On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union's Red Army invaded the young nation-state of Finland, in the full expectation of routing the small, ill-equipped Finnish army and annexing the former Russian territory by the end of the year. But Finland held out for 105 bitterly cold, fiercely combative days, until March 15, 1940, when a peace agreement ended the short, savage Winter War. At the stirring center of the story lie the resourcefulness and resolve of the Finnish people, who against all military odds-in want of ammunition, food, sleep, and troops-fought a blundering, ineptly commanded Red Army to a standstill. On March 15, they ceded to the Soviet 11 percent of their territory and 30 percent of their economic assets, but none of their national pride.--From publisher description.

Includes maps of: Stalin's Attack on Finlands; Intended Assault on the Isthmus; Battle for Suomussalmi-Raate; Defeat of the 44th Division; Battle for Tolvajarvi; Advnace to the Aittojoki River; Finnish Counterattack, 23 December; Plans for Allied Relief Efforts on Finland; Red Army's Advance into Ladoga-Karelia; Red Army Advance to Viipuri; Finnish Border Adjustments, March 1940.

An awkward little country -- The stranger from a sunken world -- Naboth's vineyard -- Bear-baiting: the emerging crisis -- Questions of command -- The assault on the isthmus -- Responses -- The ordeal of Ninth Army -- In Ladoga-Karelia -- Counter-attacks -- Manoeuvres: the gate of the year -- A hare-brained scheme... -- The Red Army reforms itself -- Endgame: red storm -- Outcomes.