Kusimulkku

Nobody. During Winter War Finland was fighting alone against Soviet Union.

I think that’s one of the things that made the war so notable, tiny Finland fighting against huge Soviet Union, 1 v 1.

It wasn’t the symbol of Finnish military till 2002. It was in some limited use. I think it still is btw. The reason was that it’s old Finnish symbol since I think iron ages or before and for example the air force logo came from a Swedish count in 1918. Pretty interesting history.

I think you’re confusing Winter War (Finland vs Soviet Union) and Continuation War where Finland was allied with Nazi Germany attacking Soviet Union. That came after. During Winter War Finland wasn’t allied or even aligned with Nazi Germany or anything like that. Simo Häyhä fought just in Winter War.

Like people enthusiastic about Finland or Finns? Because I wouldn’t be surprised by the reaction from first group, whereas I’d be really surprised by the latter. I have some of the flag waving, Finnish lion wearing nationalistic friends and when we talked about it some time ago everyone agreed that the number is exaggerated and the discussion was more about by how much. I think some thought it was still really high and some were just unsure. Of course this is just my experience. Abroad those people might be more boastful hah

Ah. Partly that might be because Winter War and Finland’s WW2 history is in that spot where people know a few (often exaggerated) tidbits that make them feel knowledgeable about it but not enough to really know stuff. In that context believing the 700 noscope 360’s seems more reasonable. Hearing someone outside of Finland talk about Finland’s history during WW2 is one of those cases where you’re sure to hear a mistake or two. Hell, you can see it here in the comments. But a lot of it is imo pretty understandable.

It would feel a bit strange to say Finland was Nazi during Winter War because during Continuation War Finland was Axis aligned when the USSR attack in Winter War is the biggest reason Finland sought closer ties with Germany.

I honestly see it a lot more from people outside of Finland. And we often cringe at that too.

“Oh you’re from Finland? Kimi Räikkönen Simo Häyhä Winter War you win against USSR right??”

“…”

I don’t know if you noticed the 1918 there. I’m not sure even proto-Nazis were around that time.

Two decades after Finnish air force had adopted it. Saying it’s Nazi imaginery based on that would seem a bit strange, like the property of something being Nazi travels back in time.

Using something happened in 1918 and especially 1941 to justify calling Finland Nazi during Winter War that happened in 1939-40 seems fairly creative.

Interesting thing about the Civil War and Winter War though. After the Civil War Finland was heavily divided nation for a long time. And while the wounds had started to heal some, it was the opposition to the Soviet attack that actually brought the left and right together. I’m not sure how true it is, but I’ve heard Stalin expected the Finnish workers to celebrate him coming over and “freeing them” and was quite surprised that they were having none of that.

That’s where it started but I wouldn’t call him a proto-Nazi at that point. But in any case, point was that when the symbol was adopted, it had nothing to do with Nazis. Unless something being Nazi is some sort of transitive property, traveling back through the chain to 1918.