6x2 - Scandinavia: The Forgotten Front

April 29, 2002

A vicious 14-week war between the Finns & the Russians ended in March 1940, the Finns finally surrendered a large part of its territory to the Soviet invaders. 500,000 were evacuated from the Karelian isthmus, the scene of the war's worst fighting. It was a hollow victory, as the Russians took a drubbing from the determined & resourceful Finns, who organised the defence of their country brilliantly. Nearly 1 million Russians lost their lives during the fighting & the weaknesses of the Red Army was exposed to the. Hitler was suitably encouraged, he was determined on the invasion & conquest of his erstwhile allied partner. Meanwhile, during the early months of the war, Hitler became increasingly aware of the potential threat of Norway & mounted the world's first airborne invasion there in February 1940. At the same time, German Forces invaded Denmark. Over the next few years, the horrors & intrigues of the Quisling government in Norway unfolded amidst determined Norwegian resistance.