Following the Soviet invasion of Poland in the fall of 1939, they turned their attention north to Finland. In November the Soviet Union demanded that the Finns move the border back 25km from Leningrad and grant them a 30-year lease on the Hanko Peninsula for construction of a naval base. In exchange, the Soviets offered a large tract of the Karelian wilderness. Termed as exchanging "two pounds of dirt for one pound of gold" by the Finns, the offer was flatly refused. Not to be denied, the Soviets began massing approximately 1 million men along the Finnish border. On November 26, 1939, the Soviets faked the Finnish shelling of the Russian town of Mainila. In the aftermath of the shelling, they demanded that the Finns apologise and withdraw their forces 25km from the border. Denying responsibility, the Finns refused. Four days later, 450,000 Soviet troops crossed the border. They were met by the small Finnish army which initially numbered only 180,000. The Finns were badly outnumbered in all areas during the conflict with the Soviets also possessing superiority in armour (6,541 to 30) and aircraft (3,800 to 130). This title is an authoritative account of Finland's brave defence against the Soviet Union in World War II. It focuses on the human side of one of World War II's toughest campaigns, fought in the frozen expanses of Finland. The Finns held out 105 days against the Soviet juggernaught. SELLING POINTS * Contains graphic descriptions of combat AUTHOR: Eloise Engle has also written 'The Finns in America' (978-0822510277). Lauri Paananen is a veteran of the Winter War. 37 b/w photographs