Winter War. The Soviet Union launches a massive military attack against Finland. The excuse (and it truly was) is some cannon fire the Soviets claim to have received, killing several soldiers. Years later, Khrushchev would admit that those cannon shots were fired by the Red Army itself to provoke the conflict. The Soviets attack with “only” four armies, totaling 500,000 soldiers, 3,880 aircraft, approximately 5,000 tanks, and cannons galore. The Finns defend themselves with their entire army and reservists of all ages, totaling 120,000 men, 32 tanks, and 114 military aircraft. The Finns initially prevail in the cold winter (temperatures several dozen degrees below zero Celsius) thanks in part to their superior equipment, but the Soviets then reorganize and gain ground. On March 13, 1940, Finland was forced to cede 8% of its territory to the Soviets. Finnish casualties numbered 70,000, while Soviet casualties totaled 350,000.
