Talvesõja diplomaatia

by Max Jakobson

The Diplomacy of the Winter An Account of the Russo-Finnish War, 1939-1940 [Hardcover] Max Jakobson (Author)

Genres: History, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Max Jakobson was a Finnish diplomat and journalist with Finnish-Jewish descent. Jakobson was an instrumental figure in shaping Finland's policy of neutrality during the Cold War. In 1971, Jakobson was a candidate for the post of United Nations Secretary-General. His candidacy failed, ostensibly because of a Soviet Union veto.

Max Jakobson was born in 1923 in Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia), as son of Finnish-Jewish tailor Leo Jakobsson and his ethnic Finnish wife Helmi (née Virtanen). He began his career as a journalist. He worked at the BBC. From 1953 to 1974 he was employed by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs eventually acting as Finland's ambassador to the United Nations in 1965-1971 and Finland's Ambassador to Sweden in 1971−1974.

Reviews

[Logan Young]

Great, mostly balanced account of the Winter War. Jakobson narrative style was engaging and he explained complex diplomatic situations clearly and succinctly. Of course the writer is Finnish so his perspective on Sweden, the USSR, and Germany is biased, but Jakobson was honest and always justified his opinions with primary sources. My only complaint is I wish more information was given about the situation on the ground at various times during the duration of the war.

I learned a ton from this book, especially in the final 1/4 about the Allied plans to "peacefully invade" Norway and Sweden to "help" Finland. Thank goodness this never materialized, since that would have caused the USSR to declare war on Britain and France (they were still considered a Great Power) and may have potentially led to an alliance between fascist Germany and Russia. Jakobson makes it seem like that is the obvious outcome, but I'm not convinced that alliance ever would have happened. Though Germany was eager to demonstrate its word after signing the non-aggression pact with the Soviets, all power hungry, failed conquerors from the 18th to mid 20th centuries try to invade Russia. Then ever since WWII that title moved from Russia to Afghanistan.

[Lars Sjöblom]

Probably the best book about the Winter War and the diplomatic negotiations both before and during the invasion.

[Mark Kagan]

h/t Niko

[Kyle Norweg]

A first-hand account of elements of WWII often forgotten by the West. Incredibly relevant and an example of the importance of learning history as to relates to the modern world.