A Frozen Hell The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940

by Trotter, William R.

• ISBN13: 9781565122499
• ISBN10: 1565122496
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Algonquin Books

Summary

In 1939, tiny Finland waged war-the kind of war that spawns legends-against the mighty Soviet Union, and yet their epic struggle has been largely ignored. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses-these are the elements of both the Finnish victory and a gripping tale of war.

Author Biography

William R. Trotter was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and educated at Davidson College, where he earned a B.A. in European History. He has worked as a regional music critic, a book reviewer, and a freelance historian and feature writer. Trotter has published twelve books as well as many articles--in The Independent (North Carolina), Spectator Magazine, the American Record Magazine, Film Culture, Military History Monthly, and dozens of other magazines. Since 1987, he has been a senior writer for PC Gamer Magazine. In 1995, Trotter won the Finlandia Foundation's Arts and Letters Prize for A Frozen Hell, and the book is required reading for the 2nd Marine Division. In addition, his biography of Mitropoulos, Priest of Music: The Life and Times of Dimitri Mitropoulos, was selected as one of the "ten best 'arts' books of the year" by National Public Radio, and one of his novellas has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. William Trotter lives with his wife and their youngest son in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	p. ix
Maps	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Author's Note	p. xv
Onslaught and Riposte	p. 1
The Reasons Why	p. 3
The Baron	p. 23
Order of Battle	p. 33
First Blows	p. 48
"The People's Republic of Finland"	p. 58
The Mannerheim Line	p. 62
The Karelian Isthmus: Round One	p. 67
"A Stupid Butting of Heads"	p. 85
Uncommon Valor: Battles in the Fourth Corps Zone	p. 91
Tolvajarvi: The First Victory	p. 93
The Kollaa Front: They Shall Not Pass!	p. 123
The Mottis of General Hagglund	p. 131
The White Death	p. 141
The Winter Soldiers	p. 143
Suomussalmi: A Military Classic	p. 150
Mr. Mydans Visits the Kemi River	p. 171
The January Lull	p. 185
The Air War	p. 187
The Outside World Responds	p. 194
The Russians Get Serious	p. 203
The Storm	p. 211
Tidal Wave	p. 213
Breakthrough!	p. 221
Dance of the Diplomats: Round One	p. 234
Fighting for Time	p. 242
Dance of the Diplomats: Round Two	p. 246
Time Runs Out	p. 255
Aftershocks	p. 263
Chronology	p. 271
Notes on the Sources	p. 275
Index	p. 277
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