soviet Union would've resulted to genocide. Majority of Finns would have been killed or deported to Siberia. Same way what happened in the Baltic states, except Stalin would've revenged on us even worse since we dared to fight against them during the Winter War. How dared we, right?! Giving indepence to Finland was a Lenin's mistake anyway, lol.
Correct!
Spot on. There was no choice but to be atleast temporal allies with them
Well said.
And one reason Why Finland have shirk NATO membership for so long, is that Veterans generation was well informed about the betray UK and France executed for Finland. In 1930's Both France and UK swore an oath to help and support Finland against the Russian threat. So Finns also well knew Allienships can not be trusted. That's one thing my grandad and his friends teached youngsters was, that we know what Russia has to offer, but we shall not forget that you can't trust the sweet words and cute phrases coming from the West, not a bit. And that's what makes me a little worried about the recent reversals. Government may have just sacrificed our independence.
A heartfelt thank you for this. No too many people especially foreigners understand what was the situation back then. We fought for our very survival as a nation people and culture. If Stalin had his way Finland and Finns would not exist. We did what we had to do under the circumstances. Shake hands with a demon to fend of the devil himself.
They weren't the demons in this story. Most of that is just pure propaganda. Your people did the right thing. Churchill and Roosevelt were the real tyrants, along with Stalin. And had it not been for Churchill egging on the Polish Partisans this war may not have even happened in the first place. Anyhow, Stalin was definitely devil in the end, and The U.S. and Britain helped him steal half of Europe. And made it possible for the Soviet Bolshevik madmen to hold it hostage for a half a century. Herbert Hoover was 100% right. It's too bad that he wasn't still president when this all began to happen. He would have kept the U.S. out of it... And if Finland hadn't' done what it did then you would have been held hostage along with the rest of Eastern Europe and central Asia. So I solute your country for making the right choice. It's too bad that so many others did not. Europe and the the rest of the west is paying the price for it still to this very day. Even the Middle East is suffering because of the outcome of that war. What a disaster it caused.
Churchill had boasted that he would at least speak favourably about the devil before the house of commons should Hitler invade hell. Hitler did invade hell and the rest is history.
Finland got to invade hell as well and Churchill's sympathy for the devil took the better of him then too.
You not alone. We used nazi scientists to send a space shuttle to the moon.
If you haven't looked into the finnish Jewish community during ww2 and how it survived, I highly recommend it.
The field synagogue (with no harasment apparently) existing within sight and knowledge of the germans and the 3 finnish Jews that were offered the Iron Cross (all three refused to accept them) are something pretty badass.
I'll take a look! Cheers
An excellent suggestion! (And not just Jews but also e.g. Romani people of Finland who were fighting for independence of Finland.)
ua-cam.com/video/4fxmG3ydCgs/v-deo.html&ab_channel=YiddishBookCenter
ua-cam.com/video/emgOzd0ng1A/v-deo.html
British and American troops had the right to advance halfway across Germany to wage war, with Soviets covering the other half of Germany, but Finland shouldn't advance a single kilometer past its borders in order to avoid having its territory, once again, be turned into burning rubble by the war. The hypocrisy in London was bigger than Olympus Mons on Mars. You'd think that was enough hypocrisy, but then after the world war was over, the staunch Soviet allies, Brits, suddenly fancied themselves the greatest opponents of communism the world had ever seen. They started calling Finns lowly and unworthy communist lackeys (I won't go into details, but this is what a relative of mine had to hear during the Cold War years when she married a British man, from the mouths of the Briton's relatives). So, hypocrisy the size of the largest mountain in the solar system was too small, it had to be the size of the Moon.
Well, I may sound like this, but I still trust the Brits more than the Russians.
However, till this day Finland has survived and successed mainly with Russia. Even during Russian rule most of the Finland's commercial activity was from the trading of goods into St Petersburg. and so was at the beginning of independency in the 1920's and 1930's. And after WW2 it was the same up till 1980's. And even in the beginning of 2000's St. Petersburg ate for the big part food from Finland. And many finnish food providers finished or came close to finish as the sanctions on Russia began. So who really suffer the sanctions... Russia or the weatern World, I wonder.
I'm IRISH, and I trust the Brits more than the Russians, but I don't trust the Brits very much.
Britain's imperialism
and racism continues to bear very bitter fruit.
So don't chide the Finn's for not taking on Germany, especially right after struggling (alone) for survival against Stalin.
This time, the West has a valuable ally in Finland. If we don't support them, they won't be able to protect the Eastern front.
Finland in WWII was trapped between Hitler and Stalin. They were a "RISK© state," and had no reason to expect help from Britain or America.
Finns should had destroy Murmansk's railroad.
Muricans would had declare war agains Finland after that, but what would they could have done?
@@XtreeM_FaiL Oh God did they try to do that... Many men lost their life while sabotaging that track. But Finland's main group never reached that railroad. Only Bombing and some special forces strike that rail. Partly because of the bombings Russia build norther rail so called Ankangel-track to secure Murmansk operations... I used to know two of those Veterans that struck on that track. One lost his leg in there, and the other one had some fragments in his body.
@@mikkorenvall428 They had many opportunities to do so, not just minor sabotage, but the orders were not to do anything big.
There were not much troops from either side because there are not much else than deep forest.
Great video. Lapland War might make a nice continuation video, especially as it's not as well known as for example the Winter War
Want to do 1 or 2 videos about the continuation war before I get to the lapland war 🤟🏻🤟🏻
The most misunderstood point of Finland/Germany relations back then is to recognize the fact that Finland as a country *never* allied with Nazi's, but our President Risto Ryti did.
He spent his time in prison for that war crime, but he saved the whole North by doing so.
In the end, there was no one else as USSR were allied. U.K. was pressured by Stalin to sign the war declaration but US denied that demand, but since they were allied they can't help.
Finland would have became literal war ground and I doubt Sweden wouldn't have been spared either as Germany held Norway.
It also helped a lot how Hitler actually respected Mannerheim and Finnish people (in his twisted racial manifestos he refers Finns as "Honorary Aryans") whereas Mannerheim knew *what* Hitler was and as an aristocrat with decades lasting military training, he knew how to handle that maniac, demanded how the armies would be separate, no Finnish Jew persecution and what are the goals.
Noticed that youtube has maybe not monetised this video, that's a shame for you, great video and thank you!
Thank you for this comprehensive, well thought out and well researched piece. Most people do not understand why Finland aligned itself with Germany during World War II. This goes a long way towards explaining the situation.
Absolutely fantastic video, thanks. Made me feel genuine patriotism for Finland and their history
Thank you! 🤟🏻
The alternative was to lose independence. Considering that not a single Finnish jew was turned over to the SS, I think we remained honorable in those tough days.
Agreed!
🕯️
Because 1) they wanted to retrieve the territories lost in the Winter War and 2) they knew that another attack from USSR was only a matter of time, and without allies and arms Finns wouldn't survice another invasion. Not to mention that since Hitler had taken Denmark straits the grain transports were running thin. The Western allies refused to help, so a "deal with the devil" was the only possibility. Additionally, 3) certain factions in Finland saw an opportunity to expand Finnish territory beyond its former borders, based on "greater Finland" ideology.
Literally say this in the video.........
@@IrishinFinland Good to put it in writing as well :)
@@IrishinFinland I find it amazing how few times when people speak about this topic - it comes up that Finland was literally 'surrounded' and blocked off from any trade almost anywhere at that time and for example the food was on stamps as in - there was shortage on food. It seems to never occur to people that it wasn't just weapons we needed from Germany - as they were indeed expecting that if we don't do something, Russia will likely attack anyhow (or that the Russians actually made first attack, by bombing us, just before we started continuation war). That is not to say, that what you present in video is wrong. It is to say that there was a lot more to it. The Germans also knew that we needed more than weapons, cause those were all used during Winter war and that attack was expected from Russia to 'finish the matter' and take our country over. Germans offered the alliance - with conditions to obtaining things on could not get from anywhere else at that time - because all trade routes were cut due the war.
When the devil is the only one willing to help, would you make a deal with the devil to save your land and your people? Finnish pragmatism at play here.
The other option was to fall under soviet regime. So, a deal with the devil was the right one. And I hope history has proven that.
Great editing, I enjoyed the historical videos a lot. People often confuse neutrality as pasifism, when in actuality a nation needs to be strong enough to stand on it's own, to defend it's indepence when not in a military alliance. This video reminded me of Kraut's video essay "Neutrality in Europe after 2022", which I highly recommend.
Thank you! And I agree with your point! I'll take a look at the video tonight, sounds very interesting
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
The thing to remember and understand is that the United States never saw any reason to declare war on Finland. I get the impression, how could I not, that Churchill was just out to appease Stalin, his Uncle Joe, for some stupid reason.
And it gets even madder when start pondering about the Commission sent to Finland at the end of the war.
I am so very happy it was the Americans who to the main responsibility in Europe at the end of the war.
Already at Tehran conference in 1943 Roosevelt demanded that Finland should be allowed to withdraw from the war without being punished too harshly. Stalin is on record for replying to him "any nation that has fought so fiercely for their independence as Finland deserves respect".
Never?
They would have done that if Finns destroy Murmansk's railroad.
Awesome footage. Good find.
Never, ever again alone. #weareNATO
I hope and believe this.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate how you bring this subject in day light. Allying with Germany in Continuing War was like poker game. After Winter War our economy and army condition was crippled. In those years my father was also there, hunting Soviet partizans in Eastern Lapland border and beyond. They called "kaukopartiomiehet" or ww2 special forces. Respect.
Great video 👏🏻
Cheers dude!
Talk about being between rock and a hard place.. even UK seek war with us :D I will team up with a devil himself if that means my home country remains independent.
Oi kallis suomenmaa
May The fallen rest in peace 1939-1945(from both sides),
Well done, I think I learned something new today 🫡
It’s a sore point in Finnish history but it could not have gone any other way after having been abandoned by the allied powers.
Finland was abandoned by the world in favour of the endless man power Russia could supply to the war effort against Germany the world left a family member behind enemy lines (just my personal opinion)
If Germany wins, Finland gets to keep the lost territories AND East Karelia.
If Germany doesn't win, Finland can trade East Karelia for the lost territories.
If Germany loses... well they didn't think that one through.
After learning of The Great Wrath following The Great Northern War I believe that the Finns (of which my grandfather was) knew from their own history what they were in for under Russian domination, be it Soviet as it was Czarist. I once heard of the Finnish phrase speaking of "the heredity enemy"
God bless Finland and all whom paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep her free.
Out of necessity and a lack of options.
Tank U
Because 168 million bolsheviks made a treaty with 80 million Na zis to annex rest of Europe between them, and then attacked into Finland which had only population of 4 million.
4 million, with no military industry, against 168 million with most mil factories in the world and 100 times more planes, artillery and tanks.
Still, Finns stopped Soviets after invading few dozen kilometers into Finland, and fight for 4 years against them.
Finland’s population in 1939 was 3.6 million.
But we had military industry for cannons, rifles, machine guns, ammunitions etc. Not for tanks or fighter planes, though during the war there were some attemps to bild fighter planes.
This is interesting stuff, but one small point---it was HIS, not HER, Majesty's Government; we had a King at that point, as we do again now.
I considered making a joke about George VI being mistaken for a woman, but got nothing
Actually, in Lapland, the Finnish troops were under German command structure during the Continuation War. They had their own command structure below the Oulu-Kuusamo line, though.
There were two Finnish armies under the Finnish defence command and one German army up north. There were actually some German units subordinated to the Finnish command structure more to the south. Finnish troops in Lapland, which was operationally German area of responsibility, were likewise subordinated to the German command structure.
Stalin and the Soviet Union. Finland had little choice.
*her* majesty's government?
You know you have a truly horrible mustache man as a neighbor when one has to seek help from the the most evil mustache man in the history of the planet..
...also good to remember that both moustache men were de facto allies from 1939 to 1941, sharing independent countries like pies and invading Poland in full harmony...
@@viljanov Indeed. That is one good reason among many to include them in the same club as horrible mustache men.
”Her Majesty’s Government”? King George VI was still on the throne at that time.
All the same shite really
True - just for accuracy :) The point stands - Finland could count on nobody else and was forced to preserve herself against the obvious Soviet aggressor and hopefully recover some stolen land in the process, and make a buffer against further aggression. Maybe extended a little too far in the east and counted on German success a little too much in the North and at Leningrad.
Its,s same thing now with NATO,we are looking For some backround before aggression 🤔 we would hold some Time but .... 🤛🔥🤛🔥🔥🤔
I hate that Finland sided with Germany but I also hate that the western countries sided with Russia. Like the western countries, Finland and Eastern Europe had to play the cards they were dealt. Stalin and Russia was just as much a threat to the world as the axis countries were.
Churchill and Russia were on the same side at that time. Russia and Finland were not.
Because we were on the right side of history!
/j
Funny how Churchills anti-communism came to be so toned down when he needed Russia as an ally.
Finlands friends changed a few times but the enemy, or at the very least the threat of enmity, was always from the Soviet Union.
Nobody Trust UK words.. Easy..:)
Grand Finland, many things could had made things bad in past but aiming for Grand Finland was one of what did happen. Pushing too far into Russian lands caused Fin to lose not only what they already took back but more as well.
As Fin, i hope Ukraine pushes Russians out of her borders and then HOLDS her Borders. Don't make same mistake our fathers and our fathers-fathers did by pushing into their lands as Russian have enough land to lose, surround your armies when pushed too far and then to counter attack.
If you accomplish to hold your borders and peace is found, they won't speak of Finland when comparing fighting against larger foe but of Ukraine.
The way things are going there, the war won't stop until Russia vacates the Ukrainian territory as recognized upon the dissolution of the USSR. This includes Crimea.
@@jounikDue to this reason the war will last several years to come, since Russia will forever disrespect Ukraine's sovereing borders, and basicly view Ukraine as its rightful property (which it is not).
Well the lands we Finns pushed weren't really "Russian" lands, people living there were Finnic before the genocide USSR did to them.
Thank you Sir again! Great video! Amazing effort and dedication!!! You Sir, should be working for the Finnish Government as a "cultural and historian ambassador" or as an "Immigration Counselor"/specialist, how to run a professional integration program/kotouttamis ohjelma/koulutus!!! All the best and Love!!!