Soviet Shelling of Mainila: The Lie That Started the Winter War
The Soviet Army shells its own village of Mainila, then blames Finnish artillery to manufacture a casus belli for invasion. This staged attack gives Moscow the pretext it needs to launch the Winter War against Finland just four days later.
November 26, 1939
87 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Finland
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Winter War
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Soviet army
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Shelling of Mainila
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Shelling of Mainila
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Red Army
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Winter War
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Ukrainian War of Independence
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Bolshevik–Makhnovist conflict
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Makhnovshchina
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Noroeste
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Saint Petersburg
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Sudoeste
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Finland
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Soviet Union
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Russlanddeutsche
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