Changes

The state capital is [[Helsinki]] and the principal exports are machines, electronics (for example mobile phones) and lumber. [[Finnish]] is the principal language spoken, a [[Finno-Urgic]] language, it is difficult for speakers of English and Romance languages to learn, so many Finns speak English to facilitate communication with other countries. Finland is known as "the land of lakes and poets."

The state capital is [[Helsinki]] and the principal exports are machines, electronics (for example mobile phones) and lumber. [[Finnish]] is the principal language spoken, a [[Finno-Urgic]] language, it is difficult for speakers of English and Romance languages to learn, so many Finns speak English to facilitate communication with other countries. Finland is known as "the land of lakes and poets."

The Finns have in the past resisted [[communism]], first declaring independence after Russian Revolution in 1917, and then defeating the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40. Because of many Soviet miscalculations, including using troops from the [[Caucasus]] who were not habituated to the cold (it was one of the coldest winters on record, too), and because the Finns were able to adopt tactics centered around fast-moving guerilla units, the Finnish army was able to kill some 120,000 Soviets while only losing 25,000 of their own men. This has been considered by many as a sign that [[Stalin's]] purges had weakened the Red Army high command, and that guerilla warfare could be very effective against even modern mechanized forces. The defensive line built to protect Finland was known as the Mannerheim Line, after the General who commanded the Finnish armed forces. Eventually, Finland was made to cede [[Karelia]], but it no longer faced a Soviet threat.

The Finns have in the past resisted [[communism]], first declaring independence after Russian Revolution in 1917, and then inflicting very heavy and humiliating losses on the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40. Because of many Soviet miscalculations, including using troops from the [[Caucasus]] who were not habituated to the cold (it was one of the coldest winters on record, too), and because the Finns were able to adopt tactics centered around fast-moving guerilla units, the Finnish army was able to kill some 120,000 Soviets while only losing 25,000 of their own men. This has been considered by many as a sign that [[Stalin's]] purges had weakened the Red Army high command, and that guerilla warfare could be very effective against even modern mechanized forces. The defensive line built to protect Finland was known as the Mannerheim Line, after Marshal Mannerheim, the Finnish President. Eventually, the line was breached and Finland was made to cede territory in [[Karelia]]. In 1941, Finland joined the [[Axis]] powers in attacking the Soviet Union, ans its forces participated in the [[Siege of Leningrad]]. In 1944 Finland made a separate peace with the Soviet Union, ceding the Arctic Ocean port of [[Petsamo]], and undertaking to maintain a policy of strict neutrality in the post-war years (the so-called [[Finlandisation]] policy).  

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:EU Members]]

[[Category:EU Members]]

[[Category:Nordic Countries]]

[[Category:Nordic Countries]]