Why did not Finland help Norway?

[John T]

On another note, this secret co-op bw Finland and Sweden, against Germany, prior to Norway being annexed by Hitler, certainly would lay into rest the claims accusing Finland not trying enough to create a Scandinavian alliance, before finally allying with Germany against USSR.

Lunde made that accusation in his book, among others.

I don't think so, Intelligence operations does not count for an Allieance or Sweden would have been allied with both Nazi Germany and the Western allies at the same time. (And a Nato member post war)

IMHO, The lack of Scandinavian alliance got one common explanation why it did not materialised, there is a almost complete consensus between Swedish and Finnish sources on whom to blame: "Everyone else but not me"

cheers
/John

[Mika68*]

And big question, why Sweden didn't help Norway and Denmark?

You blame that Finland didn't help Norway, and you surely know what was situation in these times.

Why Sweden didn't send troops to support Norway and Denmark?

[Panssari Salama]

John T, thanks for the additional information. Now that I think of it, it would make sense the Blenheims prepared to defend the Aland islands.

Regardless, an interesting topic, as I understand Finland and Sweden had discussed into at least some detail about the principles of a defensive pact. According e.g. to Lunde's "Finland's War of Choice", Finland for an example had agreed not to start a war of revenge agains USSR as a precondition to such a pact.

I admit this is an area I have not studied. Are there any books available on the subject, titles in Swedish would be OK as well?

[Juha Tompuri]

BTW Many Norwegian planes and pilots were interned in Finland June 1940. Does anyone know where they continued after the internment? I suppose they were not given to Germans. Is being refugee haven a help of some sort?

Something about the issue at an older thread:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=110925&hilit

The only direct Finnish aid to Sweden I have found was an option to sell 500 000 rounds of 9mm Parabellum and return some of the weapons sent fro Sweden during the Winter war.
(And giving Sweden access to Petsamo)

The "some weapons" being couple of tens of thousands from rifles to AT-guns.
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/MAIN.html

Finland was simply not in a shape to offer much in April 1940.

Yes.


Regards, Juha

[John T]

The only direct Finnish aid to Sweden I have found was an option to sell 500 000 rounds of 9mm Parabellum and return some of the weapons sent fro Sweden during the Winter war.
(And giving Sweden access to Petsamo)

The "some weapons" being couple of tens of thousands from rifles to AT-guns.
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/MAIN.html

The numbers are here:

[Juha Tompuri]

Thanks John,

Wonder what's the origin of the differences between your ans Jarkko's website.
Might be interesting to solve out perhaps at the WW&CW section.

Regards, Juha

[John T]

John T, thanks for the additional information. Now that I think of it, it would make sense the Blenheims prepared to defend the Aland islands.

Regardless, an interesting topic, as I understand Finland and Sweden had discussed into at least some detail about the principles of a defensive pact. According e.g. to Lunde's "Finland's War of Choice", Finland for an example had agreed not to start a war of revenge agains USSR as a precondition to such a pact.

I admit this is an area I have not studied. Are there any books available on the subject, titles in Swedish would be OK as well?

In Swedish:
Mellan Hitler och Stalin : förslag och försök till försvars- och utrikespolitisk samverkan mellan Sverige och Finland under krigsåren /
By W. M. Carlgren
and FInnish:
Toteutumation valtioliitto
by Ohto Manninen
I havn't read the last one, only borrowed it from the local library (it had been in storage since 1976...
but it had no Swedish or English language summary.


Happy reading
/John

[Panssari Salama]

Happy reading
/John

And they both are available via the local library. Ordered. Tackar!

[patrik.possi]

I have missed this thread.

Actually the qustion tells more about the lack of knowledge of the person who asks.

-:So after the winter war you suggest that Finland should have turned the Finnish army west.

Question:
1 Was there any reason to belive that the Finnish army was ready for this less then on month after the winter war.
2 Would a Finnish involment have made any diffrent?
3 Quit many Finns was very disipointed over Norways refuse to activlly help Finland or let allied troops trough Norway, why should Finland act diffrentlly when situation was reversed?
And...
4 An active Finnish involment in Norway would certentlly give Soviet a pretext too help its pact brother Nazigermany by attacking Finland again.
5 Germany hade the means to stopp the life important Finnish sea lanes in the batic sea.