William Trotter’s The Winter War remains an authoritative and engaging account of one of the lesser-known yet strategically significant conflicts of the 20th century: the Soviet Union’s invasion of Finland during the harsh winter of 1939–40. Despite being somewhat dated—originally published in 1991—the book offers a compelling and well-structured chronological narrative that continues to resonate, particularly considering recent parallels with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trotter begins with a stark contrast: the might of the Soviet Union, then Europe’s most populous and militarily dominant nation, pitted against the Republic of Finland, a small and under-resourced state determined to defend its sovereignty. The result was a short but brutal campaign lasting just over three months, marked by extreme weather, staggering casualties and a display of tactical brilliance from the vastly outnumbered Finnish forces.
The strength of Trotter’s work lies in his balanced overview of both the military and political dimensions of the conflict. He vividly portrays the blundering inefficiency of the Soviet war machine—cumbersome, ill-prepared and overconfident—against the backdrop of Finland’s tenacious and inventive resistance. Through vivid prose and carefully chosen accounts, he illustrates how Finnish forces, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, employed novel guerrilla tactics, utilised the terrain to their advantage and exposed deep flaws in the Red Army’s structure and leadership.
While Finland was ultimately forced to cede 9% of its territory under the Moscow Peace Treaty, the war itself became a symbol of national resilience and tactical acumen. The Soviets, although victorious on paper, suffered catastrophic losses—both human and material—with some estimates of casualties stretching into the hundreds of thousands. These failures severely damaged their international reputation and emboldened Hitler’s decision to pursue Operation Barbarossa in 1941.
Trotter also underscores a vital strategic point often overlooked: the Red Army learned from its early failures in Finland. These hard-won lessons, particularly in winter warfare and military reform, arguably contributed to the Soviet Union’s later success in repelling the Nazi invasion.