Editing Winter War (section)

==Soviet breakthrough in February==
===Red Army reforms and offensive preparations===
[[File:Inspecting Soviet skiing manuals.jpg|thumb|alt=Four Finnish officers in uniform are sitting and reading Soviet skiing manuals with relaxed looks on their faces. A pile of the books is in front of them on a table, and a large drape of [[Joseph Stalin]] hangs above their heads on the wall.|Finnish officers inspecting Soviet skiing manuals gained as loot from the [[Battle of Suomussalmi]]]]

Joseph Stalin was not pleased with the results of December 1939 in the Finnish campaign. The Red Army had been humiliated in defeats by smaller Finnish forces. By the third week of the war, Soviet propaganda was already working to explain the failures of the Soviet military to the populace: blaming bad terrain and harsh climate, and falsely claiming that the Mannerheim Line was stronger than the Maginot Line, and that the Americans had sent 1,000 of their best pilots to Finland. However, the Soviets were confronted with the unavoidable reality of the poor performance of their troops against the Finns. Stalin in particular was concerned about the effects of the war on Soviet reputation.<ref>[[#reiter|Reiter (2009)]], p. 126</ref> In late December, the Soviets decided to reduce their strategic objectives and focused on bringing the war to an end.<ref>[[#reiter|Reiter (2009)]], pp. 126, 127</ref>

Chief of Staff Boris Shaposhnikov was given full authority over operations in the Finnish theatre, and he ordered the suspension of frontal assaults in late December. Kliment Voroshilov was replaced with [[Semyon Timoshenko]] as the commander of the Soviet forces in the war on 7 January 1940.<ref name="Trotter_203-204">[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], pp. 203–204</ref> The main focus of the Soviet attack was switched to the Karelian Isthmus. Timoshenko and Zhdanov reorganised and tightened control between different branches of service in the Red Army. They also changed tactical doctrines to meet the realities of the situation.<ref name="Laaks1999_424-425">[[#Laaksonen1999|Laaksonen (1999)]], pp. 424–425</ref>

The Soviet forces on the Karelian Isthmus were divided into two armies: the 7th and the 13th Army. The 7th Army, now under Kirill Meretskov, would concentrate 75 per cent of its strength against the {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} stretch of the Mannerheim Line between Taipale and the Munasuo swamp. Tactics would be basic: an armoured wedge for the initial breakthrough, followed by the main infantry and vehicle assault force. The Red Army would prepare by pinpointing the Finnish frontline fortifications. The 123rd Rifle Division then rehearsed the assault on life-size [[mockup|mock-ups]]. The Soviets shipped large numbers of new tanks and artillery pieces to the theatre. Troops were increased from ten divisions to 25–26 divisions with six or seven tank brigades and several independent tank platoons as support, totalling 600,000 soldiers.<ref name="Laaks1999_424-425"/> On 1 February, the Red Army began a large offensive, firing 300,000 shells into the Finnish line in the first 24&nbsp;hours of the [[bombardment]].<ref name="Trotter_214-215" />

===Soviet offensive on the Karelian Isthmus===
Although the Karelian Isthmus front was less active in January than in December, the Soviets increased bombardments, wearing down the defenders and softening their fortifications. During daylight hours, the Finns took shelter inside their fortifications from the bombardments and repaired damage during the night. The situation led quickly to war exhaustion among the Finns, who lost over 3,000 soldiers in [[trench warfare]]. The Soviets also made occasional small infantry assaults with one or two companies.<ref name="Laaks1999_426-427">[[#Laaksonen1999|Laaksonen (1999)]], pp. 426–427</ref> Because of the shortage of ammunition, Finnish artillery emplacements were under orders to fire only against directly threatening ground attacks. On 1 February, the Soviets further escalated their artillery and air bombardments.<ref name="Trotter_214-215">[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], pp. 214–215</ref>

Even though the Soviets refined their tactics and morale improved, the generals were still willing to accept massive losses to reach their objectives. Soviet attacks were now being screened by smoke, heavy artillery, and armour support, but the infantry charged in the open and in dense formations.<ref name="Trotter_214-215" /> Unlike their tactics in December, Soviet tanks advanced in smaller numbers. The Finns could not easily eliminate tanks if infantry troops protected them.<ref name="Laaks1999_430">[[#Laaksonen1999|Laaksonen (1999)]], p. 430</ref> After 10 days of constant artillery barrage, the Soviets achieved a breakthrough on the Western Karelian Isthmus in the Second Battle of Summa.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], p. 218</ref>

By 11 February, the Soviets had approximately 460,000 soldiers, 3,350 artillery pieces, 3,000 tanks and 1,300 aircraft deployed on the Karelian Isthmus. The Red Army was constantly receiving new recruits after the breakthrough.<ref name="UittoGeust9">[[#GeustUitto2006|Geust; Uitto (2006)]], p. 77</ref> Opposing them, the Finns had eight divisions, totalling about 150,000 soldiers. One by one, the defenders' strongholds crumbled under the Soviet attacks and the Finns were forced to retreat. On 15 February, Mannerheim authorised a general retreat of the II Corps to a fallback line of defence.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], p. 233</ref> On the eastern side of the isthmus, the Finns continued to resist Soviet assaults, achieving a stalemate in the battle of Taipale.<ref name="Laaks1999_452">[[#Laaksonen1999|Laaksonen (1999)]], p. 452</ref>

===Peace negotiations===
While the Finns attempted to re-open negotiations with Moscow by every means during the war, the Soviets did not respond. In early January, Finnish communist [[Hella Wuolijoki]] contacted the Finnish Government. She offered to contact Moscow through the Soviet Union's ambassador to Sweden, [[Alexandra Kollontai]]. Wuolijoki departed for [[Stockholm]] and met Kollontai secretly at a hotel. On 29 January, Molotov put an end to the puppet [[Terijoki Government]] and recognized the Ryti–Tanner government as the legal government of Finland, informing it that the USSR was willing to negotiate peace.<ref name="Trotter 2002 pp. 234"/><ref>[[#Enkenberg|Enkenberg (2020)]], p.215</ref>

By mid-February, it became clear that the Finnish forces were rapidly approaching exhaustion. For the Soviets, casualties were high, the situation was a source of political embarrassment to the Soviet regime, and there was a risk of [[Franco-British plans for intervention in the Winter War|Franco-British intervention]] (which was overestimated by Soviet intelligence in February and March 1940<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rentola |first1=Kimmo |title=Intelligence and Stalin's Two Crucial Decisions in the Winter War, 1939–40 |journal=The International History Review |date=1 October 2013 |volume=35 |issue=5 |pages=1089–1112 |doi=10.1080/07075332.2013.828637 |s2cid=155013785 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07075332.2013.828637 |issn=0707-5332 |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806160555/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07075332.2013.828637 |url-status=live }}</ref>). With the spring thaw approaching, the Soviet forces risked becoming bogged down in the forests. Finnish Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner arrived in Stockholm on 12 February and negotiated the peace terms with the Soviets through the Swedes. German representatives, not aware that the negotiations were underway, suggested on 17 February that Finland negotiate with the Soviet Union.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], pp. 246–247</ref>

Both Germany and Sweden were keen to see an end to the Winter War. The Germans feared losing the [[Swedish iron-ore mining during World War II|iron ore fields in Northern Sweden]] and threatened to attack at once if the Swedes granted the Allied forces [[right of passage]]. The German invasion plan, named ''Studie Nord'', was later implemented as [[Operation Weserübung]].<ref name="Edwards_261">[[#Edwards2006|Edwards (2006)]], p. 261</ref> [[Leon Trotsky]] opined after the war that Hitler would view a Soviet occupation of Finland as a threat to this plan. Any potential German plans for bases in Finland would also be thwarted if the Soviets occupied Finland, though Trotsky himself believed that Hitler was not interested in occupying Finland, but rather its role as a buffer between Germany and the USSR.<ref name="ML">{{cite journal |last1=Lähteenmäki |first1=Maria |title=Bad blood and humiliation: Finns' experiences of the Moscow peace negotiations in 1940 |journal=Nordia Geographical Publications |date=1 January 2014 |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=101–113 |url=https://nordia.journal.fi/article/view/65103 |language=en |issn=2736-9722 |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806160502/https://nordia.journal.fi/article/view/65103 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the Finnish Cabinet hesitated in the face of harsh Soviet conditions, Sweden's King [[Gustav V of Sweden|Gustav&nbsp;V]] made a [[statsrådsdiktamen by Gustaf V|public statement]] on 19 February in which he confirmed having declined Finnish pleas for support from Swedish troops. On 25 February, the Soviet peace terms were spelt out in detail. On 29 February, the Finnish Government accepted the Soviet terms in principle and was willing to enter into negotiations.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], pp. 247–248</ref> Red Army commanders wished to continue the war as their forces were starting to make progress against the Finns, whereas the Communist Party pointed out that the war was becoming too costly and called for the signing of a peace treaty. The party believed that Finland could be taken over later by means of a revolution. The heated discussion that ensued failed to yield any clear result and the matter went to a vote, in which the party's opinion prevailed and the decision was taken to bring hostilities to an end.<ref name="ML" />

===End of war in March===
[[File:Karelian Isthmus 13 March 1940.png|thumb|alt=A diagram of the Karelian Isthmus during the last day of the war illustrates the final positions and offensives of the Soviet troops, now vastly reinforced. They have now penetrated approximately 75 kilometres deep into Finland and are about to break free from the constraints of the Isthmus.|Situation on the Karelian Isthmus on 13 March 1940, the last day of the war<ref name="KR2007_260">[[#KilinRaunio2007|Kilin and Raunio (2007)]], pp. 260–295</ref>{{legend|blue|Finnish corps (XXX) or [[Karl Lennart Oesch|Oesch]]'s coast group}}{{legend|red|Soviet corps (XXX) or army (XXXX)}}]]

On 5 March, the Red Army advanced {{convert|10|to|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} past the Mannerheim Line and entered the [[Battle of Vyborg Bay (1940)|suburbs of Viipuri]]. The same day, the Red Army established a beachhead on the Western [[Gulf of Viipuri]]. The Finns proposed an [[armistice]] on 6 March, but the Soviets, wanting to keep the pressure on the Finnish government, declined the offer. The Finnish peace delegation travelled to Moscow via Stockholm and arrived on 7 March. They were disappointed to find that Stalin was not present during peace negotiations, likely due to the Red Army's humiliation by the Finns.<ref name="ML" /> The Soviets had further demands, as their military position was strong and improving. On 9 March, the Finnish military situation on the Karelian Isthmus was dire, as troops were experiencing heavy casualties. Artillery ammunition was exhausted and weapons were wearing out. The Finnish government, realizing that the hoped-for Franco-British military expedition would not arrive in time, as Norway and Sweden had not given the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] right of passage, had little choice but to accept the Soviet terms.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], pp. 249–251</ref> Finnish President [[Kyösti Kallio]] resisted the idea of giving up any territory to the Soviet Union, but eventually agreed to sign the Moscow Peace Treaty. When he signed the document, the tormented president uttered the well-known words: "Let the hand wither that signs this monstrous treaty!"{{sfnp|Fadiman|1985|p=320}}

===Moscow Peace Treaty===
{{Main|Moscow Peace Treaty}}
[[File:Finnish areas ceded in 1940.png|thumb|alt=A drawing shows that the Finns ceded a small part of Rybachy Peninsula and part of Salla in the Finnish Lapland; and a part of Karelia and the islands of the Gulf of Finland in the south as well as a lease on the Hanko peninsula in southwestern Finland.|Finland's territorial concessions to the Soviet Union displayed in red]]

The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed in Moscow on 12 March 1940. A [[cease-fire]] took effect the next day at noon Leningrad time, 11&nbsp;a.m. Helsinki time.<ref>[[#Trotter2002|Trotter (2002)]], p. 254</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/news/3-5527174|title=70th Anniversary of the End of the Winter War|work=[[Yle News]]|date=13 March 2010|access-date=13 March 2022|archive-date=13 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313031511/https://yle.fi/news/3-5527174|url-status=live}}</ref> With it, Finland ceded the Karelian Isthmus and most of Ladoga Karelia. The area included Viipuri (Finland's second-largest city [Population Register] or fourth-largest city [Church and Civil Register], depending on the census data<ref>[[#FinnYearbook1940|Statistics Finland (1940)]]</ref>), much of Finland's industrialised territory, and significant land still held by Finland's military{{snd}}all in all, nine per cent of Finnish territory. The ceded territory included 13 per cent of Finland's economic assets.<ref name="Kirby_215">[[#Kirby2006|Kirby (2006)]], p. 215</ref> 12 per cent of Finland's population, 422,000 to 450,000 Karelians, [[Evacuation of Finnish Karelia|were evacuated and lost their homes]].{{sfnp|Gadolin|1952|p=7}}<ref name="EP1985_142-143">[[#Engle&Paan1985|Engle and Paananen (1985)]], pp. 142–143</ref><ref name="helsinginsanomat1" /> Finland also ceded a part of the region of Salla, the Rybachy Peninsula in the [[Barents Sea]], and four islands in the Gulf of Finland. The Hanko peninsula was leased to the Soviet Union as a military base for 30 years. The region of Petsamo, captured by the Red Army during the war, was returned to Finland according to the treaty.<ref name="JS2006_10">[[#Jow&Snod2006|Jowett & Snodgrass (2006)]], p. 10</ref>

Finnish concessions and territorial losses exceeded [[Background of the Winter War#Soviet demands in late 1939|Soviet pre-war demands]]. Before the war, the Soviet Union demanded for the frontier with Finland on the Karelian Isthmus to be moved westward to a point {{convert|30|km|mi|0}} east of Viipuri to the line between Koivisto and [[Khiytola|Lipola]]; for existing fortifications on the Karelian Isthmus to be demolished and for the islands of [[Suursaari]], [[Tytärsaari]], and [[Beryozovye Islands|Koivisto]] in the Gulf of Finland and Rybachy Peninsula to be ceded. In exchange, the Soviet Union proposed to cede Repola and Porajärvi from Eastern Karelia, an area twice as large as the territories that were originally demanded from the Finns.<ref name="vanDyke_44">[[#VanDyke1997|Van Dyke (1997)]], pp. 189–190</ref><ref name="Turtola1999a_38-41"/><ref name="Trotter3">[[#Trotter2002|Trotter 2002]], pp. 14–16</ref>