All language subtitles for La Findlande En Guerre-eng

A documentary
about a heroic will to fight.

Made by two Swiss people -

in collaboration with a charity
organisation that helped Finland.

The heroic,
proud people of Finland, -

the country of lakes and forests, -

fought for its freedom
two decades ago.

Their strength comes from -

having to build a home
and make a living in the cold.

The forests were cleared and
the stones removed from the fields.

When grains grew between the
piles of rocks with the help of God -

this land became their fatherland.

Is it possible to give up
one's fatherland -

whose products the mother
uses to bake bread for her children?

The Finns are masters of survival
in their own country.

They turned their forests
into an industry.

Finland is one of the world's
largest paper and pulp producers.

Modern factories are a sign
of high work ethics and diligence.

Finland is being built everywhere.

It is being built by hardworking
people and good taste.

People want to leave their children
an honourable legacy.

Finland has turned itself
into a modern culture state.

The mines produce
nickel, copper and iron.

Even the primary rock, granite,
is used in the building industry.

The workers' houses prove -

that two decades
of peaceful building -

has been fruitful for this
young democracy's social structure.

The large electronic networks -

are a sign of a trust in many years
of peaceful development.

A people like that
in a country like that -

have room for
a large cultural heritage, -

art in all its forms.

But we mustn't forget sports.

That's what Finland
is admired for and famous for.

There's one thing
the Finns have not forgotten.

Freedom and a democratic,
independent state -

were created with blood.

Their life and independence -

must be defended by a trained,
battle-ready army.

Harsh living conditions
near the Arctic Circle -

have turned
these 3.5 million people -

into a nation that has
during both peace and war -

worked admirably hard.

A healthy nation wants
to be free and defend itself.

It is not afraid of
an enemy a hundred times bigger.

When the war started in Europe -

it extended to
this northern country as well.

Stockholm invited three
Scandinavian kings to a meeting.

The Soviet Union invited
a Finnish delegation to negotiate.

Finland sent Tanner and Paasikivi.

The war does not sound probable.

Nevertheless,
defences are increased.

Finns must be prepared
for everything.

The negotiators return with the
territorial demands from Moscow.

They include Hanko...

the islands of the Gulf of Finland...

the Karelian Isthmus -

and Petsamo.

This free nation will not
give these up without a fight.

Finland tries to
find a peaceful solution.

Good news from Moscow
still raise hope.

The ministers
going to a second negotiation -

seem confident.

Life goes back to normal -

and the evacuated children
return to the cities.

December 1, 1939.

The Soviet Union attacks Finland
without a delaration of war.

Their numbers are vastly superior.
Their fighting abilities are unknown.

The Red Army
attacks by land and air, -

bringing a dreadful war
to this small, resilient nation.

Led by Field Marshal Mannerheim, -

the army defends
its 1,200-kilometre border.

Countless bomb shelters
are built for civilians.

Here, 20 metres under ground, -

a thousand people have shelter.

More enemy planes were shot down -

than civilian victims were mourned,
which indicates -

that in addition
to the bomb shelters -

an active air defence was needed.

If deep basements
were no longer available -

zigzag shaped trenches were dug.

They protect against shrapnel.

If a bomb falls in the trench, it
only impacts the place it falls in.

Shop windows are covered
in case of shrapnel.

This gives them some protection.

They have windows with shutters -

that act as shop windows.

Men and women, volunteers from
Sweden, Denmark and Norway, -

help build the bomb shelters.

The post office in Helsinki
in war gear.

The entire economy
prepares for the war -

calmly in its foxholes.

The marketplace is open every day -

but only until 10.

The Finns call it the Molotov hour -

because that's when
the bombers usually come.

The lookouts
on rooftops will sound an alarm.

"Watch out for spies!”

"They will guide
the bombs to the target.”

Another danger are
the Soviet parachuters.

They are equipped
with shortwave transmitters.

They are dropped inland at night.

There are endless refugee caravans
everywhere.

These farmers come from the south,
from Karelia.

During the long, sad winter journey -

they had to endure Soviet bombers
and the deadly cold.

Some arrive
with frostbites on their feet.

Everything is unholy.
Everything is in the hands of faith.

The courage of these people
is incredible.

Before they left
their farms and cattle -

they lit everything on fire -

so the enemy can't find shelter -

but has to endure this horrible cold.

Then they evacuated
proud and confident.

They know in their hearts
that they will come back -

to rebuild their destroyed villages -

and farm the soil of their homeland.

These children have lost their homes.

Many don't understand it.
They are happy to be in a new place.

But some look fearful and terrified.

Some have experienced
the terrors of an air strike.

Refugees are coming
from the north as well.

From Lapland.
They are peace-loving people.

Now only reindeer roam there alone.

The evacuees
are plagued by diseases -

on the strenuous winter journeys
where people get weak.

The first signs of shortage
are starting to show.

That's why Finland
is grateful for the Swiss doctors.

Everything in this hospital
has been set up so -

that the patients
can be evacuated quickly.

Everyone's clothes are at the end
of the bed, close enough to grab.

When the alarm sounds,
everyone is taken to the basement.

All countries,
especially Sweden, -

send large packages of clothing
to the evacuees every day.

Which child gave up
their beloved teddy bear -

to make a young Finn happy?

Diligent hands work
for those at the battlefront.

That makes them
forget their own plight.

All work is equally important.

No skill is too insignificant
when serving the fatherland.

"God is like a castle, -

always strong and secure.”

This is what the Karelian peasants
sing and believe.

An old woman thanked us Swiss
for our effort.

She said: "Tell your mothers -

that when our sons fight,
they fight for you, too.”

"When our sons die,
they die for you, too.”

"When we cry for our sons,
grieve with us.”

The Swiss minister Ecker -

had to retreat inland.

Next to the embassy -

is a well camouflaged lookout post.

Here, at -30 C,
the lookouts are Lotta women.

They determine the direction,
altitude and number of bombers -

and report their findings
to the emergency number.

They pass on the information
and the planes are monitored.

If they approach
the 30-kilometre wide safety zone -

a silent alarm will be sounded.

That's when air defence
is alerted to take position.

If the enemy crosses
the 30-kilometre line -

the sirens are sounded.

Paper bales provide
shelter against shrapnel.

The Soviet air raids
continue mercilessly.

They are meant to break the nation's
will to fight and defend themselves.

But the will is strong like steel.

The devastation
is met with dark humour.

"Decoration by Molotov.”

This is a comment on
a house that was bombed to ruins.

Then the cleaning up
and rebuilding begins.

The bombings cease
only when the weather is really bad.

People laugh and say:
"Beautiful weather."

When the bombers
dominate the clear sky -

people talk about "Molotov weather”.

We travel via Pieksdmaki...

to Sortavala on Lake Ladoga.

Radio receivers and
air raid lookouts in the south -

alert people so early -

that passengers can flee to the woods
without having to hurry.

There are air raid alarms every hour.

The Red Cross carriages
are detached.

The logo cannot be misused
to protect the train.

The last alarm.

We get back on the warm train -

after hiding
in the snowy forest for hours.

Pieksdmaéki
is an important railway junction.

When we arrive,
it gets hit by its first air raid.

There are no bomb shelters.
People flee to the woods.

But the woods are not very safe.

The bombing resulted in 12 deaths -

and several injuries.

The fearless Lotta volunteers set up
a first aid station for the wounded.

One questions is on
the minds of those who return:

Is my house still up?
Where is my family?

A wooden house is almost
completely destroyed by a fire.

Usually only the brick chimney
and fireplace remain.

The fires often guide the enemy.

The night is over.

We stand
between destroyed houses -

like in an enchanted forest.

The firemen
can take it easy for a moment.

They were out in the cold
for two days ready for action -

in dangerous places
and did heroic deeds.

The aggressor takes a hit as well.

These are proof -

that even a fighter may have
to taste its own medicine.

Ruins and more ruins.

It's a sad sight -

and makes the Finns want to
defend themselves heroically.

We travel by road
from Pieksdmdki to Sortavala.

From Sortavala by Lake Ladoga -

we drive to the battlefront.

This strategically important road
goes through the landscape.

In modern warfare
it's almost unusable.

Convoys are a clear target
to the bombers.

The general's headquarters
pseudonym is Chamonix.

It is also
the officers' resting place.

It's a place where they can relax
between battles.

The officers discuss
future strategies.

They are once again
preparing for ingenieus tactics.

The enemy is driven into a trap.

An officer
uses a drawing to explain -

how it's done.

Three Soviet divisions come
from the north of Lake Ladoga.

They use roads
because they have vehicles.

The Finns take advantage of this.

Their strength lies in mobility -

and the individual's initiative
in battle.

Small groups of snipers
hide in the woods -

and let most of the division pass.

Clever attackers surprise the enemy
with a quick attack -

and target the weak points.

The convoy is divided.
Both parts are surrounded -

and all communications are cut off.

All attempts to communicate
are monitored -

to make sure no one calls for help.

The next target is
the 34th tank brigade.

It's the famous Blue Brigade.

The roads are surveilled
day and night.

One must be alert at all times.

The water fetching place
is outside the safe camp.

Fetching water
can cost them their life.

Silently, quickly and mercilessly -

the Finns follow the enemy.

The enemy doesn't usually
make it back to the camp.

Finnish snipers are good.

It discourages the tank brigade.

Without hatred
but with determination -

they prepare the enemy
for destruction.

The desperate Soviet car patrols -

don't even dare to light a fire
despite the cold.

A silhouette by the fire is
an obvious target for night patrols.

The cold, hunger and fear -

diminish the trapped soldiers'
will to fight.

Dogs carry messages.

They bring help to the wounded.

Without them the -30 C temperature -

kills fast.

The Finnish army is merciless,
but also useful.

The Finnish soldiers are tenacious
and ready to fight to the last.

The following night
the 34th tank brigade is attacked.

900 Finns attack
3,000 Soviet soldiers at night.

It's dawn.

The blue tank brigade
that had been called invincible -

had been destroyed. Only two
Soviet soldiers had been captured.

They were the only ones left alive
from the whole brigade.

The Finns seize 105 tanks, -

300 lorries and transporters, -

loads of projectiles and grenades -

and a large number
of modern automatic weapons.

The invaded camp
is an unexpected sight.

Tanks mean a war of aggression.

But here the entire brigade -

has been literally completely stuck.

They form a circle.

The tanks form a fortress.

Single tanks have become bunkers.

They act as parts -

of a fortress connected
with axles and tank tracks.

The largely known description of
a Soviet soldier comes to life here.

It has been proven that he is
a tenacious and brave fighter.

He will resist the enemy
to the last -

as long as he can use a weapon.

The two wounded Russians
were hidden in a destroyed tank.

When the camp had been occupied
and the situation was calm -

they opened fire
from the abandoned tank -

against an enemy
a hundred times bigger.

No one was captured.

This short scene ended
with the death of the two Russians.

The bullet holes in the windscreen -

are precisely on the right height.

At least 75 per cent -

of the shot Russians had been shot
in the head or the heart.

The Finns took aim.

It is decisive in modern warfare.

The Soviet fighters appear.

They circle the battlefield
like vultures.

Their task is to prevent looting.

Therefore everything that moves
is shot with machine guns.

The men don't shoot. They
don't want to reveal their position.

Everything is loaded during the day -

and transported during the night.

The Soviet brigade had
enough supplies to last a long time.

There were several cars -

so they needed a complete
radio and telephone operator.

The defenders of this command post
were defeated like elsewhere -

by one Finn -

with hand mines or hand grenades.

The Soviet fighters have spotted us.

They target the camera.

This started a cycle.

The captured head of the brigade
has been wounded in the shoulder.

He is an educated
and civilised officer.

He had been convinced
that the Red Army was invincible.

He had to learn that it wasn't.

Having his troops destroyed
was a painful experience.

He has learnt to know an enemy -

who is not only brave
but also chivalrous.

Calm and sad -

he talks about the Soviet Union.

His beloved motherland.

He talks about his wife and sons.

This primitive person was
the radio operator of the brigade.

He describes how he had
to ask for reinforcements daily.

They were promised, but never sent.

Airplanes often drop
supplies and medicine.

The men watched
doubtfully and hysterically -

how the small parachutes
landed where the Finns were.

Those who snuck
to fetch nearby parcels -

never returned.

Returning to the Finnish camp -

is dangerous because
of the fighters and bombers.

It is -30 debrees Celsius.

But the car windows
are still kept open.

We are looking for planes on the sky.

The car stops in every forest.

We wait anxiously to see
whether the car gives a signal -

and whether the sky is clear.
Then we move on.

Alarm! The enemy has spotted us.

The driving stops
when we get to the camp.

Getting water isn't always safe.

The bullet hole in the bucket
is unlikely to be the last.

The headquarters
of the Finnish camp were here.

Not much is left.

Soon there will be a new barrack
next to the old one.

Young volunteers
take care of the maintenance.

Everyone wants to participate
in this difficult time.

War doesn't destroy
people's natural sense of humour.

The Soviet planes are back.

It doesn't disturb
the peace in Finland.

Despite the planes
and the -30 C weather -

the Finns enjoy their sauna.

There's a Finnish guard at the camp -

wearing gear
that was taken from the enemy.

To get to
the Salla battlefront up north -

we have to drive via
Savonlinna and Lahti to the capital.

This is where
the new recruits start -

also the 94 men -

who remember the Russians
from the Finnish Civil War in 1918.

Farmers, artisans, merchants, -

industrialists and intellectuals.

They all face
the new challenges fearlessly.

The fatherland has called for them,
so they fight -

like they fought for the freedom of
their country when they were young.

Mrs. Oesch,
the wife of the chief of staff, -

is the leader of a Lotta group.

We are shown
confiscated war material.

The bullet holes testify to
the skills of the Finnish shooters.

A Soviet parachute mine.

It is dropped
from a plane to the sea.

It sinks to the bottom
and anchors there.

The mine barely rises to the surface.

An air torpedo
was used to spread a fire bomb.

About 50-80 fire bombs -

are stacked into a 2-metre shell.

The torpedo spins in the air -

and the centrifugal force spreads
the bombs in every direction.

Via Himeenlinna...

to Kokkola...

and Oulu
and from there to Rovaniemi.

Our journey
is interrupted several times.

The 1,200-kilometre journey -

takes three days and nights.

There are only two cities in the
entire country that were not bombed.

What an unprecedented will
to defend one's country -

and desire for freedom.
What a deep love for one's country -

the people of Finland must have -

when this plight
only makes it stronger.

North of the Arctic Circle
we continue with dogs.

Via Markdjarvi and Kemiarvi -

to near the Soviet stations
at the Salla battlefront.

It's the home
of a bitter and cruel battle.

Dogs are used to transport
supplies and the wounded.

There are German shepherds
and sledge dogs.

The sledge dogs are economical.
They eat fish once a week.

German shepherds
are disciplined and easy to train.

The harness is light and practical.

It is quick to put on and take off -

and it prevents
possible distractions.

The two-day ski trip
is so magnificent -

that when
the enemy planes are not around -

we almost forget the war
and the distress.

An unusual encounter.

The only signpost
that has been left up.

We approach the Salla battlefront.

This used to be
the largest village of Salla.

The inhabitants
have destroyed it themselves.

When the enemy retreated -

they spread mines,
particularly around the shelters.

The tripwires
couldn't be seen before it snowed.

The peaceful pastures of the reindeer
are full of death.

The animals
end up being minesweepers.

They often pay for it
with their lives.

We are glad that
we don't have to witness such drama.

A coffin covered with a red cloth.

It's the grave of a Soviet officer.

Watch out. There are mines here, too.

The overbold Swedish volunteers
have faced heavy losses.

Now they stand on the grave
of their colonel Magnus Dyrssen, -

saluting him for the last time.

No one knows -

how soon they will face
the fate of their fallen commander.

Here lies Magnus Dyrssen -

who fell defending the freedom of
the north and the honour of Sweden.

We are quickly approaching
the Salla battlefront.

The reindeer are slowing us down.

For several kilometres,
both left and right, -

we see abandoned Soviet stations.

We have reached the Salla front line.

The enemy is in their foxholes
by the forest -

where the strikes
get more and more frequent.

The Finns are calm and unprejudiced.

They prepare carefully
for the attack.

It is inevitable.
Everything is moving.

There are no signs of nervousness.

The commands are clear and precise.

The messengers and riders
come and go.

Once again the officers discuss -

whether the battle plan works.

Then the men
are given their last equipment -

for the winter night either
in the forest or an open field -

that is being swept
by a freezing wind at -40 C.

There is no doubt now.
Today and tonight -

everyone is required
to make the final effort.

The aim is to take back Joutsijarvi.

The information came in yesterday.

The first troops go out.

The camera follows them.

In the freezing cold -

the troops reach the last forest
that will give them shelter.

The white soldiers slide silently
into battle positions.

There are no commands to be heard.

Each soldier knows exactly
how to proceed -

and what they need to do.

They do it calmly.

Only the facial expressions
show the tension.

There are random Soviet soldiers
on the opposite side.

Finally they open fire.

The battle begins like a storm.

Fearless but sensibly careful, -

because every soldier is needed, -

they advance.

Occasionally a bullet
whizzes past the camera.

When the fire increases
on the opposite side -

the men
throw themselves on the snow.

A shot for a shot. Well aimed.

They are clearly
more precise than the Russians.

But they fight courageously.

Before the enemy's guns go quiet -

giving up is not an option.

The Finnish machine guns sing again.

The front is moving again.

Forward, towards the enemy,
even though it's overpowering.

They must take the hit
over and over again.

Step by step the Finnish forces
approach the Soviet stations.

They fight, hide and move again -

until the Russians
leave their trenches.

Joutsijarvi.

There are signs
here of yesterday's battle.

It has been occupied. The Russians
were defeated and driven away.

A headcount is taken.

22 men are missing.

They are seen as winners -

but they cannot celebrate.

Field Marshal Mannerheim, -

a great strategist and
a role model to the entire nation, -

speaks to the troops
and pays respect to the dead.

Agile and youthful, -

a soldier from head to toe, -

this 73-year-old walks
to the front line.

The most courageous ones
get a special honour.

He shakes hands with everyone.

A total trust between
the soldiers and their leaders -

weaves the nation together
into an invincible community -

that can endure
even the strongest of storms.

Peace is made on March 13.

Finland deserved peace
one way or another.

Petsalo and Salla...

the Karelian Isthmus...

the islands of the Gulf of Finland -

and Hanko are territories
that Finland had to give up.

That's why the country is mourning.

It is also mourning
for its 19,000 sons.

The destroyed country
needs to be rebuilt.

100,000 people
from the lost and destroyed areas -

need new farms to live on.

Finland is still
an example for all of us.

It has lost part of its homeland -

but it still has its freedom.

The invincible Finnish army -

is always ready -

to fight for the independence
of its country.