Nordic countries are strengthening their defense at such a pace that it could be said that a so-called "mini-NATO" is being formed in the north.

Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark are a force to be reckoned with.

First part of the series of threads is:

Nordic Air Forces🧵 In March 2023, leaders of the Nordic air forces of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland signed a joint declaration to integrate their collective air forces in the coming years. This so-called 'Air Commanders' Intent' aims for these forces to eventually operate seamlessly together

Are we heading for the next world war?

When you study the causes that led to the previous world war, it is easy to find much of the same in the current world situation.

Let's compare in 6 parts🧵 1. WW2: The trauma of Treaty of Versailles and the German desire for restored might.

Today: The trauma of the collapse of USSR & russia's desire for restored might.

Let's continue the threads about Finland's preparation for the threat of war and crisis situations.

Next part is the Finnish nationwide civil defence system 🧵 In early 2022, Finland had about 50 500 civil defence shelters with space for a total of 4,8 million people.

Civil defence shelters provide protection against, for example explosions and shrapnel, collapsing buildings, blast waves as well as radiation and hazardous substances.

Finland is known to be an example in preparedness.

In this thread, I'll tell you about a world-class specialty, the world's longest continuous underground tunnel, which is built to secure the water supply of millions of people in all conditions:

Päijänne water tunnel Future water problem in Helsinki region was noticed in the 1960s.

Water resources in the nearby area were of poor quality and dwindling due to growing population. Seawater purification would have become very expensive.

Kremlin controlled propagandists have begun spreading a story that the so-called "Old Finland" area should be returned to Russia.

According to the new Russian narrative, the area called "Old Finland" would actually be "historical Russian land" 🤡 Russians "argue" that these areas were annexed to the Russian Empire several decades before Sweden lost all of Finland to Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland was established at the end of the Finnish War (1808–1809).

Seeds of the Finnish people's hatred towards Russia were cruelly sown in the first half of the 18th century.

On the orders of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, a genocide took place, which is known in Finland as "Great Wrath". 🧵 At the beginning of the 18th century, the Great Northern War was going on between Sweden and the Russian Empire, and Sweden had suffered a great defeat in Finland.

Finns were forced under Russian rule.

During Stalin's 1930's purges, genocide of at least 20,000 people of Finnish origin was carried out.

Historian Anni Reuter thinks that the actual number of Finnish victims was even higher.

Of the Finns living in the Soviet Karelia at the time, 90% received a death sentence. A new period of oppression against Finns is considered to have started in the early 1930s, when suspicion of everything foreign grew in the Soviet Union.

West and capitalist countries were seen as a growing threat, and anything foreign began to be viewed with suspicion.

THE BATTLE FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE

In July 1941, a Soviet force attacked Bengtskär with the mission of capturing the island & blowing up the lighthouse.

Island's 38 Finnish defenders fought furiously against the Russians.

In this thread I will tell you more about this famous battle BACKGROUNDS:

After the Winter War, Soviet Union had established a base in the Hanko's occupied area, from which it controlled maritime traffic in the Gulf of Finland.

However, Finn's controlled the island of Bengtskär, 25km from Hanko & were able observe Russians from there.

Five bloody minutes started the winter war in November 1939 -

Soviet bombers hit Helsinki without a declaration of war and killed 91 civilians.

The first bombings of Helsinki were a clear war crime against civilians 🧵 As the border region became a battleground early in the morning, the citizens of Helsinki started their day oblivious to that war had started.

The first indication they had that anything was amiss was the wail of the siren at 09:20, followed shortly by rumbling of engines.

On June 14, 1940, the Finnish airliner Aero's Kaleva plane was on its normal scheduled flight from Tallinn to Helsinki, when two Soviet DB-3T bombers appeared next to it shortly after takeoff.

Planes opened fire, causing an tragedy which was kept silent for decades 🧵 In the summer of 1940, days of fear were lived in Estonia.

The presence of the Soviet forces, who had already taken over the bases, was turning into a full occupation, which would be carried out without mercy.

There was an interim peace between Finland and the Soviet Union.

June 20, 1944 was a particularly dark day in Finnish history. Soviet bombers bombed Kurkijoki's Elisenvaara station.

A tragedy happened, about which both Finnish and Soviet authorities kept silent for decades.🧵 The most destructive aerial bombardment in Finland took place at the Elisenvaara crossing station on June 20, 1944.

USSR bombed a massively crowded station with 80 planes.

Betrayed Battalion - The sad story of Tribal Battalion 3 (Heimopataljoona 3)

In fall 1942, Marshal Mannerheim approved the creation of the ”Tribal Battalion". POW's who understood the Finnish language, but did not serve in the Red Army in officer positions, were selected to it. Tribal Battalion 3 consisted mainly of prisoners of war who served in the Red Army, soldiers from Aunus, Tver and Vienna Karelia, as well as soldiers from Inger and Veps.

Battalion was assigned to the Finnish core crew, 119 officers, non-commissioned officers & regular soldiers.

Attack by Russian partisans on the Finnish village of Seitajärvi in Savukoski in the summer of 1944 was one of the worst attacks against civilians of the entire war & an example of Russian brutality they are capable of.

❗WARNING contains very sensitive pictures of the victims❗ Destruction in the remote village of Seitajärvi was total on the morning of July 7, 1944. A Soviet partisan unit had carried out an attack hundreds of kilometers from the front line.

A village inhabited by civilians had been surprised in a perfectly bright summer night.

Imagine how differently things would be today if Finland actually got the Western help it wished & asked for in Winter War against the Soviet Union.

Let's play with this alternative line of history in this short thread 🧵 Was there a real threat during the Winter War that the Soviet Union would be attacked from Finland?

Everyone knows that there wasn't.

The goal was to annex Finland back to the Soviet Union. There was a literal deal about it between Nazi-Germany & USSR.

One good example of Soviet/Russian treachery & cunningness was the Soviet made puppet state called "Finnish Democratic Republic" in 1939.

It was established by Stalin upon outbreak of the Winter War & headed by Otto Wille Kuusinen to govern Finland after Soviet conquest. 🧵 The "Finnish Democratic Republic" was only recognised by the Soviet Union and nominally operated in Soviet-occupied areas of Finnish Karelia from the de facto capital of Terijoki.

The puppet state was also far from democratic, because its "leader" Kuusinen was communist.

When you stop & think about it...What is Russia without it's nuclear weapons?

Literally just a giant 3rd world country trying desperately to remain relevant after the collapse of USSR.

Let's dive in the reality of Russian state & mentality 🧵 Russia is a sick country that lives in three-phase cycles. Rise, Decline & Collapse.

This cycle repeats itself every century or so. Todays Russia is in a state of decline

Russia falls every time to the same diseases that torment it: Imperialism, megalomania & totalitarianism.

Finland has successfully tested its ability to run a war economy and has begun storing military equipment outside its national borders.

Finland recently checked on more than 1,000 agreements it has with private companies to produce equipment or provide services for times of war.

Fortifications are being built in strategic locations

https://twitter.com/TallbarFIN/status/1707616916620144674?t=iwKNNh2pOjOE6ynzpHi-vg&s=19

SOVIET OCCUPATION OF PORKKALA PENINSULA AFTER CONTINUATION WAR

For 12 years, Porkkala was a Soviet Naval Base Just 30 Kilometres West of the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

In this thread, we'll dive into this strange, surreal period in Finnish history 🧵 According to the Moscow Armistance signed in 1944 Finland was enforced to lease the Porkkala peninsula and its archipelago for the Soviet purposes.

The pact included a Soviet exclusive rental right at Porkkala for 50 years during 1944-1994.

Finland has a network of secret bunkers ready for war.

There are hundreds of such fortresses in Finland. They have been built over the decades, and more are being built every year.

#Finland #nato

Finnish Defence Forces do not build fortresses only in a chain along the eastern border, they are also being built inland in strategic locations that could be targeted by the enemy's long range capabilites.

Biggest battle in the history of Nordic countries took place in terrain between the villages of Tali & Ihantala on Karelian Isthmus, June 25 - July 9, 1944.

The major Finnish defensive victory was the key event that convinced USSR to abandon their plans ton annex Finland. 🧵 Few days before the start of the battle in Ihantala-area, the city of Vyborg fell faster than expected on June 20, 1944.

The Finns were able to stop the enemy's advance to the west side of the city at Tienhaara after blowing up the bridges crossing the waterway.

In November 1943, commanders of the Finnish 1st Division decided to form a strike force that could be used in toughest & most difficult situations on short notice.

Jaeger company of about 150 to 160 men was formed.

Lieutenant Lauri Törni was appointed as the company leader. 🧵 Unit consisted of soldiers with front-line experience & had plenty of light automatic weapons.

Core of the company were familiar men from Törni's old units.

Törni hand picked every member into his group of elite soldiers, which became a "operational fist" of the 1st Division.