A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940 Paperback - 2000

First line

At the easternmost end of the Baltic Sea, between the Gulf of Finland and the vastness of Lake Ladoga, lies the rugged, narrow Karelian Isthmus.

From the rear cover

"Masterfully recreates all the heroism, tragedy and drama of a campaign whose lessons deserve far more attention."
--General James R. Galvin, former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

"Mr. Trotter tells brilliantly a piece of history that needed telling."
--The Washington Times

"Trotter's account is the best one yet of this unique war."
--The Virginian-Pilot

This is a book of battles--savagely fought, often with great heroism on both sides, under brutal, subarctic conditions. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses--these were the elements of Finland's short-lived victory.

For all the epic resistance of the Finns, the outcome was foreordained. Belatedly the Russians realized that an expected easy triumph over a vastly outnumbered foe had become a slaughterhouse. Incompetent commanders were replaced, more and better troops were moved into position, and orders were given to overwhelm and crush the Finns by the sheer weight of massed numbers. But even though they lost on the battlefield, the Finns' pointed resistance kept the Iron Curtain from drawing closed around their land and allowed Finland to remain free, even as other countries fell one by one.

Trotter's love for the Finns, his clear, evocative prose, and his deep knowledge of his subject combine to resurrect a fight that will never again be forgotten.