1. Phony War & the Winter War
JY (A), LH (B), OF (A), VC (B)

2. Thesis
The Allies’ inaction during the Phony War combined with the tensions built between the Soviets and Finnish during the Winter War gave Germany time to gain strength, land, and allies, including Finland, resulting in Germany’s dominance in the first half of World War II.

3. What do you remember about Britain and France during Case White from Maners’ lecture?

4. Phony War Overview September 1939 - May 1940
Germany attacked Poland using Blitzkrieg (Case White)
Treaty of Versaille- French and British must defend Polish
British and French entered the war
Combat did not start for months - a period of time known as the Phony War
Dropped anti-Nazi propaganda over Germany rather than bombs (13 tons of paper)
Blackouts to prevent being bombed by Germans
The Phony War ended when Germany utilized Blitzkrieg against British and French forces in the West on May 10, 1940

5. Anglo-French Strategy
Anglo-French Strategy
British and French devised a long war strategy for WWII
They decided to be on the defensive at the start of the war - leading to the inaction of the Phony War
Mobilized resources + rearmed
Acquired Allies
Economic warfare - blockade on Germany
Britain and France hoped this would cause war to end by causing economic issues in Germany
On the contrary, Hitler used this opportunity to speed up WWII
Wanted to win war before economic problems hit Germany’s military
This strategy was questioned throughout the Phony War
British and French devised a long war strategy for WWII
Learned from their mistake in WWI
They decided to be on the defensive at the start of the war - leading to the inaction of the Phony War
Mobilized resources + rearmed
Acquired Allies
Economic warfare - blockade on Germany
Britain and France hoped this would cause war to end by causing economic issues in Germany
On the contrary, Hitler used this opportunity to speed up WWII
Wanted to win war before economic problems hit Germany’s military
This strategy was questioned throughout the Phony War
Debate over joining Winter War

6. Key Figures of the Phony War
Neville Chamberlain
Prime minister of Great Britain for first part of war
Resigned when the Phony War concluded
Succeeded by Winston Churchill
Charles de Gaulle
Leader of the French Army
Sir Kingsley Wood
British Secretary of State for air
Empire Air Training Plan

7. Outcomes of the Phony War
The Phony War allowed Germany more time to prepare it’s military
France and Britain waited to attack
Germany was stronger than the Allies at first
Allowed for the Winter War and the loss of Finland
France and Britain did not take action to help Finland against Russia
Allowed Germany to take Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
Germany gained resources and was able to gain strength
The Allies rearmed

8. Russo-Finnish/Winter War Overview
November 30, 1939
The Soviet Union attacked Finland to get Finnish land
Soviets used artillery to break the Mannerheim Line
Mannerheim Line- the Finns’ southern defensive barrier stretching across the Karelian Isthmus
Ended with the Moscow Peace Treaty on Mar. 12, 1940
Finland surrendered and gave Russia land

9. Causes of the Winter War
The Soviets wanted to use Finland as a buffer against German aggression
Didn’t believe that Germany would follow through with the Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact
Negotiations between Soviets and Finns regarding land
Soviets wanted the Finnish border to be pushed back 25km for 30 years to incorporate a naval base in the Hanko peninsula
Soviets offered a large portion of the Karelian wilderness in return
Finland refused the Soviet’s offer

10. Finland during the Winter War
Superior tactics
Ill equipped men and supplies
Territorial advantage
Goal was to hold out until the West came to help… YIKES....
Motti Tactic
“Finns were able to use only light covering forces in the north and to concentrate most troops in the crucial southeastern sector, comprising the Karelian Isthmus and the area north of Lake Ladoga, that protected the isthmus from rear assault” (“Winter War”)
Although Finland suffered less casualties than the Soviets they lost because they couldn’t afford as many deaths
Lake Ladoga

11. http://static3. businessinsider
Motti Tactic
“By means of the so- call motti tactic (the name is taken from the Finnish word for a cord of firewood), they sought to break invading columns into small segments, which were then destroyed piecemeal” (“Winter War”)
Fixate: bother route/routine
Isolate: weak points/sever/wear down
Detonate: can be quickly done with ammo BUT weather and starvation was used=slow deaths
Why did this work?
Terrain: lots of forests and sparse roads
Finns had ski troops to navigate and were familiar with the land
Climate: subarctic
Finns strategic advantage

12. Russia During the Winter War
Virtually limitless supply of men
Bases and railroads close to Finnish border benefitted them
Was losing at first
Made Germany think they could beat the Soviets if they invaded Russia
Significantly more casualties

13. Key Figures of the Winter War: Soviet Union
Joseph Stalin- leader of the Soviet Union (Axelrod)
Pushed a lot of his army into the war
Russia suffered heavy losses
Seymon Timoshenko
On January 7th, 1940 Marshall Timoshenko was given command of the Russian Army in Finland (CN)
Georgy Zhukov
veteran communist and leader of Soviet Union

14. Key Figures of the Winter War: Finland
Kyösto Kallio
President of Finland
Resigned in December 1940 after the Winter War
Risto Ryti
Leader of the coalition government during the Winter War
Became president when Kallio resigned
Colonel Paavo Talvela
Led counterattack at Tolvajarvi
Weakened the Soviets
Juho Kusti Paasikivi
Official negotiator with Russia (didn’t want war)
foreign policy advisor to Ryti

15. Map of the Winter War
Mannerheim line: Finnish Defense between Finland and Russia
Hanko:
Where the Soviets wanted a base

16. Outcomes of Winter War Moscow Peace Treaty
Soviet’s won but their military suffered immense casualties
Highlighted USSR’s weakness
Russia was expelled from the League of Nations due to their aggression
Convinced the Germans to follow through with Operation Barbarossa
Axis invasion of the Soviet Union
Finns ally with Germany
Finland allied with Germany
This alliance strengthens Germany in the war
Finnish hated Russians
Finland helped Germany invade Soviet Union and allowed Germans to transfer troops through Finland because of left over hate from the Winter War

17. Quote
“May the hand wither which is forced to sign such a paper!” -Kyösto Kallio (Finnish President)
What does this show about the relationship between the Soviets and the Finnish?
How will this impact the future of the war?
**Some six months later his right hand was paralysed

18. Timeline of the Phony War and the Winter War
Other
September 1, 1939: Invasion of Poland
September 3, 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany. Phony War begins
September 5, 1939: America declares neutrality in the war.
September 27, 1939: Warsaw, Poland, surrenders to German forces. Poland is partitioned by Germany and Russia. (“The Pianist”)
November 14, 1939: Soviet Union expelled from League of Nations due to their aggression against Finland.
November 30, 1939: Winter war begins after Soviets launched attack on Finland due to their refusal to exchange Soviet land.
March 12, 1940: Moscow Peace Treaty signed between Finland and the Soviet union agreeing to the cession of western Karelia and to the construction of a Soviet naval base on the Hanko Peninsula.
May 10, 1940: The war ended through the German use of Blitzkrieg (“German Drive”) on France. The French were forced to surrender. Germany invaded Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and formed a coalition government. Winston Churchill replaced him and soon began consulting with President Franklin Roosevelt for help.
June 22, 1941: Germans invade Russia. Finnish align with Germans due to their hatred of Russia.

19. Sources
Axelrod, Alan, and Charles L. Phillips. “Russo-Finnish War.” Wars in the Early 20th Century (1900 to 1950), Facts On File,
2015. History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 17 Apr
Axelrod, Alan. “Phony War.” Encyclopedia of World War II, Vol. 2, Facts On File, History Research Center,
online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 20 Apr
Barnhill, John. "Phony War." World History: The Modern Era, ABC-CLIO, 2018, worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/
Accessed 18 Apr
“World War II.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service,

20. Sources
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Russo-Finnish War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Sept. 2017,
"German Dive Bombers Continue Blitzkrieg." World History: The Modern Era, ABC-CLIO, 2018, worldhistory.abc-clio.com/ Search/Display/ Accessed 18 Apr
Grace, Richard J. "British Strategy and Politics During the Phony War: Before the Balloon Went Up." The Historian, vol. 67, no. 1, 2005, p Academic OneFile, &xid=e Accessed 22 Apr
“Kallio.” Suomen Presidentit, 22 Feb. 2017, suomenpresidentit.fi/kallio/?lang=en.
Simkin, John. “Kingsley Wood.” Spartacus Educational, Spartacus Educational, spartacus- educational.com/2WWwoodK.htm.

21. Sources
Mishra, Patit Paban. “World War II.” Encyclopedia of the Early 20th Century (1900 to 1950), Facts On File, History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 17 Apr
“The Moscow Peace Treaty.” The Text of the Moscow Peace Treaty, 12 March 1940,
Quinn, Edward. “World War II.” History in Literature, Facts On File, History Research Center, online.infobase.com/Auth /Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId= Accessed 17 Apr
Simkin, John. “Kingsley Wood.” Spartacus Educational, Spartacus Educational, spartacus-educational.com/2WWwoodK.htm.

22. Sources
“The Winter War.” Finland - The Winter War, US Library of Congress, countrystudies.us/finland/19.htm.
“World War II.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service,