The Winter War 1939-40 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | August 2023 | Title | The Winter War 1939-40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Philip Jowett | Publisher | Casemate |
| Published | 2023 | ISBN | 9781636242385 |
| Format | 128 pages, hardbound | MSRP (USD) | $28.95 |
Review
Employing crushing force, Russia attacks a much smaller neighbor. But the defender’s bravery, cunning, tenacity, and battlefield successes subsequently embarrass invaders.
Russia and Ukraine, 2022-23? No: the Soviet Union and Finland, 1939-40.
Now Philip Jowett conveniently recaps the conflict in The Winter War 1939-40 – latest “Casemate Illustrated” installment.
Spanning 128 picture-packed pages across an introduction, seven chapters, and epilogue, commentary courses chronologically through the 100-day conflict:
- Buildup to War
- Soviet Invasion, November 1939
- North of Lake Lagoda, 1939-40
- War in the North, 1939-40
- War in the Air, 1939-40
- Soviet Crescendo Offensive, February 1940
- End of the War, March 1940
Period photos, color aircraft and vehicle profiles, maps, and archival art support the study. And a timeline, sidebars, biographies, and extended, explanatory captions further augment text.
But is it Viipuri, Viiborg, or Vyborg? All three are used. And those two Finnish “heavy cruisers” were actually armored coast-defense ships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen, which played deterrent roles in the struggle.
Additionally, that page 81 photo clearly depicts a Continuation War Fokker D.XXI – not a Winter War machine. And, really, what is a “Fokker XIII”?
Despite such sloppiness, The Winter War 1939-40 usefully outlines events, personnel, and equipment. Make it a springboard to further study of this tragic topic.
After all, history might not “repeat” itself, as some wags often observe, but it can “rhyme”. Will it today?
With thanks to Casemate Publishing for the review copy!