with several articles including, among other things,
oil and grain in a deal valued at over 420 million
Reichsmarks. In return for these materials, Germany
would supply the USSR with military hardware,
technology, and various raw materials. Among the
military hardware was an Admiral Hipper-class
cruiser and plans to over thirty German aircraft.
This pact, and all others between the USSR and
Germany were ended on the 22nd of June, 1941,
with the execution of Operation Barbarossa.
By the middle of February 1940, the USSR had
nearly half a million soldiers, and over seven
thousand artillery, tanks, and aircraft active across
the Finnish front; in contrast, the Finnish military
in what came to be known as the “Altmark Incident.”
had only about a hundred and fifty thousand men
After the aborted German invasion into France in
defending across the Mannerheim Line. After
the previous month, General Erich von Manstein
over a week of constant artillery strikes, the Soviet
presented the new invasion plan to the Fuhrer.
forces were finally able to break through the Finnish
The new plan, approved on the 17th of February,
defensive front and take the village of Summa.
called for a quick armored invasion through the
Ardennes Forest and the flanking of the combined
In response to the redoubled Soviet assault and
Allied defense lines along the Belgian border.
breach of the Mannerheim Line, that same week
Britain and France put out a call for volunteers
EASTERN FRONT
to go to aid the Finnish forces, accompanied by
shipments of military hardware including Bristol
Blenheim bombers and Hawker Hurricane fighters.
On the 11th of February, 1940, the Soviet Union
Many argue that it was this pledge of support from
signed a trade agreement with Germany known
the Allies that helped convince Stalin to finally
as the German-Soviet Commercial Agreement. In
end the Soviet aggression in March 1940. ■
this agreement the USSR was to supply Germany
War Thunder Community Magazine
By David “HJFarnsworth” King
The GameOn Magazine // 57