Why Democratic Finland Allied with Nazi Germany in WWII

Finland, a young democracy that gained independence from Russia in 1917, faced constant territorial disputes with the Soviet Union. In November 1939, the Soviets shelled the village of Mainila as a pretext to break the non-aggression pact and invade, sparking the Winter War. Despite initial resistance, Finland was forced to cede nearly 10% of its territory in the Moscow Peace Treaty of March 1940. With limited international support and continued Soviet pressure, Finland turned to Nazi Germany for survival. Germany's Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 provided an opportunity for Finland to launch the Continuation War, aiming to retake lost territories. By December 1941, Finland adopted a defensive posture. However, after the Battle of Stalingrad in February 1943, the tide turned, and by June 1944, Soviet forces regained momentum, leading to the Moscow Armistice in September 1944, which compelled Finland to expel German troops. This resulted in the Lapland War, where Finnish and German forces clashed from September to November 1944, with Germans employing scorched-earth tactics while retreating to Norway. By 1945, German forces had fully withdrawn. Finland emerged from the war having preserved its independence and democracy, avoiding Soviet occupation and fascist control, despite the moral compromises made during a desperate period when knowledge of Nazi atrocities was limited.