Finland

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Republic of Finland Suomen Tasavalta
Flag of Finland
Location of Finland (Light green) Puppet Onega (Grey) TAG = FIN
Politics
Capital	Helsinki
Ruling Party	Kansallinen Kokoomus (Tr: National Coalition Party)
Last Election	02/07/1960
Head of State	President Juha Rihtniemi
Head of Government	Prime Minister Johannes Virolainen
Diplomacy
Sphere	Grossraum Kontinentaleuropa
Foreign Alignment	Pakt Observer, Einheitspakt
Economy
GDP	$7.12B
Credit Rating	Fair
Market Type	Free Market Capitalism

The Republic of Finland is a country in Northern Europe. It borders the Kingdom of Sweden to the west, its client state Onega to the east, and Reichskommissariat Moskowien to the south. It is currently an observer in the Einheitspakt.

History

Formation

Formerly the Grand Duchy of Finland before the First World War, against the backdrop of the Revolutions of 1917 that Finland would see itself independent from their Russian overlords. It was during this era that Finns vowed that it would defend itself against the bigger powers that sought to vassalise it again.

During the interwar period, relations between Finland and the new Soviet Union were tense. Some elements in Finland maintained the dream of a "Greater Finland" which included the Soviet-controlled part of Karelia, while the proximity of the Finnish border to Leningrad caused worry among the Soviet leadership. Despite this tense relations, Finland sought to stay neutral.

World War Two

On 23 August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union would sign the Zhdanov–Ribbentrop Pact, which included a secret clause demarcating Finland as part of the Soviet sphere of influence. By the 12 October 1939, the Soviet Union began negotiations with Finland regarding the disposition of the Karelian Isthmus, the Hanko Peninsula, and various islands in the Gulf of Finland, all of which were considered by the Finns to be Finnish territory. No agreement was reached, which led to the start of the Winter War.

On 26 November, the Soviet Union accused the Finnish Army of shelling the village of Mainila. It was subsequently found that the Soviets had in fact shelled the village, to create a pretext for withdrawal from their non-aggression pact with Finland. 4 days later, with the pretext of Mainila being shelled, the Soviet Union attacked Finland. The Winter War began, disastrously for the Soviets. The Red Army, weakened by factionalism was defeated repeatedly on the field, with heavy losses. Finnish troops would defend valiantly, defeating the Reds along the Mannerheim Line.

Subsequently, in the peace after the Winter War, Finland would see a small golden age in the interim peace. Through their successful defence of the nation against the Soviet Union, they revealed the weakness of the Red Army. Additionally, the repeated operational failures of the Red Army gave German army planners the confidence that the Soviets could be easily defeated, setting the plans for Operation Barbarossa.

The Finns would later join with the Germans against the Soviets in Operation Barbarossa, fighting the Soviets in the Continuation War, conquering Eastern Karelia and Murmansk from the Soviet Union. The complete collapse of the Soviet Union in 1942, would solidify Finnish territorial gains and usher in a new golden age for Finland, fulfilling the idea of "Greater Finland" for its adherents.

West Russian War

The period after the end of World War II was marked by another brief golden age for Finland. The victory won in the war brought about its new lands and riches for the small nation. However, the start of the West Russian War put an end to this golden age. As the West Russian Revolutionary Front and its allies launched a counteroffensive against Reichskommissariat Moskowien, Kaukasien and across the border to retake their lost territory. Their speed and advance pushed the border of the West Russian Revolutionary Front to the borders of Finland once more.

It was here that the Russians diverted a small force to retake its lost lands of Murmansk and formerly Soviet Karelia. As a result of this attack, the Finnish military was called upon again to defend Finland. With military skill and excellent leadership, the Finnish military were able to repulse the Russian attack and retain its territory, but the effects of the incursion and the West Russian War would become the catalyst for radical change in Finland.

Parties and Factions

Name	Ideologies	Leader
National Coalition Party	National Conservatism	Juha Rihtniemi
Agrarian League	Liberal Conservatism	Kauno Kleemola
Social Democratic Party Of Finland	Social Democracy	Karl-August Fagerholm
Patriotic People's Movement	Fascist Populism	Lauri Törni
Communist Party of Finland	Marxism-Leninism	Aimo Aaltonen