MORE than 80 years ago, Finland slaughtered 200,000 invading Russians with its rudimentary forces – today it boasts one of the most terrifying arsenals in the northern hemisphere.
This week the Nordic country became the 31st member of Nato as it vowed to protect the alliance’s borders in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Its ascension to The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is set to bolster the west’s military capabilities with its developed defence force.
But it’s not just its excess of war-ready machines that is to be feared, footage has emerged of its elite ski troops.
The angry Finnish soldiers were seen powering through thick powder as they carried huge packs and weapons – ready to kill their enemy.
According to military experts, Finland is one of the most combat-ready forces in Europe.
It is also one of few European countries to have retained a conscription army through decades of peace.
Finland trains 21,000 new conscripts every year, who then become part of its troop reserve of 280,000 soldiers.
On top of that, the country has 870,000 Finns aged between 17 and 60 liable for service in case of need.
They are all trained and equipped with one primary aim – to repel any Russian invasion.
Finland’s ground force boasts 650 tanks with about 200 of them being German-made Leopards types 2A6 and 2A4.
Its impressive artillery has more than 1,500 weapons including 700 howitzers, 700 mortars and about 100 rocket launchers.
The Finnish Air Force and Navy is also not to be scoffed at – commanding impressive fleets in both regards, which are set to grow within the next ten years.
It comes as the Nato chief praised the Finns during their official ascension on April 4, 2023.
Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of Nato, said: “President Putin started the war against Ukraine with the clear goal of having less Nato [near Russia’s borders].
“He is getting exactly the opposite.
“We will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at Nato headquarters.
“It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security and for Nato as a whole.”
The Finnish contribution will add more than 257,000 troops to the combined forces.
The move has also roughly doubled the West’s transatlantic frontier facing Moscow.
Finland and Russia share a painful 810 mile border with one another.
The Kremlin condemned the new alliance and has threatened to bolster its border defences in the western region.
However, it was not that long ago when the Soviet Union suffered huge losses on that same demarcation line – known as the “Winter War”.
In November 1939, the Soviet Union with its millions of men, tens of thousands of tanks and aircraft invaded Finland.
The Soviets wanted a lease on the Hankö peninsula on the southern Finnish coast for use as a naval base.
But with less than a tenth of its counterparts army, the small country refused to cede and fought back.
One Finnish sniper in particular, dubbed “The White Death”, terrorised the invading forces.
Simo Hayha shot dead more than 500 Russian soldiers during the battle.
It was a conflict that has become infamous as the brave Finnish troops managed to rout the much larger Russian army – leaving 70,000 dead.
The unbelievable feat is still celebrated today in Finland and lingers as a cautionary tale for Putin’s men.
