Which of the following countries maintained its independence after being invaded by the Soviet Union during WW II?

Finland was invaded twice by the Soviet Union during WW II. First, it was invaded during the Winter War (November 1939-March 1940). Finland had rejected several Soviet demands, including a demand for substantial territory in exchange for land elsewhere. The Soviets cited the need for security for Leningrad. After a Soviet victory, in which Finland put up a stubborn resistance, the Soviet annexation of Finnish territory was more severe than the original demands. The second invasion occurred during the Continuation War, (June 1941-September 1944) when Finland joined Nazi Germany in invading the Soviet Union. Finland defended its actions as a means to regain recently lost territory and the need to defend itself against its larger neighbor. Despite its defeat, Finland maintained its independence.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, collectively the Baltic States, like Finland, gained their independence from the Russian Empire in 1918 after WW I. The Baltic States, however, were in the precarious position of being in between Nazi Germany's and the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. In June 1940, Soviet troops had occupied the Baltic States which were officially incorporated in the Soviet state by August, losing their autonomy.

The Baltic States were then invaded in 1941 during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, which reoccupied the region in 1945.

Resistance to the Soviet occupation continued and ultimately all three states regained independence on September 8, 1991.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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12 Comments

Ian Swindale

The fact that Finland stood up to the Soviet Union so well - they repulsed more than 1 attack - is remarkable and a tribute to Marshall Mannerheim who is a Finnish hero and remembered in many places, one of the major streets in Helsinki bearing his name.

Joe Cilia

great question and great answer. Lesson learned: Never trust the Russians, I guess that still holds true today...

sftcw

I would like to listen to Sibelius’s Finlandia whenever I think about the brave Finns stood up to the Russians.

larry stout

One of the sad legacies of this event is that even though Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been independent nations since 1991, they are still referred to by the world as "Baltic states." Notice that in the above answer the phrase is used four times. No other countries are referred to as "states." This is simply a holdover from the USSR when these three were each one of 15 "republics" or "states" under that regime. Hopefully, some day they will be known, like the Balkan counties, as the Baltic countries.

Merri Sillery

Janice Fish, what's to dislike? It's a rather straightforward question about history.

Gery Tillmanns

Finland, Finland, Finland… That’s where I want to be, eating breakfast or dinner, or even watching TV!

buhlemann

Karelia is the lost province.

Spike Holmes

Cheryl McMeekin, You don't NEED to remember THAT far back, - Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, were ALWAYS referred to as the "BALTIC REPUBLICS", whenever the "Soviet Union" was spoken of! It's NOT rocket science.