Please stay on topic and less snide remarks thank you.

Just a few comments:

The Finnish-Soviet border was about 1200 Km. The overall German-Polish border (Slovakia incl) apparently was about 2300 Km. Even if we straighten it out and allow the Poles to pull back a bit its still 1200+ Km.

From maps of the initial deployment, one can see several Polish divisions positioned at the Soviet border. I doubt Finland wasted many troops guarding the Swedish and Norwegian borders at the begiining of the Winter War.

There also does seem to be quite a difference in the initial phase of the two wars as Finland mobilized quite early and was as ready as they could be when the Soviets finally attacked. The Polish mobilization was late and their army was not ready when war came.

The German offensive was well prepared and they attacked on multiple front whereas The Karelian Isthmus became the main effort for the Soviets. They seem be have been confident and initially did not have that great a numerical superiority and the first offensive was a failure.

Terrain and logistics was certainly in favor of Finland compared to Poland. It left the Soviets with a lot fewer options than Germany. The results should be quite obvious: Soviet head-on assaults against prepared postions in Karelia versus multiple German armies aiming for the classic encirclement of the enemy.


CBR