History: World War II Photography, Finnish Defense Forces, Finland

• Independent Republic of Finland
From 1917 on Finland has been an independent republic. This period started with the Finnish Civil War in 1918, between the reds (communists) and the whites (mixed right wing, liberal and centrist groups allied against the Reds), soon after Finland's declaration of independence. The former were supported by Bolshevik Russia, and the latter by the German Empire. The Whites eventually defeated the Reds.
- World War II
+ In 1939 Finland became a target of a Soviet attack known as the Winter War. The war lasted 105 days.