Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Discussions on the Winter War and Continuation War, the wars between Finland and the USSR.
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John Hilly
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by John Hilly » 05 Jun 2016 09:41

"Die Blechtrommel trommelt noch!"

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Panssari Salama
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Re: Recommended “Hitler’s Nordic Ally?: Finland and the Total War 1939-45”

Post by Panssari Salama » 21 Jun 2016 07:29

CanKiwi2 wrote:“Hitler’s Nordic Ally?: Finland and the Total War 1939-45” by Claes Johansen

As you can no doubt gather, this book comes highly recommended. I should also make it clear I did some editing for this book for Claes - a great experience.

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I picked my copy yesterday, and read through the first chapters. A very positive experience so far, and as the author said, written from a Danish point of view it provides an alternative narratial to what's been available in English before.

Several prominent AHF members mentioned in the credits. Well done Gentlemen! :welcome: :thumbsup:
Panssari Salama - Paying homage to Avalon Hill PanzerBlitz and Panzer Leader board games from those fab '70s.

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Juha Tompuri » 09 Aug 2016 06:19

Haven't read yet, but might be interesting:
This book analyzes the multi-faceted phenomenon of Finnish military effectiveness in the Winter War (1939–40). Drawing on a wide array of primary and secondary sources, Pasi Tuunainen shows how by focusing on their own strengths and pitting these against the weaknesses of their adversary, the Finns were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Red Army whilst minimizing their own losses. The Finns were able to use their resources for effective operational purposes, and perform almost to their full potential. The Finnish small-unit tactics utilized the terrain and Arctic conditions for which they had prepared themselves, as well as forming cohesive units of well-motivated and qualitatively better professional leaders and citizen soldiers who could innovate and adapt. The Finnish Army had highly effective logistics, support and supply systems that kept the troops fighting.
http://www.palgrave.com/de/book/9781137446046

Preview: https://books.google.fi/books?id=t_OODA ... &q&f=false
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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Juha Tompuri » 23 Apr 2017 12:37

A book from a Forum member.
Russian heritage in the Finnish army. People and weapons.
Haven't looked it yet, but sounds very interesting. About ex-Imperial Russian soldiers that served at Finnish army, and Russian/Soviet origin weapons used by Finnsh defence forces.
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http://www.inkeri.ru/rep/books/item.php?id=103

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Claes Johansen
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Claes Johansen » 29 Apr 2017 23:55

Pasi Tuunainen, author of Finnish Military Effectiveness in the Winter War, 1939-1940, in a slightly different role here: as drummer for the Pohyola Trio from Joensuu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqbIOQNDd_M
Ystävällesin terveisin, the Tanskalainen

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Juha Tompuri » 26 May 2017 20:44

Availlable in September 2017:

Kaarlo Kivekäs
A General of three armies

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https://www.docendo.fi/kaarlo-kivekas-k ... kanen.html

Marsalkka Mahtimeisseli
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Marsalkka Mahtimeisseli » 22 Jun 2017 14:06

Can someone recommend books with good large (i.e. tactical) scale battle maps, like the ones in the books of Matti Koskimaa and Bair Irincheev?

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John Hilly
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by John Hilly » 23 Jun 2017 14:13

Marsalkka Mahtimeisseli wrote:Can someone recommend books with good large (i.e. tactical) scale battle maps, like the ones in the books of Matti Koskimaa and Bair Irincheev?
Ari Rautala has written a few good ones. For example Itä-Karjalan valtaus 1941.

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

saddler
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by saddler » 04 Aug 2017 01:24

While this thread may seem like a good one in theory, having read through the pages so far, I am extremely disappointed with a large number of the titles that have been mentioned!
Purely because what I had considered to be a decent little reference section on Finnish history, i.e. the books I already own, is now apparently missing a lot of serious works on the subject. Oh well, more shopping to do...

A few of the links have died or don't go anywhere, which is a shame - but otherwise the rest of the newer titles that I'd not known about previously should keep me otherwise occupied for a good few hours. As much as I wish I was able to read Finnish, Swedish & a few of the other languages that a lot of these are written in, the recent spate of some serious books on the Finnish experiences pre-1945 will no doubt lead to the "discovery" of the subject by a wider public.

I'll have to check the books I already have as I may have a couple that have not been listed above yet. If so I will add information & post a review (plus links to available copies if I can find any for sale anywhere)

saddler
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by saddler » 04 Aug 2017 01:47

Juha Tompuri wrote:A book from a Forum member.
Russian heritage in the Finnish army. People and weapons.
Haven't looked it yet, but sounds very interesting. About ex-Imperial Russian soldiers that served at Finnish army, and Russian/Soviet origin weapons used by Finnsh defence forces.
Image
http://www.inkeri.ru/rep/books/item.php?id=103
Just ordered this - I think

Site info states that the cost is 500 Roubles - so under £10 UK
Not sure what the shipping will be from Russia to Scotland

Will add updates when I have them to add

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: A new book on Finland in WW2 - not just the Winter War....

Post by Juha Tompuri » 09 Aug 2017 21:01

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Borrowed from library, and just finished it.
A confusing experience... mostly probably quite OK, but at several points I have some doubts about facts being mixed with guesswork and fiction.
If five points is a maximum, I'll give it one or two.
No need to purchase it for myself and can't recommend it to anyone... well... perhaps to someone who is already well aware of the USSR-Finnish history.
For to be read with care and for a peculiarity.

Regards, Juha

saddler
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by saddler » 10 Aug 2017 11:35

Juha Tompuri wrote:A book from a Forum member.
Russian heritage in the Finnish army. People and weapons.
Haven't looked it yet, but sounds very interesting. About ex-Imperial Russian soldiers that served at Finnish army, and Russian/Soviet origin weapons used by Finnsh defence forces.
Image
http://www.inkeri.ru/rep/books/item.php?id=103
ANYONE on here managed to buy a copy of this book yet?

Sent the order in on the publisher website.
Got an automatic e-mail confirmation from the site.
Messaged them back asking for payment instructions, then nothing...

Anyone know the Forum Member's user name that wrote the book?
May have better luck using the on-forum PM system

Thanks

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by Juha Tompuri » 10 Aug 2017 17:25

Pm sent.

/Juha

saddler
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by saddler » 11 Aug 2017 14:28

Juha Tompuri wrote:Pm sent.

/Juha
Thanks

I've sent the author a PM so will await his instructions on paying

Appreciate the information

CF Geust
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Re: Recommended books on the Winter War & Continuation War

Post by CF Geust » 15 Aug 2017 06:12

Nikitin´s book can also be ordered from the Ruslania bookshop in Helsinki, see:

https://ruslania.com/books/1153690/fins ... anguage=en

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