Phoney War timeline

France Launches Saar Offensive

French patrols cross the frontier into Germany near Saarbrucken, marking the beginning of the Saar offensive. A total of 11 divisions advance along... Read more

Anglo French Supreme War Council, Where it was Decided to Halt Saar Offensive

On September 12, the Anglo French Supreme War Council gathered for the first time at Abbeville in France. It was decided that all offensive actions... Read more

Finland and Soviet Union Hold Negotiations to Resolve Border Dispute

On 5 October 1939, the Soviet Union invited a Finnish delegation to Moscow for negotiations. J.K. Paasikivi, the Finnish ambassador to Sweden, was... Read more

The Shelling of Mainila

Seven shots were fired, and their fall was detected by three Finnish observation posts. These witnesses estimated that the shells detonated... Read more

Soviet Union Launches Invasion of Finland

On 30 November, Soviet forces invaded Finland with 21 divisions, totaling some 450,000 men, and bombed Helsinki. Later the Finnish statesman J.K.... Read more

Soviet Union Forms Puppet Government Intended to Rule Finland

On 1 December, the Soviet Union formed a puppet government intended to rule Finland once the war was over. Called the Finnish Democratic Republic,... Read more

Battle of Tolvajärvi

The Battle of Tolvajärvi ['tol.va.jær.vi] was fought on 12 December 1939 between Finland and the Soviet Union. It was the first large victory for... Read more

Soviet Union is Expelled from the League of Nations

At the start of the Winter War, Finland brought up the matter of the Soviet invasion before the League of Nations. The League expelled the Soviet... Read more

Soviet Tanks Advance on Finnish Village of Summa

The Battle of Summa was fought between the Soviet Union and Finland, in two phases, first in December 1939 and then in February 1940. It was part... Read more

Heavy Fighting Along the Raate Road as Finns Break Soviet 44th Rifle Division

The Battle of Raate Road was fought during the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland in January, 1940, as a part of the Battle of... Read more

Soviets Launch All-Out Offensive on Karelian Isthmus

Although the Karelian Isthmus front was less active in December than in January, the Soviets began increasing bombardments, wearing down the... Read more

Signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty Between Finland and the Soviet Union

The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on March 12, 1940, and the ratifications were exchanged on March 21. It marked... Read more