Over the last 2 (I think) Challenges, I have had the pleasure to have Teemu as my Minion, I was hoping that he would be again (sorry Dave), so I could show him and tell him that its mostly his fault that me and Lee and painting up figures for the Russo-Finnish Winter War, check out these three post that Teemu posted, these are just three of his introductions to the Thursday crews posts, Suomi, Winter War & Simo Häyhä. They've been a ticking timebomb in my mind for a year now and I had to do something to scratch that itch!
So here we have the first of my WWII Finns, 3 Rifle Squads of 8 men each with an NCO and a Platoon Commander with two men attached. All the figures are from the great range made and sold by Parkfield Miniatures, each figure can be bought singularly for the modest price of £1.30 each, so there should be no wastage. I do plan to paint up some extra figures, so If I want to I can add 2 more figures to make the units up to 10 per unit.
During the 1939–1940 Winter War, Finnish infantry demonstrated an exceptional ability to wage effective defensive warfare against a vastly superior invading force. Finland fielded roughly 300,000 troops at peak mobilization, many of whom were reservists with limited formal training, yet these citizen-soldiers possessed skills uniquely suited to the environment. Raised in rural communities, Finnish infantrymen were accustomed to hunting, skiing, navigating forests, and surviving long periods in isolation—skills that translated directly into battlefield effectiveness.
The Finnish Army’s doctrine emphasized decentralized command and individual initiative. Junior leaders were trusted to make decisions without waiting for higher orders, allowing infantry units to react quickly to changing battlefield conditions. This contrasted sharply with the rigid command structure of the Red Army, where initiative was often discouraged. Finnish squads and platoons exploited this flexibility to conduct ambushes, raids, and night attacks, sowing confusion and fear among Soviet forces.
Terrain played a decisive role. Finland’s dense forests, frozen lakes, and narrow road networks negated Soviet advantages in armour and artillery. Finnish infantry used roadblocks, felled trees, and mines to halt Soviet columns, then encircled them into mottis—isolated pockets that could neither manoeuvre nor resupply. Rather than launching costly frontal assaults, Finnish units patiently reduced these encircled forces through sniping, hit-and-run attacks, and psychological pressure, often allowing cold, hunger, and exhaustion to do as much damage as bullets.
Winter camouflage and cold-weather adaptation were critical. White over-snow uniforms, snow shelters, and strict cold-weather discipline allowed Finnish infantry to remain operational in extreme temperatures that immobilized Soviet troops and equipment. Fires were carefully concealed, weapons were maintained to prevent freezing, and soldiers rotated duties to avoid frostbite. These measures gave Finnish units a level of endurance that often allowed them to outlast their opponents in prolonged engagements.
Weaponry, though limited, was used with great effectiveness. The Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun became iconic for its reliability and firepower in close-quarters combat, particularly during forest ambushes and trench assaults. Molotov cocktails—named mockingly after Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov—were widely employed by infantry to destroy tanks at close range, compensating for the shortage of anti-tank weapons. Accurate rifle fire and disciplined ammunition usage remained hallmarks of Finnish infantry tactics throughout the conflict.
Psychological factors were equally important. Finnish soldiers fought with a strong sense of national survival, viewing the war as an existential struggle. This cohesion and morale stood in contrast to Soviet troops, many of whom were poorly informed about the war’s purpose and ill-prepared for the conditions. Finnish infantry exploited this disparity through persistent harassment, nighttime attacks, and the use of silence and concealment to create a sense of omnipresent threat.
Strategically, while Finnish infantry could not ultimately prevent territorial concessions due to overwhelming Soviet manpower and artillery, their performance had far-reaching consequences. The heavy losses inflicted on the Red Army exposed serious weaknesses in Soviet leadership, training, and doctrine—lessons that would influence Soviet military reforms prior to the German invasion in 1941. For Finland, the Winter War cemented the infantryman as a national symbol of endurance and determination, and it remains a foundational example of how small, well-led infantry forces can exploit terrain, climate, and morale to resist a far stronger adversary.
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