Angry Birds Finland 1941-1944

[jarit]

This is how it started:

Source: SA-Kuva, http://sa-kuva.fi/ Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive
"Slingshot used to fling handgranades in 3/I JR 32 area. Lieutenant Kauniskangas and ensign Turunen are streching the apparatus. Range around 150 m. Uhtua region."

 

[auslander]

Ha! Good pic

 

[gtclark]

That looks like an accident waiting to happen...

 

[papipeguy]

I guess this was easier to move in the snow than a trebuchet.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I'm not sure I'd want to be anywhere near those guys when they started lobbing grenades with that thing.

 

[erichbaumer]

I'm not at all surprised, though very amused. If you read up on what Finish soldiers did During the Winter War, you'll find a few crazier things.

Like throwing bottles of nitroglycerin at tanks.

Heeeeyyy, that would combine pretty well with this idea!

 

[jarit]

Like throwing bottles of nitroglycerin at tanks.

Actually they were just petrol bombs, named after the Russian foreign minister, Molotov. Story here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail

 

[erichbaumer]

I seem to remember reading something about the Finnish Molotov containing Nitro in A Frozen Hell, but I could be wrong, since it's been a while since I read it and I don't currently have it on hand. Throwing an incindiary at the vulnerable engine exhaust and igniting the fuel did work, but something stronger would be required to damage a tank's treads and immobilize it, which I know the Finns liked to do as well. Brilliant ingenuity in the absence of "real" weapons regardless!

 

[jarit]

Ah, it's quite possible that the cocktail had several versions ("don't shake or stir the those bottles over there"). I just commented from what I remember learning in history lessons in school.
I should probably check that book out.
Cheers!

 

[erichbaumer]

It's a great read, definitely worthwhile! It does a fair job of looking at the overall strategy while digressing into small-unit tactics (like the roles of Molotovs, snipers and skis) and more microscopic views of certain skirmishes. Though I don't know if there was any mention of slingshots.

 

[jarit]

I guess the slingshots were an anomaly, or maybe we Finns started using them only in The Continuation War (the photo is from that time).
I have recommended this write-up http://ar.to/2010/08/red-blood-white-snow for people interested about Finland, and the Winter War. It's rather well written, but certainly not altogether non-biased. I see that the writer lists The Frozen Hell as one of the sources.

 

[wallace]

Thanks for posting this! I'm of Finnish descent and have always been intrigued by what Finland was able to do in the Winter War. I've only read Richard W Condons book on the war and haven't had the opportunity to dig in any deeper than that.

My grandparents made sure that I understood what "sisu" was and how much of a blessing it is to have Finnish blood in my veins. They were so proud of their heritage!

I appreciate you posting this jarit! It's been too long since I've thought on it all.

 

[petes03]

How would you like to be the guy holding the stick?!

 

[jarit]

I appreciate you posting this jarit! It's been too long since I've thought on it all.

Thanks Wallace, I'm glad that you found this useful!