History Daily - The Battle of Tolvajärvi

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

December 12, 1939. The Battle of Tolvajärvi breaks out, bringing Finland its first major victory in the Winter War. This episode originally aired in 2023. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

It's a keycarysa P-Norice HESLaina T-Laina T-Laina MUTKMobile. Hai Juuri

you're just a s-lainan muttomastomast S-Mobb Pank, S-Pank, Suomen Mutgattomim Panky.

It's November 26th, 1939, at an observation post in Karelia Province, Finland, close to the border with the USSR.

A soldier in the Finnish army trudges through the snow trying to keep his legs and feet warm in the bitter cold. Although much of Europe is embroiled in World War II,

Finland has maintained a neutral stance, warily watching the happenings on the continent. But that's what this soldier has to do, too. Every day, he must endure hours of tedious isolation to guard the border, while every sensible Soviet and Finn shelters indoors and stays warm. But the monotony of today's duty is broken by an unusual noise, the boom of artillery. The soldier snaps to high alert his adrenaline surging. He raises his binoculars and counts seven shells. exploding in the nearby Soviet village of Mainala.

The Finnish soldier lifts his field telephone and reports the unusual incident to his superiors, but as he speaks, he notices plumes of smoke rising where the shells were fired from. The soldiers brow furrows as he realizes the firing site is on the other side of the border too, meaning the shots came from within the USSR. The soldier doesn't know why the Soviets are shelling their own territory, but he worries it spells trouble for Finland. Over the next few hours, the Soviets will blame the Finnish army for the attack on the village of Mainala, and the USSR will break off diplomatic relations.

Despite evidence from three Finnish observation posts that the shells were fired from within the USSR, the Soviet leadership will only accept their version of events and tensions mount. Four days later, Soviet troops will roll across the border in a full-scale invasion that begins what will later be known as the Winter War. But the Finns will grind the Soviets into a stale, after beginning a tenacious counteroffensive at the Battle of Tulli-Arvy-Arvie on December 12, 1939. Before we get back to the episode, a quick update on my live tour. The first show will be in Dallas, Texas on March 6th at the Granada Theater. It's going to be a thrilling evening of history,

storytelling, and music, looking back to explore the days that made America. And did I mention music? Yes, because I'm bringing a full band with me. So come out and see me live in Dallas. For more information on tickets and upcoming dates, go to Historydailylive.com. That's historydaily live.com. Come see my days that made America tour live on stage. Go to historydaily live.com. On co-o-co-coatio, Ki-Karysetka, hae assuntomest to beckxobaltomptomest. S-mobile and T-Linehawks. S-Pankk, Suomen-Mutkitt.

Was Ki-a-is-pany-to-is-hankint. S-lina tekees-lina, take it mightlis-mhaw. Ha'i, juer to signolina, muttomastomest, S-pank, S-pank, S-lton, Suemen-Mutkittom-Pank. Are new-cotio in Ki-Karice. Hae asuntolina, muttomast-Ampst, paucca, a lotholtas. Avah, S-Mobile and Tee, Lina Hacquettombe,

S-Pankm, S-Pank. Was, a key-to-is-Pankment, A-Lina, take it mightlis, and I'm not-Mobiles. Hae, juie-usolina, Mucatomis-Mobileist. S-Pankk, Suomen Mutottomkkkkkkkkk. From Noisor and Airship, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is History Daily. History is made every day. On this podcast, every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world.

Today is December 12, 1939, the Battle of Tolovai Arvi. It's August 23, 1939, in Moscow, the capital of the USSR, four months before the Battle of Tolovai Arvi. Soviet Foreign Minister Vichensur, Moldov signs his name at the bottom of a piece of paper. Then Molotov rises and stands next to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin as his German counterpart, Joachim von Rippentrop, signs his name with a flourish to the same document. After weeks of delicate behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Soviet and German foreign ministers have just signed a treaty that will stun the other major powers in Europe. Under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, as this agreement will come to be

known, the USSR and Germany promised not to invade each other for the next 10 years. This pact dramatically alters the balance of power in Europe, bringing together two countries that previously regarded each other as enemies. But aside from Molotov and Ribbentrop, only a few people know that the treaty is far more than just a non-aggression pact. The USSR and Germany have a secret plan to carve up Eastern Europe and take the pieces for themselves. Among the country's Molotov and Ribbentrop covertly discussed is the USSR's neighbor to the northwest, Finland. The Soviets have a strained relationship with Finland. For more than 100 years, Finland was incorporated into the Russian Empire, but the Finnish region gained independence after the 1917 Russian Revolution,

and Soviet leadership views a neutral Finland as a threat and a potential launching point for incursions into Soviet territory. To eliminate this danger, a secret protocol in the Molotov-Ribbentrop. Pact has designated Finland in the Soviet sphere of influence, effectively giving the USSR a free pass to invade the country. After the formalities of signing the treaty are completed, Molotov and Ribbentrop pose with Stalin for photographs. The three men shake hands one last time before Ribbentrop returns to Germany with a copy of the agreement. Malatov knows what's coming next. Eight days later, Adolf Hitler orders German troops to invade Poland. World War II breaks out as Britain and France declare war on Germany in defense of Poland. But there's no way the

British and French can stop the Germans without Soviet help. And according to the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, the USSR won't just stand by while the Germans invade Poland. Instead, the Soviets will join the invasion. Sixteen days after the German army crosses the Polish border, Stalin authorizes Soviet troops to invade Poland as well. In less than three weeks, the Polish government surrenders. By the time Poland falls, Molotov and Stalin have already identified their next target. They want to conquer Finland. But even with the secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribb-ribentrop pact, the USSR needs an excuse to invade, so the Soviets invent one. Six weeks after the fall of Poland, the Soviet army fires on a village near the border with Finland. It soon becomes

clear that the shelling of Manila was deliberately staged by the USSR as a pretext for war. Soviet troops and armor had massed near the border in advance of the shelling, so the Soviet army is able to race into Finland when war is declared. The Finnish armed forces are caught by surprise and offer little resistance to this first wave of invaders. But the Soviet advance falters after a week when Finnish soldiers fall back to a hastily constructed line of defensive fortifications. As the Soviet army grinds to a halt, Finnish generals realized that the Soviet superiority in manpower and weaponry is countered by their inability to move quickly in the freezing winter weather. So Finnish generals come up with a plan to counterattack using their more nimble army,

which is used to fighting in the cold. On December 12, 1939, the Finnish counterattack begins near the village of Tullabai Arvi. Although the 4,000 Finnish soldiers are vastly outnumbered by 20,000 Soviet invaders, the Finns split into two groups and encircle the Soviets in a surprise assault over two frozen lakes. The Soviets are trapped by the Pinser movement and take heavy casualties, forcing the Soviets to begin a tactical retreat, and the Finnish army liberates Tullabai Arvi. The Soviets leave behind 20 destroyed tanks and the bodies of thousands of soldiers.

The Finns suffer only 100 men killed with a similar number wounded, so victory at the Battle of Tullivay Arvi will be an important morale boost for the Finnish army, but the war won't be over. Over the next three months, the much larger Soviet Union will attempt to, bring its superior manpower and weaponry to bear. But the ardent Finns will grind the Soviets into a stalemate and the Soviet army will suffer a blow to its reputation that will be felt beyond the border with Finland. It's December 23rd, 1939, near the village of Suomo-Solome of Solombe, Finland, 11 days after the Battle of Tullivai Arvi. Lieutenant Hovenin and First Lieutenant

Virachie ski along a lightly wooded trail on the town's outskirts, skidding to a halt by a line of trees. For the past few days, Hovenin and Enveriki have tracked the movement of Soviet forces as they fight their way along a narrow road that leads to Suomousalami. The invasion column is moving slowly. Soviet heavy armor has been bogged down in deep snowdrifts. Engines have seized as the temperature drops to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit. But the Finns, on the other hand, have used backwood trails as supply routes, and their knowledge of local geography has allowed them to stay hidden from the enemy.

The Finnish army is faster and more mobile. in the snow since every Finnish soldier has trained in ski warfare, including Lieutenant Hovenin and First Lieutenant Virki. The two are experts at traversing the snow, allowing them to easily follow the Soviet invaders. Staying hidden from view, they wait at the tree line and listen in silence. They exchange wary looks as they hear engines moving toward them, and sure enough, two Soviet T-28 tanks rumble into view. Lieutenant Hovenon knows that the tanks have a clear path into the village, and he must stop them here and now. Havanaugh quickly explains his daring plan to First Lieutenant Virki.

Then he puts it into action. Havanae tapes five grenades together before crawling toward the two tanks. If he can get close enough to throw or plant the grenades, he can disable the vehicle's tracks. But even his white camouflage suit can't hide him from the Soviets. His heart sinks as the tank stop and their turrets slowly rotate towards him. First Lieutenant Viraki spots the danger his partner is in and jumps to his feet firing his pistol at the tanks. There's no way his bullets will penetrate the thick armor, so First Lieutenant Viraki aims for the observation slits.

And after a few seconds of gunfire, one of the tank turrets turns toward Verriky and fires. He drops to the ground and loads another magazine into his pistol as the tank's round lands frighteningly nearby. Then Veracchi pops up and resumes firing his pistol at the tanks. But as the tank's rounds land closer and closer to him, Viriki has little choice but to stop firing and scamper to safety. Still, he successfully distracts attention away from Lieutenant Hovenin, giving him enough time to crawl nearer to the tanks. And for the Soviets inside, Hovenin has advanced far too close for comfort.

The tank's engines roar and gearboxes crunch as the drivers put the tank in reverse and edge backwards away from Lieutenant Hovenin. Inboldened by this success, Lieutenant Havenin's stance. and fains throwing his bundle of grenades. The tanks increased speed, retreating from the village of Suomassalmi, and as they disappear from view, Lieutenant Havenin chuckles. Two heavily armored tanks have been repulsed by a two-man ski patrol firing only pistols and throwing imaginary grenades.

The guerrilla tactics used by Lieutenant Havenin and First Lieutenant Virachie are repeated across the region. Although the Finnish army is heavily outnumbered and outgunned, the Finnish soldiers make use of their better winter combat skills to attack supply lines and field kitchens, while picking off Soviet companies that had become isolated, thanks to the confusing network of woodland trails throughout the country. And 16 days after Lieutenant Havana and First Lieutenant Viraki stopped two tanks from entering the village, the Battle of Suo-Masalmi comes to an end.

By the time the Soviets retreat, the month-long battle has cost the Finnish Army 900 men, but the Soviet losses are far higher at around 25,000. thousand. Unable to maintain such a high casualty rate, Soviet generals abandoned their plans to take over the whole of Finland. They had hoped to make quick work of the country, but that no longer appears feasible. Instead, they concentrate their efforts on the border province of Kerala. Peace negotiations begin, and a ceasefire is declared on March 13th, three months after the winter war began. On paper, the USSR will emerge the victor in the winter war. The Moscow peace Treaty will cede Corralia to the Soviets, and it will be incorporated into the USSR as a new

Soviet Republic. But the Soviets' failure to conquer all of Finland as they hoped will stun the world, and the lack of a comprehensive victory will make Germany's leaders realize that the USSR is not as strong and powerful as they thought. It's the early hours of June 22nd, 1941, and Mariahom, the capital of the Aland Islands, just off the coast of Finland, 15 months after the end of the Winter War. A Finnish soldier walks down the gangplank of his warship, which is just docked at the city's harbor. Thousands of other soldiers gathered on the dockside awaiting orders. There's a buzz of anticipation in the air. The island islands are an autonomous region of Finland, but according to international law, Finnish soldiers shouldn't be here. Since 1921, the island

islands have been demilitarized, with no soldiers or military bases allowed. But for the past few weeks, the Finnish government has been conducting clandestine negotiations with Germany. Under a strict vow of secrecy, German diplomats reveal that Hitler is about to double-cross Stalin and launch Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the USSR. Now the Finnish army prepares to launch its own preemptive attack on the Soviets on the same day that Nazi forces begin theirs. So as the Finnish soldier joins the rest of the company, they begin to march away from the docks and through Maraham streets.

Lights appear in houses as residents awaken to the noise of thousands of soldiers disembarking at the harbor. In less than 10 minutes, the soldiers' company arrives at its destination, the consulate of the USSR, and there they demand entry and arrest every person inside. The incarceration of the Soviet Union's diplomatic staff is effectively a declaration of war, and hostilities between Finland and the USSR resume in what becomes known as the continuation war. Over the next three years, Finland and Germany will each wage war against the USSR. And although the Soviet Union will emerge the victor in both conflicts, the USSR will treat Finland leniently in the post-war settlement.

Aware that treating the Finns too harshly could provoke another conflict, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin will allow Finland to remain an independent nation, even as the Iron Curtain descends across Eastern Europe. And for decades to come, the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union, Union, and then Russia will remain frosty. The two countries will eye each other cautiously across the border that saw years of fighting in the winter and continuation wars. But the Finns will maintain a unique pride and confidence in their ability to stand up to their much larger neighbor, thanks to their past successes, beginning with the Winter Wars turning point

at the Battle of Tola Vyarvi on December 12, 1939. Next, on History Daily, December 15, 1939, A theater in Atlanta, Georgia, hosts the premiere of the film adaptation of the beloved novel Gone with the Wind. From Noisor and Airship, this is History Daily, hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham. Audio editing by Mohamed Shazid, sound design by Misha Stanton, music by Lindsay Graham. This episode is written and researched by Scott Reeves. Executive producers are Alexandra Curry Buckner for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.