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Now publishing in paperback, this is a rigorously detailed and utterly compelling guide to Finland´s vital, but almost forgotten role in the desperate struggle against Soviet Russia in the Winter War.

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The story of the ´Winter War´ between Finland and Soviet Russia is a dramatic David versus Goliath encounter. When close to half a million Soviet troops poured into Finland in 1939 it was expected that Finnish defences would collapse in a matter of weeks. But they held firm. The Finns not only survived the initial attacks but succeeded in inflicting devastating casualties before superior Russian numbers eventually forced a peace settlement. This is a rigorously detailed and utterly compelling guide to Finland´s vital, but almost forgotten role in the cataclysmic World War II. It reveals the untold story of iron determination, unparalleled skill and utter mastery of winter warfare that characterised Finland´s fight for survival on the hellish Eastern Front.

Now publishing in paperback, Finland at War: the Winter War 1939-40 is the premiere English-language history of the fighting performance of the Finns, drawing on first-hand accounts and rare photographs to explain just how they were able to perform military feats that nearly defy belief.

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Preface and Acknowledgements /Chronology /1. The Rise of Finland /2. The Road to War /3. The Karelian Isthmus, December 1939 /4. Ladoga Karelia, December 1939 /5. Group Tavela /6. North Finland Group /7. Lapland Group, 1939-40 /8. A Watching World /9. The Battle for Ladoga Karelia, 1940 /10. The Karelian Isthmus, 1940 /11. An Interim Peace /Bibliography /Appendix /Index

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Chris Birks moved from England to Bergen, Norway, at the ageof 13. He went on to study geology at the University of Bergen. Whilst studying, he developed a keen interest in military history and was instrumentalin the development of the hobby scene for strategy wargaming in Norway. Chris now works as a teacher of mathematics and natural sciences, and splits his freetime between family trips to the mountains, wargaming and different historical research projects.

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