Part 2. Negotiations and War starts On November 30, 1939, Russian troops entered Finland in a multitude of locations. Russia, and the world, expected a quick overrun-type operation.

Part 3, The Rescue Plan The controversial plan by Britain and France to assist Finland by sending troops there via Norway and Sweden.

Part 4, International military aid The show of “The little peaceful country pluckily standing up against its big evil neighbour” of course had all the ingredients necessary to inspire all forms of actions of sympathy in most of the western world.

Part 5. End of the Winter War Already before starting the latest offensive the Russians had let it be known that they were prepared to side-step the puppet government created by them and negotiate with the true Finnish government.

Part 6. Could it have been avoided? The question if the Winter War could have been avoider has been a recurring theme in Finnish debate during the past 65 years. Part 7. The road to war again... The terms of the Moscow peace treaty had been hard, although the independence had been saved, at least for the time being. Part 8. Enter the Germans Considering the risks , even by mistake, to have a clash between their own troops and the German troops in Finland, the Russians most certainly would think twice before any invasion. Part 9. Conquest, Re-conquest or both? After rather quickly re-conquering the areas ceded after the Winter War the Finnish army then continued eastward north of Lake Ladoga and didn’t stop until it had reached the passes between the major lakes Ladoga, Onega and Segozero. Part 10. Peace Feelers and the Big Battle Already in December 1941 there started to arise grave doubts in leading Finnish political and military circles about Germany’s chances of winning the war with Russia. Part 11. Remarkable results for the Finnish Army The Finnish army might have been unprepared mentally and materially, rusty and half asleep at the beginning of June but by early July it again was a well oiled fighting machine ready to take on all comers.  Part 12. End of Hostilities The peace terms were even harsher than those of 1940. Not only was the Petsamo area with its nickel mines and Finland’s only ice-free harbour lost but a sky high war-retribution should be paid to Russia. Part 13. Was the Continuation War Unavoidable? If the analysis about the unavoidability or not of the Winter War was fairly straightforward the questions around the Continuation War are far more complicated.  KevOs4 Unit War History Actual war history of the real KevOs4 Finnish Army group in Finland Wartime Photos   Recruits and Training Recruits, pre-war and old m22 and m36 Finnish Army uniform pictures. Mortars and Cannons Finnish Army trucks, mortars, cannons and photos of soldiers training to use these Front Line & Daily Life Finnish sleds, horses, and troops on the move. Armored Vehicles Wartime photos of armored trains, Finnish tanks, assault guns, and cannons and captured tanks like the KV1 and T34 tanks plus some German Stug tanks Battlefields and Vehicles Russian battlefields, captured vehicles, and Finnish armor photos Wartime Mail Delivery Wartime pictures of the Finnish Kenttapostia in action delivering mail to the front lines Bicycle and Ski Troops New section of wartime pictures of Bike troops and Ski Troopers Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Another new section for planes, trucks, autos, trains, and tractors Autos, Horses, Wagons, Sleds    This page is devoted to automobile, horse, and sled pictures. Most of the pictures were taken during the Continuation War. Photos of Troops and Buildings    Lots of different buildings and structures in these photos. Also, groups of Finnish and German soldiers in these shots.  Photos of Artillery, Tanks, Trucks  

The newest section of Wartime Photos are artillery, anti-aircraft, and some truck photos. Section added April 2007.   Thank you to Jyri Paulaharju for identifying some of the trucks and artillery on this page!

Russian Prisoners, Mottis, Destroyed Vehicles  

Some interesting wartime photos of Mottis, captured Russian vehicles, and Russian Prisoners of War.

Upcoming Events Important dates for the KevOs4 reenactment group and information on events related to Finnish culture Past Events and News   Past Events Page 1 Latest Pix from the February, 2004, Winter War Reenactment in Rensselaer, Indiana Past Events Page 2 Pictures from the February, 2003, Winter War Reenactment Past Events Page 3 Pictures of various members of the reenactment group Member Requirements   The M36 uniform Information on joining the group and on the Finnish Army m36 uniform Approved Weapons The list of weapons approved for use in Winter War reenactments Membership Application The application for membership in the KevOs4 group. This can be printed and mailed or emailed. Correct Insignia / Badges Color plates : Badges of Rank and Insignia for Finnish WWII uniforms Collectors Guide   Clothing, Hats, Helmets Pictures and descriptions of gear worn by Finnish soldiers Pack Gear Items that were issued to each soldier including medical, cooking gear, pioneer tools, and cleaning gear Personal Gear

Types of personal items carried by a typical soldier in the field Heavy Equipment Pictures of machine guns, bicycles, cannons and mortars Our Links Page Sources of information for people interested in Finnish history or reenacting. Includes sources for Finnish militaria and weapons. Gear For Sale   Page 1 A large "For Sale" page where members can get gear and uniforms for doing reenactments and Living History displays Page 2 Additional Finnish Reenactor items plus artwork and special order items Page 3    NEW Wartime uniforms for sale, plus boots, belts, helmets, bayonets, hats Special Features   Born a Soldier, The Times and Life of Larry Thorne NEW This is a special review of the book by J.Michael Cleverley about a Finnish soldier who became legendary for his exploits along the Finnish-Russian border during WWII, and who, after the war, came to the U.S. and joined the U.S. Army Special Forces. Notes on Finnish Lugers NEW This is a review of the selection of Finnish Lugers at Military Gun Supply in Fort Worth, Texas About "Fire and Ice" Details and ordering information on the new Winter War film "Fire and Ice" by producer Ben Strout of MastersWork Media. Also includes a press release and a movie trailer. Interview with Ben Strout Ben Strout is the producer of the new Finnish Winter War documentary "Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia" Spotlight on Collectors! Spotlight!  A new section about collectors and their collections Trip reports from Finland and Russia Articles written by members of the Group regarding trips or events Miikka Teräs Uniform Collection This huge collection of photographs and descriptions cover Finnish uniforms between the times of the Finnish Civil War and the Winter War.  There are 6 separate pages of different uniforms. KevOs4 Finnish Truck Restoration Project   A pictorial  record of the progress of the restoration of an old 1937 Ford flat-bed farm truck into a Finnish Army truck like those used in WWII. Letters from Finnish soldiers serving on the front lines Translated letters written by soldiers and families during the war. This is great insight into the thoughts and concerns of those who fought, both in the front lines and on the home front. The Lotta Svard Organization prior to, and during, WWII This huge section was written for KevOs4 by Jarkko Vihavainen of the Jaeger Platoon Website.  It is an excellent article about the creation and organization of the Lotta Svard in Finland. An article about Simo Hayha This great article about a Finnish hero from the Winter War is reprinted here with permission from mosinnagant.net Special Page on Finnish Rank Badges Another excellent page by Finnish historian Jarkko Vihavainen.  Jarkko has provided expert knowledge of Finnish collar patches and insignia used during the Finnish wars 1939-1945. The Finnish Home Front during WWII  There was little differentiation between civilian and military targets. This was total war and the civilian population was in the Russian bombsights.  Mannerheim's Speech to the troops at the end of the Winter War "When some day the history of this war is written, the world will learn of your efforts". - Marshal Mannerheim. March 14th, 1940. 

Mannerheim Pictures  Images of Marshall C.G.E. Mannerheim at his hunting lodge in East Karelia on the occasion of his 75th birthday in 1942. The Molotov Cocktail If a sufficient amount of flaming gasoline got sucked into the turret, there was a good chance it would ignite one or more rounds of ready ammo, which was usually stored in a rack near the main gun's breech. When that happened, the result was gruesome. Modern Finland Today     Finland's wartime story would not be complete without knowing what happened to Finland after the war.  Complete with maps and pictures.