Strategic Question Germany entered Operation Barbarossa with confidence. Its early victories in Poland and France had convinced German political and military leaders that fast-moving warfare could defeat major European powers quickly. The Soviet Union also appeared vulnerable. Soviet performance during the Winter War against Finland exposed serious problems in training, leadership, equipment, and coordination. These examples encouraged Germany to believe that the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union held overwhelming advantages over Finland when the Winter War began in November 1939. Its population, industrial capacity, military equipment, and available manpower greatly exceeded Finland’s. The two countries also shared a long border, allowing Soviet forces to attack Finnish territory from several directions. On paper, Finland appeared incapable of resisting such a powerful state for long. Yet Finland survived. The Winter War demonstrates that a smaller s