Despite pressure from Germany, Finland refused to attack Leningrad or sever the Murmansk railway and fought the Continuation War separately from Germany.
During this conflict Finland fought as a co-belligerent to the German Reich and Italy and invaded eastern Karelia (equivalent to the states of Onega and Olonets in-game) in addition to reconquering the territory lost during the Winter War. After it was clear that Operation Barbarossa was unsuccessful it was renamed to the Continuation War. In 1941, Finland joined German Reich's war against the Soviet Union - officially after Soviet bombers struck Finnish military air fields from which Nazi bombers bombed Leningrad - to reconquer its lost territories, initially calling the conflict the "Summer War". Finland lost about 12.5% of its territory (equivalent to the states of Salla, Petsamo and Karjala in-game) but survived as an independent nation, unlike the Baltic states which were annexed into the Soviet Union earlier. Against all odds the badly outnumbered and under-equipped Finnish army was able to repel the Soviet attacks until a grand offensive in 1940 finally forced the country to sue for peace.
After a brief yet very destructive civil war in 1918 Finland was formally recognized as an independent nation.Īfter 20 years of independence Finland was attacked by the Soviet Union in 1939, leading to the Winter War. Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and Russia's internal turmoil Finland declared itself independent. Finland was ceded to Russia after the Finnish War of 1809. Historical Background įinland was a large yet culturally independent region of Sweden first attached in the early 12th century. The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is the only urban area of the state. Lakes and marsh area is located in the south, while mountains and hills are located in the northern part of Finland. Much of the land is flat and densely forested.