On This Day In History: Moscow Armistice Signed Between Finland And Soviet Union – On Sep 19, 1944

AncientPages.com - On September 19, 1944, the Moscow Armistice was signed between Finland on one side and the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom on the other side.

It marked the official end of the Continuation War (1941 – 1944) that lasted three years, two months, three weeks, and four days, resulting in the loss of over 1 million people.

Finnish soldiers, VT-line in 1944 during Karelian offensive. "Alarm in VT-line positions." Image via Wikipedia

The Finns wanted to clarify that they perceived the action continuing from the preceding Winter War. (Talvisota), the Soviets, on the other hand, saw it as an addition to their battle against the Third Reich and its allies, called the Great Patriotic War.

Finland only wanted to retake the areas they lost due to the Winter War, which they had regained by September 1941. The advance on the Karelian Isthmus stopped at the pre-winter war border, 30km from Leningrad, and did not participate in the Siege of Leningrad.

They held all pre-Winter War land and secured their border for nearly two years. It was not until the Soviet Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive, which started in the summer of 1944; that Finland struggled in its defense.

Finland recorded some significant victories against the Soviets, but the Finns knew they could not hold off the massed ranks of Russian Soldiers.

A cease-fire was declared on September 5, with the Moscow Armistice being signed on September 19.

The Armistice restored the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940 with several modifications. The final peace treaty between Finland and many of the Allies was signed in Paris in 1947.

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