Between A Rock & A Hard Place:
Finland in World War II, Part II

By John D. Burtt

1942–44

The years 1942–44 were a time of increasingly acrimonious discussions between the German and Finnish governments, which in turn were the result of their failing to initially come to an accord over the Finns’ final goals in the war. The German retreat in front of Moscow weighed heavily on the Finns, showing them the short war they expected was no longer in the cards.

The one offensive effort the Finns launched during this period was an assault on the Baltic Sea island of Suursaari. Located halfway between the Finnish and Estonian coasts, it was perfectly suited to bottle up the Soviet Baltic Fleet, but the Soviets had grabbed it during the Winter War.

Led by Lt. Gen. Aaro Pajari, two battalions of Finns snuck across the ice and attacked the island from two sides on 27 March 1942. The whole island fell to them the next day.

Read the Full Article in World at War #87

The Netherlands East Indies Campaign, 1941–1942

World at War, Issue #87 Magazine available!

We’re excited to announce the latest issue of World at War is now available through our shop! Pick up your copy today!

Articles:

• The Netherlands East Indies Campaign, 1941–1942: A Strategic Analysis During the opening months of the war in the Pacific, the Japanese conquered the vast reaches of the Netherlands East Indies. Their campaign was a stunningly successful application of what today are called “joint operations.”
• Between A Rock & A Hard Place: Finland in World War II, Part II The years 1942–44 were a time of increasingly acrimonious discussions between the German and Finnish governments, which in turn were the result of their failure to initially reach an accord as to the Finns’ final goals in the war. The German retreat in front of Moscow weighed heavily on the Finns, showing them the short war they expected was no longer in the cards was no longer in the cards.
• Zhukov as Wargamer By the end of 1940, Stalin had concluded war was coming with Germany, and he therefore decided to wargame his options. Zhukov was among the generals he summoned to a series of wargames in the Kremlin in January 1941. Zhukov played the role of both German and Soviet supreme commanders in two games held sequentially. He won both times.

Take me to World at War!