Finland in Nato: Russia's neighbour always ready for war
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- čas přidán 17. 05. 2022
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to neighbouring countries Finland and Sweden apply to join Nato in an attempt to deter any potential Russian aggression.
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Finland has always been skeptical of Russia - dating back to 1939 and is war ready. From military training of civilians and priming of bunkers nationwide to supplying advanced weaponry to its army, this small nation is built to withstand invasion.
This is how Russia’s war changed everything for Finland and why it backs itself to win.
Produced by: Kiran Moodley, Ryan Ramgobin, Ian Watkins, Mike Smith, Alice Anderson, Holly Snelling and Calum Fraser.
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I think it's insulting to call Finland's co-belligerency with Germany a dark mark. What else was Finland to do when the West had allied themselves with the Soviets? When times are desperate, you take the help you can get. Britons are in no place to shame the Finns when they themselves allied with the Soviets.
This is true, but let's not forget that a lot of Finnish military leaders and government officials at the time did have sympathies toward Nazi Germany - case in point, C.G.E. Mannerheim, the commander of the Finnish military and de facto leader of the country during WWII, who has been recorded to have had a good relationship with one Adolf Hitler. I'm a patriotic Finn myself and feel Finland going on the offensive during the Continuation War to retrieve lost lands was justified, but I think it's important that we do recognize how different the political landscape of that war was compared to the Winter War. I wouldn't personally call it a "dark mark" but I certainly wouldn't glorify it, either.
@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin994 I'm sure there were individuals who were sympathetic to the Nazi cause just as there are in modern days, but a few individuals do not speak for the majority. Can you name these military leaders and government officials who were Nazi sympathisers?
Not a big fan of Mannerheim myself, either, all things considered, but I can appreciate his actions for Finland's independence. Mannerheim upheld a formal relationship with Hitler because he (Mannerheim) was a proficient military leader. You don't make enemies with the few people capable of helping you regardless of your personal feelings. Mannerheim did not like Hitler as a person or the Nazis in general, though he is said to have been curious and admiring at first (ie when Hitler rose to power in 1933). He changed his mind after visiting Germany in 1934. He compared what was happening in Germany to Moscow, and he despised the bolsheviks in power in Moscow.
Mannerheim was an aristocrat and is said to have thought someone "low-born" like Hitler beneath him (I'd say Mannerheim sounds like a snob if anything). Famously had no problem smoking and drinking in Hitler's presence despite Hitler not liking smoking or drinking. Had Mannerheim been a Nazi or a Nazi sympathiser he would not have made visits to synagogues, allowed field synagogues, allowed Jews to serve in the military, or ensured the Finnish Jews were safe (alas 8 non-Finnish citizens who were Jewish got deported along with other non-Finnish nationals and 7 of them sadly died and that is terrible). If there was any larger pro-Nazi movement in the Finnish military and government, we would not have seen the absurdity of Finnish Jews fighting along German soldiers and being awarded with Iron Crosses.
In any case I don't think there's anything to glorify about the Continuation War, either. People back then did what they could and what they thought was for the best in their situation. I don't think it's a dark mark for Finland to make deals with devils when no one else was willing to help and it's not like Finland didn't seek help elsewhere. The West made their own deal with a devil with Stalin, yet the West isn't accused of being pro-communist. And it's always easy to nitpick and judge with hindsight.
@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin994 mannerheim hated hitler, there was a tume when he started smoking in front of hitler because he knew hitler hated smoking
@@Silveirias Fair enough, you seem much more knowledgeable on the subject than myself, so I won't argue with you on that.
But just to clarify: I think I wasn't being clear enough with my point about Finnish government officials having sympathies toward Germany; I meant Germany and the German military culture as a whole, not necessarily Nazis. The Finnish White ruling class and especially military leadership had long-running connections to Germany since the days of the Civil War. So while I am sure actual Nazi sympathizers were very few among them, I doubt many of them exactly shed any tears about jumping on board with Hitler during the Continuation War.
You're absolutely right: it is true that Finland reached out to the Western powers first, it is completely and utterly hypocritical for the West to shame us for turning to Germany when they themselves were allied with Stalin, and Finland allied with the Germans more or less out of necessity. But even with all that context, the facts remain that Finland was an ally of Nazi Germany and a foreign invader during the Continuation War and, after all, a lot of Finns had no problems allying with Germany. So even though Finland had good reasons for allying with the Germans, I can understand why some people would see that as a "dark mark" in Finnish history.
In June 1941 Soviets bombed several Finnish cities before Finland made its move. Meanwhile, the UK was in alliance with Stalin whose regime was equally brutal as Hitler’s.
These folks are not naïve. Amazing stuff. Their position required realism. Well done for Finland. Their government gets what its job is - protecting citizens. The West could not hope to get a better ally. Long live Finland.
...What?! If their position required realism, why join NATO, instead of all the laughter about Russian incompetence?
@@HegelsOwl ?
@@vulpine321 pretty much nobody heats their home with gas
@@vulpine321 Why is Finland now a threat to Russia? NATO is a defensive alliance, and Finland has lived peacefully with Russia since WWII.
It is Finland who feels threatened.
@@johnwilsdon5456 ?
The basic difference between Sweden and Finland is, that Sweden is a country, which has an army and Finland is actually an army, which has a country.
But unlike military dictatorships, the army is the people and the people are the army.
@@pashakdescilly7517 yea we are small nation and huge army and we are democratic country people are army and army are people and people are finland.....
Oh I love that- it's really unfortunate that having such a rotten neighbour makes it necessary, but it's damned impressive that it's true.
first time i hear this one! funny part, we are peace loving punch.
So we are the flower army?
Sweden has an air force and a navy at pretty good level, and it would actually make sense cause they have no direct border with russia
Served with Fin's in Africa and they were fantastic soldiers strong smart and above all a great sense of humour .
Would gladly fight beside them.
Greetings from Dublin Ireland
Finland is an amazing country. Welcome to the alliance.
Love from Scotland :)
Thanks.
Calling Finland an ally of Nazi Germany is historicly inaccurate and insulting. Anyone who knows ww2 hostory knows Finland faced an exitensial threat from the Soviet Union without any help from the west. After the Winter War, which Finland did not provoke, there was no choice but to cooperate with Germany.
Initially, Stalin was not going to invade Finns. He had offer a peaceful cooperation to move the border to the West as there was a huge threat to the Leningrad area from German attack. The aim of Stalin was to mutually secure their positions. But the young Finns had been so sensitive and wanted to retain their young government that they had refused despite Stalin reminding them that if not for the Soviets the Finns would had never gotten an independence from Sweden. Let’s not forget the history.
@@janestones323 bullsh1t. My family lived in those territories. No-one has a permission to just demand parts of other countries territories. Besides, did you ever visit soviet Baltics? I did, on several occasions. That was nothing but colonialisation. We avoided that. Stalin was not a nice guy, you really think "a little bit" of Finland had been enough for him? Lets really not forget history.
@@upnorth2421 He's a bot
I'm a Finn and I don't find it insulting. It is what it is, I'm not proud of it but I don't see an alternative with a feasible outcome. We were left on our own as a little democracy and we navigated our way out. Alongside Moscow and London, Helsinki was one of the 3 capitals in war-torn Europe that was never occupied. Most importantly, only 2000 Finnish civilians died during the 5 years of war. It was due to some hard but pragmatic decisions.
@@janestones323 🤦♂️😂🤦♂️🤦♂️
"Peacefully cooperation to MOVE the border".
Did you go to ruSSian diplomacy school or something?
This gotta be the most arrogant way to explain territory take over I've ever heard
Finland had barely survived Winter War, and Finns knew Soviet Union was bound to attack again. Finland tried getting help from the Allies, but they considered Finland's independence worth Soviet Union's support in defeating the Axis Powers. It was either make a deal with Germany or be conquered by the Soviet Union, Finland chose the lesser evil.
Finland did not agree with Germany's policies. Finland granted asylum to Jewish people and had Jewish people serving in its military. Germany tried to get Finland more integrated into itself, but Finland managed to keep its independent government and its military remained outside of German command structure, which made Finland an outlier and why it is often excluded from the Axis Powers.
Finland got food, fuel and supplies from Germany in return for reparations and the use of Porkkala (area near the capital) as a military base.
After surviving The Continuation War with its independence, Finland switched to the Allies and fought The Lapland War against Germany.
Finland only made a deal with Germany because of the Soviet Union. Finland tried to get help from the allies first, but they refused. You can compare Finland to former Soviet countries and decide for yourself if Finland made the right decision.
Indeed, Germany tried to push Finland to join them which turned into a war where finns attempted to push germans away from their lands. It was part of peace deal also to have germans out of the lands.
There was some support coming from the west: guns fighter planes volunteers and money, i guess best help came from u.k. and sweden, and some from other countries, but it was nothing compared to what ukraine was given. But same as now, Real actual direct military support was missing.
And ukraine needs a lot more, Russia hasnt even declared war at this point. If this goes to all out war phase...
We all need more dakka.
It is still up for a debate whether Finland could've avoided both her wars and thus never losing them by losing only in those wars.
@@mabussubam512 They couldn't. Russia shot at border and blamed it on Finns and attempted to take Finland lands to itself. Most of the wars (not including civil war after independence, people simply were super confused until they began banding together arming against Russian invasion) Finland faced were unfair and unprovoked.
@@peagames2002 Yeah I beg to differ. Did you took more time than the bare minimum why things led to shelling of Mainila? Some sources even says that those didn't even happen and the others says it did.
Some argue whom did it and some are certain who did it.
But where are the people who wonders WHY it happened ?
Why even me, as a Finn aren't allowed to see what is inside the envelope of Erkos files, the main Villain in Finland that kept telling that USSR is not going to come here and we should not succumb to any negotiation and say NO to everything.
Honestly, it is arguable if Finland could've had negotiated the terms had Erko not being brainwashing the citizens with HS and throwing his PoV to our politicians.
The whole event was a big mess that is yet to be cleaned and see how the real truth went.. just like almost everything that is about WW2 in general.
As a Czech, I am happy to see Finland and Sweden in NATO.
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket Turkey is obstructing due to Swedish criticism of internal repression in Turkey
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket they are having talks currently
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket good, I hope neither nation joins, nato needs less members not more.
@@Robert53area ??? Why?
@@mrgamerthebest because that increase the risk of war more member in it more chance the risk specially with finland russia will not allow finland to join the memories of the siege of leningrad are still fresh in the russia psychy putin s brother died during the siege and his mother nearly starved
Finland will make an exceptional ally to have in NATO. Their preparedness and forward thinking are second to none. They have my respect and admiration.
🇺🇲🤝🏻🇫🇮
They were fine as members of ours in WEU.
@24Ufa We have around 1500 tubes of artillery and 10 dozen trainloads of ammo waiting Russians. With love from Finland. More artillery than other western European countries have combined. Couple hundred Leo2s also. 10 years a go Finns were laughed "Why you still buy that warfighting stuff?, major wars are history in Europe". Today the preparations give warm, comfortable feeling..
@@kimmoj2570 Some countries has been all in on business and finance politics, and then there is russia that is nothing but military power. But it seems to be... well lets not do the same mistake twice, it can be really nasty.
No one will invade Finland. Maybe US bases will invade nation soon.
Finland was never an ally with Nazi Germany. Instead, we had USSR as common enemy. Our goals were different from Germany's goals. That was the reason why Finland did not participate in the Leningrad siege and did not cut the Murmansk railway permanently even when Germany asked for it.
Russia invaded Finland in WW2 because Russia (USSR) had close ties to Nazi-Germany. History remembers the 23 Aug 1939 Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact between Russia and Nazi-Germany. That agreement made possible for Russia and Nazi-Germany to invade Poland together in Sep 1939 and later for Russia invade Finland 30 Nov 1939. Russia was Nazi-Germany's best and practically only friend in Europe when WW2 started ... This Putin's Russia prefers to forget.
In Lapland and at Suursaari Island Finnish troops fought the Germans in 1944-45. In this context one must remember that only four years earlier - during the Winter War - Russia and Nazi Germany had been in alliance. Germany prevented weapons deliveries to Finland in Winter War 1939-40 when we were fighting the Russians.
Turkey just block you from joining NATO.
Same story with Ukraine. ruSSians love to say that many Ukrainians "collaborated" with Germans but it was only in the beginning of occupation and for very similar reasons you stated.
I mean, before Germans invaded, USSR artificially caused TWO famines that killed many millions. The most recent one was less than 10 years before USSR was invaded. Think about it... 9 years is nothing.
I'm not even talking about deportations to Siberia and political executions.
So it makes perfect sense to see Germans are liberators.
@@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket
In the beginning of the war no one knew about all the atrocities. There were no smart phones and social media and it's not like Germany was advertising concentration camps. Once Ukrainians experienced German "generosity", they started fighting both, Germans and Soviets
That's just in the period from 1918 to 1945, Finland attacked the USSR 3 times, and the USSR attacked Finland only 1, and then after prolonged persuasion about a peaceful solution to the issue. It is "good" to have selective memory.
@@sergeybebenin Yes, yes, you suffered from hunger. Especially in western Ukraine near Poland. The whole USSR suffered from hunger.
History is not black and white. Finland was not pro fascist, they were anti communist and that's why they sided with Germany against the very country that a year ago attacked them and stole their land.
Don't say that Finland's allegiance to Germany left a dark mark on their history, for Finland only had a common enemy with Germany and did what any nation in their shoes would've done.
I defy anyone to tell me the most liberal of democracies would not have teamed up with Germany against the USSR if they were put in Finland's position
Didn't stop them from starving 8 million people
@@Robert53area What are you talking about?!
Not to mension, Hitler had a powerful army. If Finland didnt let nazis to their grounds they would have taken finland with force. People forget that soviet union got loads of western weapons and aid for fight against nazis in finland and also in central europe. Without west soviet army was as poor as it is nowdays.
Since they didn't get any help from western countries, Finland actually found herself between a rock and a hard place. In that situation they did what they had to in order to have the best possible outcome. Unfortunately, the outcome was not what they had hoped for, but at least they had their independency intact after the war.
@@Robert53area Finland never took part in that.
"they asked for help but none came" so the same as Poland.
Pretty much, lots of promises 0 actions. We should create parallel military union on top of NATO, just between the Russian neighbors. Only ones who truly understands what it takes is us, the Russian neighbors and we are in same boat with our security issues.
Well... France and UK actually declared war on Germany when you guys were invaded and France lost it's whole country for that. I think they did the best they could. You couldn't just ship a load of troops to Poland when you guys almost had no coastline back in the day and Germany held naval superiority in the Baltic.
Sure they didn't help you away from the grasps of the Soviets, but that would've been suicide for the allies.
@@cassu6 True and very fair assessment. Still, saying Germany held naval superiority in the Baltic only means they had ships there and brits didnt. Royal Navy had naval superiority. Everywhere. Had they gone to the Baltic, they would have had superiority. But they didnt, because the navy could not do anything about the war on land, and they would have taken unnecessary losses for no gain whatsoever. The Royal Navy was a juggernaut even when weakened and even Bismark was designed to outrun them rather than fight. So you were correct in every way but the reason was reducted so far it gets confusing.
Finland's preparations are very impressive
The only country in the world who was ready for Covid. We all have much to learn from them! The only country who has learned that it can not really trust its allies in the weak west. Proud to be their neighbors 🇳🇴❤️🇫🇮
Thank you. Love and respect to Norway from Finland🇫🇮❤🇳🇴
I think this is a very good report. As a Finn I didn't spot any errors, and you can see that they didn't just do it as quickly and with as little effort as possible.
Yeah, i am amazed, this must be the first ever =)
czcams.com/video/LL4eNy4FCs8/video.html
Say it ain't so Joe
Only one thing I would like to be mentioned is that we had to start a war against Germany because they didn't leave Finland peacefully after the war with Russia ended.
In Russia, they expect that you will not build bases, deploy troops, create biological laboratories, spread infections on our territory and declare plans to receive WMD, as Zelensky did. But judging by how your government forces Finnish business to leave Russia, you have a complete "order" with mistakes.
czcams.com/video/E8t1zL-bUXY/video.html
Clare Daly on NATO.
In the future Nato will say if you don't behave we send the Finns!
If joining forces with Nazi Germany left a dark mark on Finland's history, then joining forces with Soviet Russia left an equally dark mark on Britain's history.
If Western powers would have answered when we asked for help, we would not have needed Hitlers weapons and troops. Finland did not share ambitions and morals with Nazis, we only had a common enemy.
Our leaders did what they had to do to save our country and people from Stalin. We are not ashamed of it, not one bit.
Shall never forget, that britts petrayed on us, just in the moment when we finns desperately needed allies and help. In the 1930's Britain promissed us finns for support, alliance and help against Russian threat. And what did we get? Lots of arms, food and technical aid poured into the arms of our adversary. That's one of the main reasons the generation that went through the wars despised western help and alliances. But it seems to have forgotten by current generation of leaders.
@@mikkorenvall428 And those MF:s are first to condunt us all. Give me break and try to walk One Mile in our boots. C'moon! We againts the Soviets? F U ! That is not fair
Also we Finns expelled the German Nazi troops from our country with our own blood and sweat. They retreated and burned down half of the country.
@@mikkorenvall428 I mean tbf defending France (which they failed at) was way more important than defending Finland.
Of course the Brits would send aid to the ones actually defeating their main enemy and not to the allies of said enemy. This is just common sense to me and I hold no ill will of that.
@@samisuhonen9815 True. Lapin sota is sometimes portrayed as a kind of pew pew let's get those germans out of Kemi, Tornio, Rovaniemi etc.. Far from the truth. Germans used scorched earth tactics and burned pretty much of those cities to the ground. The politics that came after that, well that's another story.
As Swedish, I only twitch a bit when they say that there where not any noticeable help during the winter war.
- Sweden provided:
25 aircraft, 800 naval and submarine bombs, 144 artillery pieces, 100 anti-aircraft guns, 92 anti-tank pieces, 600 tank mines, 34 grenade launchers, 347 machine guns, 450 machine guns, 135,402 rifles, 301,849 grenades and over 51 million rifle cartridges.
As well as about 9 500 volunteers joined the fight against Soviet.
And we wont forget it.
This is true. Also Sweden took care for a lot of finnish children.
It is very unfair to say Sweden forgot Finland during the war.
I am a Finn and don't forget it.
Sadly this is often overlooked.
Sweden did back up finland with economical action as well, and it sheltered a lot of children often in just normal swedish homes.
Swedes were the real bros
@@ItsAweeb Sweden helped the maximum amount they could without actually picking a side. It was Finnish soldiers that were fighting and dying, not just to protect our country but Sweden as well, who like before in history was more or less hiding behind the Finnish back.
Don't get me wrong i'm not saying we shouldn't be thankful for the help we got, but let's be real it wasn't THAT much. They helped us in a way that was safe for them even if we were to lose completely. The Swedes I do respect with no caveat were the volunteers to actually risk life and limb, but as for the Sweden as whole, they were a benefactor, and not the only one at that, but as a nation they did what most are now doing to Ukraine: help a bit and watch from the sidelines.
Well Sweden was basically only one who help us. Biggest help was taking all the children safe. Women did not runaway. They did they part also. Its really hard to invade country if every citicen is willing to kill you.
Finland's artillery is by far the largest and the most effective and modern in whole western Europe. In fact Finland have more artillery units than Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway etc combined. This in mind, Finland will be huge additional strength into NATO forces & countries.
There is much to learn from Finland and Sweden.
We should welcome them with open arms. They will be a major asset to deterring further aggression. Hope Sweden joins as well.
Finland I must say you put us Brits to shame in many ways.
Hello Sean! No need to feel ashamed. Britain was definitely the last outpost against Germany during WW2 in Europe, and a brave, steadfast bulldog or tenacious terrier, when most of continental Europe was already occupied.
War makes strange bedfellows. You do what you have to in order to save your country and your people.
Greetings from Finland from one who was born during the war.
GB and France were preparing to send their expeditionary forces, but it wasn't just your or the french fault. Neutral Norway and Sweden didn't allow transport of troops across their soil. Logistics were also terribly slow so the 105 day war just happened to end before they could send any, and I'm guessing Stalin didn't want to risk a war against the future ally states, and he also desperately needed to modernize his armies so he decided to time to regroup.
“Finland, the distant country of lakes and FJORDS” 😭😂
Well you know... Finland... Norway... kinda same right? :)
i wish
better ask Slartibartfast about it
Remember old border... it was the Great Finland .. That time we had "Fjords"
… and polar bears
Lauri Törni & Simo Häyhä we're great soldiers in their own way!
Finns have known that any day, the Russians will invade, for decades. Unlike Sweden, Finland actually has an ambition to resist. Based on the record, the snow will be red on that day.
Unless it’s summer
Finland has experienced that there are never friends in the East. The attacker always comes from the east and the friends are in the west. Finland has never trusted the East, and not really the West either, because the West has never helped.
Finland has always had to stand alone and always be ready.
I hope we remember that in the future also. Nato is not a savior but we will need a strong defense of our own not relying too much to help of the west. I fear we will forget that in a long haul.
@@fellow7091 Yeah I hope we won't forget the thing that basically made our country
This actually shows in finnish people too. The attitude of standing alone, not needing help (even when you actually would need it...). I totally see that in myself, and in, well... Most of my family. Not always a good thing, but deeply encraved in us.
@@SK-nw4ig True but this is even more geopolitics. Our long border with Russia that kind of no european Nato-countries have forces us to take it seriously. And moreover actually we live in an island.
We Finns are not hostile to the East or the West, but we also do not trust the East or the West. We stand on our own two feet.
In reality when looking at numbers, Finland and Sweden joining Nato made Nato stronger! For some reason Finland has Europes biggest army and biggest artillery together with Poland. Finlands wartime dtrength 285.000 men is more than twice the size of the Brittish army!
The reason is russia. Just russia alone.
total defence number for finland is over 900 000.
Conscription works in Finland because the people agree with it, doing your conscripted service is a matter of pride in doing a civic duty instead of something to tolerate.
Finland and Sweden have invested more in their military than most of western Europe over the last 2 decades. Their ability to mobilise trained troops is bigger than most. For a defensive pact, they would be a massive asset. If Turkey vetoes entry, Scandinavia will likely just form a defensive pact outside NATO. It makes more sense for that region against possible Russian aggression.
Finland really, Sweden's army is nowhere near as robust.
@@fingmoron Sweden has a really good military and it’s continuing to develop it! So if I were you I would get all the facts before you start to comment!
@@wsson7177 'a really good military' 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Chillout wytboy
@@wsson7177 they do have a good military tech wise but when it comes to the size of the army its too small to defend itself
@@wsson7177 Mate Sweden has a tiny army, despite having half the population Finland has the same amount of active and a much much larger reserve. Sweden's full force is nothing on Finland's. That's the facts, regardless of how much money Sweden throws at its army it has too few trained personnel.
Oh please- working with Germany against the Soviet Union 'left a dark stain on Finnish history?' Are you kidding? How about the very next thing you said: that Britain, despite declaring war on Germany for invading Poland, and NOT being the least bit bothered by the Soviets doing so two weeks later, AND not bothering to be outraged by the Soviets invading Finland too, didn't help the Finns at all. You ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE SOVIETS SUCH THAT THEY ENSLAVED HALF OF EUROPE for 80 years- THAT IS A DARK STAIN. Jeez. Why can't you Brits leave the ridiculous 80-year-old propaganda in the past- oh, right, you have a ton of your own rotten history to distract from, both before and after WWII. And you haven't done anything of note in the world since. Except help destroy Iraq. Right.
How about leaving the nonsense out of your reports and focus on the subject: that Finland is amazing, and a history of Russian aggression has inspired them again and again. It should inspire all of us.
Finnish Historians have said and proved on many occasions that Britain tried to help Finland. They planned to send troops from the North of Norway but later backed out due to Sweden not allowing British troops to go through Sweden since Sweden tried to stay neutral. Finns know this and we are not mad about any on that.
Look how Fin prepare for the war says a lot about Russian. Canada and Mexico don’t meet these kind of troubles.
Maybe not canada and mexico but the middle east and vietnam sure did xD
@@joelnorisalo3245 And Iraq and Afghanistan still do.
Finland the nation of preppers it looks like. I'm impressed.
A country full of doom's day preppers XD
Sadly, it is out of necessity, but I agree. We have this rather unreliable neighbor. And as much as we hope, we just can't change that fact. So we need to prepare.
Not really, just aware that the closest threat to us comes from east. If it doesn't, they've flanked...
Well our government actually encourage citizens to get at least 72h kit (I have it also)
God imagine having Russia as your neighbor and having to build your society around the day they will try and invade. I can't believe they didnt try and join NATO earlier.
NATO IS wall street 😥🤐🤑Industrial monetary complex 🤐🤑😂🤣😁😀🐕🦺🛒🐑📱😥 NATO is not EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHYCAL complex 😥🤣😂🤑🤐😂🤣
Why we didn’t join along with Estonia et al is a big mystery to me , but now is the second best time
Even the road network is designed such that it's hard to move large formations quickly east-to-west.
Why we didn't join NATO before... part of it is probably having subtly started believing some of the Russian propaganda about it. 10-15 years ago the word "NATO" definitely had a kind of cold ring to it, being associated with the most hawkish American militarism.
There was a huge recession in the early 90´s when the soviet union collapsed. The finlandisation that was mentioned in the video also meant finland traded with the soviet union a lot and that was one of the founding pillars of the modern finnish economy. In the early 2000´s russia seemed to be changed so the old trading partnership continued. I think finland should have joined nato after the events of 2014 if not after the invasion of georgia in 2008.
Because that would have triggered an immediate invasion like in many other post soviet states.
What a country.
Its funny how some people complain about Finland joining hands with Nazis. Yet they dont realize that this nation needed allies; Finns asked help from Uk, Us and many other allies but got none, they were left all alone to fight against soviets. So they were _forced_ to have at least *some* allies to *survive* . Today peoples in these same nations that didnt help finns complain about their alliances with nazis. I thought Us and Uk were better than that.
Without Germany we would have been without gas, ammunition, guns, planes, food.
It was a question of our existence and survival.
Russians planned a genocide in Finland.
We had to choose in between being wiped out from this world or cooperation with Germany.
Love Finland
🇹🇷
Great Finland !!
what an impressive nation and citizenry an aspitration for the world
As a Northern Finn, I seem to remember that most of the North was burned by the Germans in the Lapin Sota.
alot of norwegians and swedes volunteered to fight for finland in 1939, but sadly not enough.. also many norwegians served under waffen ss in finland in the "norwegian ski-jaeger battallion"
Finland lost land to the Soviet Union in 1940 at the end of the Winter War. It was only to recover this land that they sided with the Germans when they invaded the Soviet Union. At the end of the war in 1945 (Finland effectively pulled out in late 1944), the boarder was established pretty much where it had been after the Soviet invasion of 1940. Had the democracies backed Finland i 1940 against the Soviet Union, they may well never have aligned with the Nazis.
If the soviets didn't attack in 1939 Finland wouldn't have attacked the soviets. They just want to live in peace.
@jocusOW If the soviets didn't attack in 1939 finland would likely have had a second civil war. The soviet agression united the country like never seen before and that is why finland is in the great position it is in today.
@@asdffdsa8648 possibly. Let's just hope history doesn't repeat itself
@@asdffdsa8648 Actually, I don't think Europe has ever been so well off than in the summer of 1939 - annexation of Czechoslovakia not included.
@@asdffdsa8648 Civil war was because of russian propaganda was established in reds. I am sure Finland would've been just fine if Russian greed to take Finland back with reds wasn't so strong right after their independence.
It is in our Finnish DNA to know who is our enemy. Just give something to fight and we will do it to protect our home land.
Still I am amazed how the Ukrainan people fight against the Big Russian war machine. What a nations they are!
Finland in NATO is a great thing!!! You guys spend on defense what the other europeans should be spending.
Finland is an extremely underrated country. Despite them having burger king with sauna, parliament with sauna, as they put saunas in to ... extreme places, people overlook that they are a seriously competent and intelligent country.
Not so much anymore. World economic Forum conference in Switzerland Davos ranked Finland the best country 2019. World happines index report and UN ranked Finland the happiest country 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The reasons are approximately the same. Finland is on the top almost in every category.
There is a sauna on a ferris wheel in Helsinki
Well, yes, because saunas are fantastic. Everything else comes on top
Mannerheim and Simo Hayha's Legacy to resist Russian rule won't be forgotten
бот спок ты даже 1% от симо не стоишь
The main benefit of Finland in NATO is to raise the threshold for a failed Russian political will to become active in military aggression, like in Ukraine.
Thank you, so kindly, for your valuable flatulence towards sabotaging the educational purpose of this platform.
Keep up the good work. We need more malicious imps like you in the world.
No it its only benefit is for nato countries to actually be connected to russia with greater than 180 mile border, direct threat to russias second largest city and 125 miles to russia largest naval base at Murmansk this isn't about defense this is about offense. Because American tanks and weapons struggle in cold. So they the nato allies want to take as much land from russia as possible. Before they do exactly what they did to Iraq.
@@Robert53area Give it back tidy.
Recent events made me watch Tuntematon sotilas again, one of the best films about the winter war to be honest, I spent many years in Vuosaari and learned English in a school over there. I often remember the slot machines in the restaraunts that would take all my markka. The amazing cruise ships of the Viking line and the little cafe Ursula. Also the safest subway system in the world.
Lovely memories, sounds like Finland 🙂🇫🇮 I love Tuntematon sotilas, I try to watch it once a year. The new version is great, too.
It's about the continuation war
Tuntematon sotilas is not a book and movie about finnish defense but a critique about the finnish offense in continuation war. That movie should be seen a part of left side politics in Finland and finlandisierung after WW2. The book was politically correct towards Soviet union.
Oh... You really should read the book.
@@fellow7091 I don't know about that mate. Sure it is antiwar, but all good war stuff is.
Even Spartans made alliances. In Finland's case, alliances make sense especially from the perspective that the likely adversary has 26 times more population. Russia vs Ukraine is only 3-to-1 in terms of population.
splitting hairs there, mate!
26 Slavs vs 1 Scandinavian viking. No contest - as Ukraine's showing. The word "slave" is originated in slav, as servile and serb are also common roots. Ukraine was created by the Vikings.
The only reason Putin gets away with it is because his people are a pretty docile mob.
We didin't ally with the nazis during ww2. We had a same common goal to fight soviets after they invaded us. We where more like a business partners, than allyes like Italy to the germans for example.
Actually, the Soviets had given you the government and independence in the first place - there was NO Finland before. Let’s not close our eyes to that fact as well.
@@janestones323 You have no idea what you are talking about.
@@janestones323 Finland was already quite autonomous in the middle ages. The Soviets "gave" us nothing, as a government already existed. Lenin begrudgingly had to accept us becoming independent, because he didn't have the military force to stop the process. The Soviet government's intention was always to take Finland back when such an opportunity came.
@@janestones323 granting someone independence implies you are not going to try to take it away later. kinda scummy behaviour in my opinion.
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣
weapons and volunteers came from Sweden. That was the last time before the Ukraine war that Sweden has sent weapons to a country in war.
swe and fi best bros 4eva
That's a bit overlooked fact here in Finland. Sweden's aid was massive, over 10000 men and 1/3th of their airforce IIRC
@@qwerty6383 What is overlooked is the fact that Sweden denied Brits and French to send any military aid through its territory. Sweden was actually one of the main reasons western help never came.
@@skobbels Brits ,French and US where sending aids to Russia
@@skobbels true but if they did then war most likely would have broken out on their land. So it may seem selfish and cowardly but a country has the right to decide whats best for its own wellbeing.
I like the Finnish Army snow camouflage uniform 😍
It’s incredibly effective. The summer camo less so, but the winter camo makes it really hard to spot anyone further away.
@@markuskoivisto Amazing
Dear Russia, thanks for making NATO stronger 🇸🇪🇩🇰🇺🇸💪
Always ready to defend our country! Special AT squadron tank destroyer here. My gear was a rifle, 2 land mines, Light AT bazooka, Heavy 112mm AT bazooka and bundle of grenades. Really normal gear early 2000s. My gear weighted more than myself
Well done Finland, you've made the right move to join Nato
finland is a much better candidate for nato than turkey and turkey should be kicked out
The Russians seem to have forgotten what happened last time when they tried to invade Finland. The Winter war and the Continuation war. And the Finns kinda had no choice on allying with Nazi Germany since the west never really came to there aid just like when the British and French didn’t help Poland when the Germans and Soviets invaded them. Some of you might see it as a bad thing but they were a rock stuck in a hard place, either be friends with the communist Soviet Union which they hated or join the Germans because they’re fighting and killing the Soviets. Finland had no Nazi or Fascist tendencies whatsoever. But now they have to worry about them again. Welcome new Allie 🇺🇸🤝🏻🇫🇮.
History kind of repeats itself. Finland was driven to co-operate with Germany due to the Soviet menace and due to the fact that Germany was the only credible European power practically able to counterbalance the eastern threat. NATO is in a comparable position today and Finland was driven to join it by popular demand for a like reason.
West wasn't there to help because USSR was their ally. The only time in history FInland was betrayed by west. I do really hope west knows who is their real enemy... unless they forget it again and start building another strawman from Zelenskyy to lower their war effort costs.
@@peagames2002 There is lots of wisdom at the gate of Suomenlinna. Ler's hope finnish goverment never forgots that. Even now.
We owe some gratitude toward to the Germans, Our old Waffen brothers.
They should join neto early but they must join this month coz they have selfish and crazy neighbours. Good luck Finland from UK.
Finland and Sweden already have officially applied for NATO membership, the speed of the process is up to NATO. Or actually up to Turkey: they have halted the process to get attention to their own intrests.
@@mikrokupu thanks mate ur sounds great
"Moscow betrays, has betrayed before and will betray for a thousand years to come".
Eino Leino, over 100 years ago.
So true.
There is no limits with Russian will and ability to lie constantly.
It doesn’t matter the size of the country. If you continue to poke it with a stick, it will f’kin bite you.
Putin did what no one could. Some may find him incompetent, but he managed to increase the NATO Russia border. That wasn’t easy with populations that were initially against joining NATO. I’m not sure anyone but Putin could’ve done It
You are putting this stupid comments everywhere! Use some new clever ideas next time!
That's unironically true.
That's true. Once again russia is the only reason finlands military does something
@@janestones323 before the russian invasion, only about 1/4 to 1/3 of finnish population wanted to join NATO, in May 78% of the population wanted to join NATO.
So yea, Putin and Kreml is the reason
Welcome to NATO Finland and Sweden, both great freedom loving nations, arms are already linked if anyone intends to invade either of you. What ruzzians can't seem to understand is that nobody has even threatened or actually attacked them in 77 years. All their neighbours want is peace, trade and friendship, but following their current behaviour, that will be with their youths in generations to come. We simply want them back in their box to learn the truth and sort themselves out.
well done! on point with no wasted chatter ..
The Continuation War a Dark mark in Finnish history? In June 1941 Soviets bombed several Finnish cities including Helsinki before Finland made its move. Then you didn't mention, that Finland only wanted to retake the territory, which was ceded in 1940 to the Sowjet Union (Karelia). Btw, the pre-1939 borders you show in this video are wrong because they should have included Karelia, Salla and Petsamo to the Finnish state.
Good for Finland 🇫🇮 and Sweden 🇸🇪
Japan 🇯🇵 want to join NATO
konichiwa NATO
The highest-ranking uniformed officer in Japan's Self-Defense Forces attend a NATO Military Chiefs of Defense meeting for the first time last Thursday…
Look at the nato rules, Japan can’t join
These borders at 3:20 are incorrect, that's todays borders, Karelia and other places were part of Finland before Winter war.
Why didn't you show the old Finnish borders at all?
Other NATO nations (assuming Finland joins the NATO soon) have much to learn from Finland: the model of a massive number of military-trained reservists that can be invoked to rapidly augment the nation's defense if under attack; an exceptional, top-tier education system; extensive bunkers for the population to shelter in during an invasive attack; an innovative mindset; and, an amicable and modest disposition.
It's funny how much a small rise in taxes can do if spent correctly.
Wow.. as a Finn, I found this video awesome. Thank You. 🙏
Welcome to the NATO family
Family? Criminal hostile organization
Thank you Sir 😌👍
Thanks!
Putin you know you f##ked up Right.... Now NATO will be you're next door neighbour. 🤣👍
Finland fked up. Former n@zi collaborator now wants to stop their nutrality? It's clearly a hostile act against Russia and will be met with a propper response. If they didn't understand what a red line is they soon will...
Says who?
Finland is not joining nato you clown.
Turkey is not going to let them you fool.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣China is waiting to join the free- for -all.
West is fxxcked up.
Russia has been the best nato recruiter there is
@@asiamies9153 💯👍
3:03 - The map is wrong. Åland Islands are part of Finland.
We were always a western country. The ill informed narrator makes it sound like we were an eastern bloc country, which we´ve never been. And the "Finlandization" was never adopted, it was forced upon us from the soviets.
It's time for Ireland and Austria to join as well.
The Swiss should consider the move also.
putin attacked Ukraine because he thought they would`nt put up a fight...WRONG. Slava Ukraini.
3:10 yo, those islands between Finland and Sweden belong to Finland, why are they not blue like the mainland Finland???
Excellent presentation
We only ever wanted to live in peace as an independent nation. No matter the cost. Whether it's assassinating Russian governors, calling in aid from Germany, giving in to Soviet demands or joining EU and NATO... Our independence is the most precious thing. It's worth living and dying for.
Well, took damn near 800 years to get, of course it's precious
So there will be Genocide!
since Russia wants to expand its empire all countries bordering Russia should join Nato.
China? I think not. The UN's been investigating a Central Asian Union, an economic mission was in Kazakhstan in April.
Good....i live in Texas and i take range training every weekend!! You can never hone your shooting skills too much!!!
As we say. Ryssä on ryssä
Vaikka voissa paistais. Sanoi mummuni(RIP)
Finland has very strong defense forces which are ready for crisis and war. We standed for soviets in winter war so it wont be a difference in the future.
In 1940, the list of allies was very thin indeed. Finland couldn't ally with the Soviets for the obvious reason, the western countries didn't want to ally, hence Germany was the only option left. As said, Finland did what it had to do to survive in an extremely dangerous situation. Now Russia is holding a knife on our throat and tells us not to defend ourselves. Nothing never changes with them, but the next time we won’t be alone.
Good job! S/O to all my brothers and sisters in Nato. I was in Kosovo with many different nationalities and I can truly say we as Finns we belong to Nato. And yes, we have been ready to defend our sovereignty from day one. I would like point out that Russian state has acted terribly but most of the ppl in Russia hasn't been part of these horros we hear from Ukraine. All thou they need to put their politics in order and get rid of their tyrants. This job is for russians and that is their responsibilty to handle if they want to be part of civilized world.
FINLAND should immediately join NATO and America and Eurpeon countries should take Finland in NATO.
Do try to keep up. There's no conditional about it. It's happening. Russia can be as unhappy about that as they like, they only have themselves to thank.
It's done
Stay neutral and all will be good , don’t escalate the war
And end up in the exactly same situation as in 1939 when Finland tried to stay neutral.
Yeah back in WW2 we stayed neutral and didn't escalate the war.
We got invaded by Russia right after that.
Russia is imperialist, they don't care wheter we join NATO or not.
Yea that hasnt worked historically
Ukraine is neutral, guess what happened. Russia has solely been the best NATO recruiter there is
Everyone needs to take a side sooner or later no man is a inland by himself
not an 'inland' ? Maybe you mean 'not an island'. An amusing typo
"Having to work with the nazis" That was the least bad in the finnish wars actually
“In Scotland, people think that NATO is just a nickname you give to a guy who lost a foot to diabetes.” (Frankie Boyle)
Well, since Brexit, we all know that the majority of Brits know very little about the EU, Nato, economy, politics or logistics. Literally everything which goes a beyond their border.
So leaving the 48% clever brits aside, this is not suprising at all....
@@benjamin2149 *Surprising “Clever Brits”? I’m assuming you’re in the unclever cohort.
NATO IS wall street 😥🤐🤑Industrial monetary complex 🤐🤑😂🤣😁😀🐕🦺🛒🐑📱😥 NATO is not EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHYCAL complex 😥🤣😂🤑🤐😂🤣
@@benjamin2149 the reason why a lot of people voted to leave was to spite condescending wnakers like yourself.
@@benjamin2149 Aw, shucks.
One fortunate consequence of the finnish application to NATO was a kick in the butt of the swedish social democrats. If not for the finns I very much doubt Sweden would have applied. A big thank you!
Applying for Nato membership was just one, important step in a gradual way from neutrality to alliance.
Before Dec 2021, majority of Finnish citizens did not publicly support Nato membership. One reason for this was that the political leaders did not publicly endorse Nato mrmbership.
Simultaneously, left wing or center politicians did not dare to publicly support Nato membership, because it would have been against the public opinion among their voters. Even if their personal opinion favored Nato membership. This is why there was such a fast, dramatic change in BOTH public opinion AND security policy after Russia launched their full scale war on Ukraine in Feb 24.
After a few months of discussion, the Finnish parliament showed their support for Nato membership by voting 188 YES - 8 NO.
What is worrying, is that it's more a feeling based decision than a rational thinking based reasoning.
Finland never allied with nazis in a way Finland never fought for German interests.
I was building some of these shelters. They are basically Vaults from fallout series without lazer and cool stuff . Atleast there will be something left if worst is to happen.
"Something" is quite correct word.
or maybe NATO should join Finland😁
Done
@@asiamies9153 done indeed. hyvää pääsiäistä
EPIC
2:02 as a fin, i did not know this about our bridges
You haven't yet served. Or maybe they taught it only in the engineer training I participated.
@@speedruiner7213 i dint have to serve for health reasons
@@samutraifin my condolences
No need to know too much, as long as our pioneers know 😌👍
3 days after the german invasion of russia started the fins did take back what the russians had taken in 39. but they never joined the axis . and never fought front line with german troops. so really again fact of history the fins did what served them. it was the smart move.
Well, actually we did figth with Germans in the frontlines, many of them were in our defensive lines during the last Soviet offensive, without Germans those lines would have been broken and we would have been part of Soviet Union.
Also Panttipataljoona fought with Germans in the frontlines in the East- Europe.
Also some volenteers fought in SS Viking, mostly in Eastern front, Stalingrad..
Yes, they did. Finland was officially an Axis state during the continuation war (1941-44) and a co-belligerent against the USSR and United Kingdom. The UK declared war on Finland on 6th Dec 1941 to appease the Russians. Apart from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier anti-shipping shipping strike, no fighting took place apart from against Russia and later against the Germans still in Finland.
@@brainlessspudlogic4875 Actually we weren't Axis state, we just had agreement on fighting against Soviet Union.
@@brainlessspudlogic4875 nope. Finland never was Part of The axis
It's the Brits and Americans who should be ashamed, not the Finns.
True!
no in ww 2 finland did what it had too to stop russia even go with the fascists . it was a fast 4 years and one and done.
Great
Finland would destroy Russia in an invasion 🤣
Pretty much. I still hope it won't go for that, which is and has been highly unlikely, but you newer know.
All our efforts are to avoid a confrontation. We have no interest in Russia, we have enough cabbage, vodka and forests.
@@upnorth2421 Idk about you, but I still want the occupied Finnic nations that Russia colonized to be liberated. Mari-El, Mordovia, Udmurtia, Komi, Karelia, Izhoria, Bjarmia (Arkhangelsk) etc.
@@finnicpatriot6399 only if they want it too😆 but wouldn't it be fun to watch putins reaction if we went there to liberate them!
@@finnicpatriot6399For heaven's sake. Finland doesn't want any of those territories. No more conflicts. No more wars. Finland is large enough for its inhabitants.