1. The Winter War Between Finland and the Soviet Union
The Winter War of 1939-1940 saw Finland’s small, determined forces withstand a Soviet invasion, stunning the world. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the Finns’ resilient defense exposed deep flaws in the Soviet military structure. These weaknesses did not go unnoticed—Hitler cited them when planning his own attack on the USSR. The conflict also led to the League of Nations expelling the Soviet Union, signaling international condemnation.
