Sweden Joined The Winter War

What do you think would happen if Sweden went to war with the Soviet Union to aid Finland, What impact do you feel it would have on World War Two?

[ 18. March 2003, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: Brad T. ]

 

I know Finland wanted to make a pact with Sweden in order to make it tougher for Russia to attack Finland again after Winter War, but Russia was totally against this kind of pact, as well as Germany, I think. So nothing of the kind happened.

Actually I think Sweden was better off like it was, neutral. By joining Finland I´m afraid in the worst case Germans would have taken Sweden by force ( Russia would have given the advantage as Russia had over Finland after 1939 by the Ribbentrop Molotov pact ). Later on it would have given Russia a possible reason to attack Sweden, if they had pushed through in summer 1944.

As a pact for stopping Russia it might have worked for a while in 1940, but as Germany was totally anti-Finland until late 1940, it would not have benefitted either country at the time though as Germany would have threatened Sweden according to its politics at the time. As well it would have given a reason for germany to take at least northern Sweden for its iron mines.

So the answer depends on the country

1. Finns: Yes
2. Swedish: No, thanx.

I am afraid Sweden might have paid for the pact by a German invasion.I think this is the most important reason why they did not make a pact with Finland in 1940.

PS. Actually I was not directly answering your question, sorry. But the same is valid on my behalf for winter war. The pros would not have been enough to enter the winter war, as it would have given the Russians an invitation card to attack Sweden ( if the Russians had got through ). But sending help was inevitable ( guns, volunteers..). As well I have a feeling there would have been British and French troops in Sweden if the Finns had been losing winter war early on.
Also the Germans were a threat and probably would have invaded Sweden if the allied had entered Norway-northern Sweden.

[ 18. March 2003, 03:01 AM: Message edited by: Kai-Petri ]

 

I think they helped Finland already by giving clothes, food, oil, iron, ...

 

Yes, Erwin,

they helped us alot.

By declaring war to Russia it would have meant sending a big part of their own army to the Finnish front which probably would have been some 100,00-200,000 men to begin with (? totally guessing the possible figures ). The Finnish army was at its height some 500,000-650,000 men, 3,5 million people. I think Sweden had at the time 4.5-5 million, I think.

That many men would definitely been of help but I don´t know in the long run how much that would have helped if the Red Army had pushed on with a 1-1,5 million men...Also the men would have to be trained and armed and that would have taken time.
As well Sweden could not have sent many more men as they had their own borders to protect.

The Swedes and other Scandinavian countries did send volunteers and I found a number on them:
Of the Scandinavian volunteers able to reach Finland during the winter war, 8680 were Swedes, 1010 Danes, and 727 Norwegians.

 

Thanks for that info on numbers of volonteers, I think the Sweedes did send Alot of Weapons to the Finns at the outbrink of war.

 

Would you please change that to Sweden instead of Sweeden before I go mad!

It's okay, it's just that I've stumbled into this spelling too many times.

Best regards/ Daniel

[ 18. March 2003, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: charlie don't surf ]

 

My Bad, there you go

 

Here is a good page on the Swedish volunteers:

http://www.svenskafrivilliga.com/

 

Thanks Brad!

Best regards/ Daniel

 

Indeed, it is very interesting!