The Winter War

The events unfold from October 13, 1939, when reservists are called to active duty, through December battles at Taipale and up to March 13, 1940, when the Moscow Peace Treaty ends hostilities. The narrative traces the rapid mobilization, grueling winter combat, and the endurance of Finnish troops during the Winter War.

The story centers on a small Finnish community in Kauhava and surrounding towns as reservists are mobilized and sent to the front. It follows maneuvers from the local school muster in Kauhava to Seinäjoki, before joining the 23rd Regiment on the Karelian Isthmus. Frontline areas around Taipale, Vuosalmi, and the Vuoksi region become the setting for fierce defenses and civilian evacuations.

🛡️ Frontline Defense

Ordinary farmers-turned-soldiers are thrust into a frontline defense against a numerically superior force. The narrative emphasizes disciplined cohesion, improvised fortifications, and the constant pressure of bombardment and assault on the Taipale front.

💔 Sacrifice

The cost of war is shown through wounds, funerals, and the deaths of comrades. Paavo’s injury and ultimate death, along with Martti’s near-fatal experiences, illustrate the personal toll on families and communities.

🚚 Civilian Impact

Civilians in the towns are evacuated and await news as frontlines shift. The story depicts how war disrupts daily life in Kauhava and surrounding areas, turning farmers into soldiers and affecting households far from the trenches.