Happy 90th Independence Day Finland =)

Posts: 151 · Posted: 06.12.2007, 08:58

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FINLAND! =)

Getting older - and 90 years is a good age already Smile

It hasn't been always easy ...

In the winter dawn of 30 November 1939 four Soviet Armies with 23 divisions - some 460,000 men with over 2,000 tanks - began advancing across the length of Finland's 1,200 km long eastern border. Their objective was to occupy the entire territory of Finland by the end of the year.

Few at the time expected the tiny Finnish nation of 3.6 million to survive. But despite the odds Finland reacted with desperate determination. On the one hand the country was determined to fight, and the full field army of some 160,000 men had been mobilized and sent eastwards into position along the front during the fall. On the other hand Finland also was grimly prepared for the worst, and began sending her national treasure - her children - to safety in Sweden, to cover the possibility of a Soviet victory and Stalin's national extermination programmes.

Four months later, after the hardest fighting seen in Europe since the first World War and massive Soviet reinforcements, Finland's lines remained unbroken, while the Red Army had lost up to 400.000 soldiers in casualties. Finland's soldiers were now down to their last bullets.

In early March Stalin conceded defeat, abandoning his occupation plans and settling for a compromise agreement, leaving Finland independent. With the signing of the Peace Agreement on 13 March Finland had to cede 10 % of her territory to the USSR, but Finland herself remained free.
The loss of Karelia to the Soviet Union marked the end of over a thousand years of Finnish settlement in the area, as the inhabitants of the ceded areas — approximately 407,000 - were evacuated further west during the fighting in the Winter War.

Fighting between Finnish and Soviet forces resumes in the Continuation War 1941 - 1944 . Finland is never occupied and preserves its independence and sovereignty.

I'm 36 years old, but the stories my grandmother told me of the difficult (war) years have really made me RESPECT those men and women who fought and kept us free & independent. Many relatives of mine lost their lives in these wars.

Tonight I'll also lit my 2 candles - one for PEACE and the other for UNITY as it's our Independence Day tradition.

If there are other Finnish members here ...

HAPPY 90TH INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Posts: 718 · Posted: 13.12.2007, 03:32

Hi,

Finland you've come a long way baby.... Wink

Hugs,

sisters Smile