Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

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Oleg Grigoryev
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#76

Post by Oleg Grigoryev » 22 May 2011, 22:21

Lets keep this thread clear of the “we were justified” rhetoric –regardless of who “we” might be, and concentrate on documentable motives.

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Oleg Grigoryev
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#77

Post by Oleg Grigoryev » 23 May 2011, 02:19

Thought it may be relevant
Report by the Chief of General Staff of the Red Army to People’s Commissar of defense Marshal of the Soviet Union Voroshilov, on the most probable enemies of the USSR
March 24 1938.
Top Secret
Personal
Single Copy


1. Most probable enemies
Developing political conditions in Europe and Far East put forward, as the most probable opponents, the fascist block of Germany Italy, supported by Japan and Poland.
These states have a goal of escalating political relations with the USSR to the point of the armed conflict.
However, at present, Germany and Italy y do not have free hands against the USSR yet, and Japan, waging intense war with China, compelled to spend wartime stocks and to bear big monetary expenses.
Poland is in the orbit of the fascist block, trying to keep appearance of independence of its foreign policy. Strongly fluctuating policy of England and France, allows fascist block in Europe to find and provide an arrangement, that would allow them to concentrate most of their forces in case of its war with Soviet Union
The policy of England and France also defines the policy and the state of the military affairs in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, as well as Turkey and Bulgaria.

It is probable, that the listed states will keep neutrality, pending result of the first collisions, but their direct participation on the side of the fascist block isn't excluded either, especially for such countries, as Finland and Estonia. Latvia also can be involved in the conflict, and Lithuania will be occupied by Germans and Poles in the very first days of war.
The participation of Romania in the war will depend on a policy of France, especially if fascist block will hit Czechoslovakia, and its main grouping will be deployed south of Polesia.
Turkey and Bulgaria will keep their neutrality, and will not restrict naval activities of Italy and Germany in the Black sea. Turkey might even join in the conflict against USSR, targeting Armenian SSR, Nachichevan and Batum .
Iran and Afghanistan will remain neutral while building up their armed forces.

As to Japan, being in the state of war with China, it is stronger in one regard and weaker in the other. It is weaker because it spent certain amount of men and material and has to allocate contingent for the occupational duties. On the other hand it has fully mobilized army on the continent and effectively finished critical overseas deployment phase unmolested.
Even if Japan would suffer considerable casualties in China, it would have been forced to intervene on the side of the fascist block, in case of war with USSR, since otherwise its chances to conquer Far East would become problematic.
Consequently, USSR has to prepare itself for 2-front war: in the West against Germany, Poland and partially against Italy, with support of minor allies and in the East against Japan.
Italy would probably participate only with its Navy; Sending of expeditionary corps is unlikely. ...
My translation. This is only part of the document. The rest deals with deployments and such.


fenriz
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#78

Post by fenriz » 02 Aug 2014, 14:12

Could someone wrtie a good summarize of report of Commander in Chief of Leningrad Military District to the peoples Commissar of Defense -in regards to plan of defeat of land and naval forces of Finland. http://www.aroundspb.ru/finnish/docs/dir0plan.php
Google translator has bad result for me :)
Thanks in advance.

steverodgers801
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#79

Post by steverodgers801 » 02 Aug 2014, 18:52

Finland had to fight a civil war between the Whites and Reds to get their freedom and since the Whites won Stalin saw these a part of the coalition of anti communist states.

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John Hilly
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#80

Post by John Hilly » 03 Aug 2014, 19:36

Here's the beginning of the document. My try with Google translator:

REPORT

Commander of the Leningrad Military District to People's Commissar of Defense. Plan to defeat land and naval forces of Finland.
Number 4587, October 29, 1939.

I present the plan of operations to defeat the land and naval forces of the Finnish army. The Plan is based on the following considerations:
1. According to intelligence reports, the Finnish army has been mobilized onto 21.10.1939. Reservists ages 18 to 22 to 40 years were called up . Age limit is intented up to 50 years.

Total drafted to the army up to 260 thousand persons. In addition, information was obtained about the call of 5 home guard age groups from 40 to 50 years. Of mobilized units to date installed: a) On the Karelian Isthmus to four infantry divisions, 1, 2 and 4th Jaeger battalions, Cavalry Brigade, one armored, one anti-aircraft artillery battalion, one tank company, three machine-gun battalions (garrison УР), two border battalions. b) On Vitele direction - one infantry division, mobile detachment the size not set and battery of heavy artillery. c) On the rest of the theater, north of Vitele areas to Petsamo (Pechenga), established the presence of small units of field troops. In Petsamo infantry battalion with artillery battery and one anti-aircraft battery. Consequently, all hitherto found six infantry divisions. Given that the estimated peacetime expected to ten ID, we can assume three or four infantry division in reserve, of which three - for areas of Karelian Isthmus and Vitele and one infantry division - in Northern Finland.
It is possible that to the aid of the Finns can come two or three divisions and 100 aircrafts from Sweden. All but the forces that are suitable from Sweden, it was expected according to intelligence in peacetime: infantry battalions - 99, Cavalry eskadrons - 10, guns - 464. Of them: heavy - 48, Anti Aircraft - 50, tanks of about - 50, combat aircraft - 200-250, transport - 120-150.

Identified [Finnish]: infantry battalions - 62, Cav. eskadrons - 10, 280 guns, including: heavy - 48, AAA - 16, tanks - 10, aircraft – 120-150.

2. During the last half months Finns conduct continuous defensive work. Human intelligence and surveillance troop set: a) On Karelian Isthmus - build of some defensive units in Metsä-Pirtti, Rautu, Lipola, Rasuli, Kivennapa, Terijoki; establishment of antitank obstacles (passages of ditches, bunker stone walls, staging dragon teeth, mining some sectors of terrain). b) At the direction Vitele Com - build field fortifications. c) The construction of the rear line of defense along the western bank of the river Kymijoki (near Kouvola). d) Setting minefields in the Gulf of Finland at the outputs of the archipelago.

3. Inside the country, the following activities: industry transformed to war; in the cities of the southern part of the country building shelters, the evacuation of the population to the interior of the country; in Kotka, Hamina, Vipuri stone buildings are prepared for defense; established transportation of arms from Sweden.

4 Our troops of the Leningrad Military District, on the Karelian Isthmus, standing directly on the border, ready for receiving an order for immediate action to implement the tasks, and the rest of the areas that are 4-5 km from the border, will be ready for action by A- 5:00 daylight they require to engage in the starting position.

5 Plan of the operation scheduled next. Upon receiving the the order to attack our troops simultaneously invade the territory of Finland in all directions in order to pull apart the enemy forces andwith air support inflict a decisive defeat of the Finnish army. The main strength of our troops strike from Vitele direction and from the Karelian Isthmus and smash main groupings of the Finnish Army in the areas of Sortavala, Viipuri, Käkisalmi (Kexholm).


In the north (Murmansk direction) with a resolution of the border crossing, our troops seize Petsamo (Pechenga) pre striking with our air force on enemy troops located there. On Kemi Com direction task of our troops - to operate in the direction of Oulu (Uleåborg), beat the opposing Finnish troops and prevent the possibility of approach of enemy forces from the north, with the ultimate aim of occupating Oulu (Uleåborg).

6 To perform these tasks creates the following group of forces in the directions (application number 2): a) Vitele direction - to complete the transport of troops, reaching further in this direction, there will be seven RD, three corps artillery regiments, one artillery regiment of RGC, one tank and chemical battalions, regiments of fighter and bomber aircraft. Task of forces in this direction - smash the Finnish side near Suojärvi Sortavala Salmi, seize their fortified strip between Lake. Janis-Jarvi and Lake Ladoga, to advance in the south-western direction, to the rear of the enemy force, acting on the Karelian Isthmus, to help the 7th Army in defeating this group. If the transport of troops will not be completed by the beginning of the action, consider the possibility of immediate transition to the offensive by forces concentrated there to the present time, 56.,18. and 168. RD, 467. Cavalry Regiment, 315. artillery division БМ and 111. Separate Tank Battalion.

b) The Karelian Isthmus - two Rifle Corps HQs (50 and 19), eight Rifle Divisions ending soon the transportation of 75, 49 and 123. Rifle Division, five corps artillery regiments, five artillery regiments РГК, two separate artillery battalions БМ, three tank brigades (20.,35. and 40.), six regiments of aircraft (including two IAP, two lb aviation regiments two TBAP). The task - to beat the cover forces, to seize the fortified area in the Finnish Karelian Isthmus and developing the offensive in the north-western and northern directions, in conjunction with the troops Vitele direction, to crush the main group of enemy troops in the area Sortavala Viipuri, Käkisalmi (Kexholm) and seize Hiitola , Imatra, Viipuri. By performing this task to be ready for further action in the interior of the country as appropriate.

c) Murmansk Army Group (SF, 14 Rifle Division, 104 GRD, 104. пап РГК, Mixed Aviation Regiment) Task - covering the base of the Northern Fleet and the coast of the Kola Peninsula, Rybach, Sredniy, by the 104. GRD, 96. RR, 14. Rifle Division with air support, master Petsamo and firmly entrenched in the area, to prevent the approach of forces and the transport of weapons to the Finnish Army through port of Petsamo and the Norwegian port of Kirkenes.

g) Kandalaksha [Kantalahti] direction - two regiments The tasks - to approach this direction Rifle Division, had to be moved from the Belorussian Front, conduct active operations to Rovaniemi. With access to the border the Division advance in the direction of Oulu (Oulu) and mastered area of Kemi, Oulu (Oulu), cut connections of Finland and Sweden across the land border.

d) Kemi and Repola directions - a separate Rifle corps consisting of 54 GRD without a regiment, 163 Rifle Division. The tasks - beat the Finnish covering troops and to advance Kemi- Repola directions. Seize Kajaani and Nurmes, preventing approach of the enemy from the Oulu (Oleåborg), with the ultimate goal together with our units operating in the Kandalaksha direction, seize the Oulu (Oleåborg).

With best, J-P :milwink:
"Die Blechtrommel trommelt noch!"

fenriz
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Re: Why did the Kremlin see Finland as a potential attacker?

#81

Post by fenriz » 04 Aug 2014, 18:43

Yay, J-P, thanks a lot :)

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