While the Finns could take comfort in maintaining their independence after the Winter War of 1939-1940, they were smart to keep a wary eye on the Soviet Union. They knew Joseph Stalin was not to be trusted.
History records that the cause of the Winter War was Stalin's desire for Finnish territory as a buffer against Nazi Germany. This was only partly true. It was only after Soviet archives were opened in the 1990s that his true motives became known.
The Finns were safe, but only as long as Stalin's supply of delicious Karajalanpiirakka pastries held out.
Immediately, Stalin sought to rectify the dire situation.
On the morning of January 31st, 1941, the Soviet Union once again attacked Finland.
The attack was on a massive scale. Soviet forces crossed the Finnish frontier at numerous points.
Initally, the Finnish Air Force, or Suomen Ilmavoimat, was able to hang on and defend the skies, but attrition wore down the force. A plea for help was sent and both Britain and Germany responded. The British sent Hawker Hurricane fighters and the Germans sent Me-109Es. Unfortunately, due to clerical errors, the Hurricanes were delivered without engines and only the Daimler-Benz engines of the 109s showed up. Fortunately, the Finns are an incredibly innovative people. By bolting the DB-601 engines onto the Hurricane airframes, the Messercane was born.
Oddly enough, this unholy marriage created a fast, new fighter that would be feared by all Soviet pilots that met it. In the Hurricane, the Finns had an airframe that could be easily repaired. When lubricated with cod liver oil which the Finns had in abundance, the DB-601 became an ideal cold-weather engine.
Before too long, the Suomen Ilmavoimat's fighter squadrons were completely re-equipped with the new composite aircraft which would put the Reds on the run.
An army can be rightfully said to march on its stomach, and the same is true for an air force as well. The preferred dish of the Suomen Ilmavoimat was reindeer stew.
This might cause concern when a Finnish pilot pushed his Messercane too hard and had to have it towed back to base afterwards.
Still, the new hybrid fighter was a godsend and the plucky Suomen Ilmavoimat pilots and their Messercanes were given international press.
By March, 1941, the Soviets had been stopped and were being pushed back across the border. In hungry frustration, Stalin sent out peace feelers which were rebuffed in Helsinki. The Finns refused to negotiate directly with the Soviets. An honest, third-party broker had to be found.
Fortunately, the famous international diplomat, the Blue Duck, was currently in Stockholm and available. He quickly arranged meetings with the Finnish and Soviet foreign ministers.
A truce was called and a peace treaty successfully negotiated. The Red Army would pull back and guarantee Finnish independence. A secret protocol would guarantee Stalin a steady supply of delicious Karajalanpiirakka pastries. For you see, not only was the Blue Duck a famously skilled diplomat, but he also owned a bakery.
Brian da Basher
