Great Movie!


I'm hoping we can get more Finnish Winter/Continuation war films in the US. Most Americans have no idea what was going on in Finland during WWII, or at most assume Finland was a mere pawn for Germany. They have no idea that before Hitler invaded Russia, Americans and Brits were busing forming a volunteer brigade to help the Finns. The Winter War and Continuation War were really the first battles of the Cold War, but they were overshadowed by WWII politics.

By US war movie standards, the film takes few liberties with the truth. Sure, nobody would be shooting a LMG one-handed, but that's a minor point. The firearms are realistic for the period, if not for the unit in question. Lots of Mosin action, which is a big plus. I have a Finnish M-39 and it's a real tack driver. It was put together in 1942, and I wonder how much of the war it saw.

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The Winter War and Continuation War were really the first battles of the Cold War, but they were overshadowed by WWII politics.

I don't know has anybody yet offered that interpretation, but that's exactly how it was! Some American historians could give an objective view on the whole matter.

The Finnish rifle you mentioned is a concept in Finland. It has many names like "Pystykorva" or "Ukko-Pekka". Greatest exploit done with it was probably by Corporal Johan Similä who alone held out a Russian company of 150 men, taking 30 out of them and saving his platoon from destruction.


Puukkoo
Play it again, Frank, I don't give a damn.

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