Bair Irincheev

Bair Irincheev was born in Leningrad in 1944. He completed his studies at St Petersburg University and Stockholm University. He is an author specialising in North European studies with a primary focus on conflicts between the USSR and Finland in the 20th century. His previous publications include the studies on the Winter War, Finnish fortifications and the history of the Karelian Isthmus and Vyborg. (Helion Books),

He also manages a local Vyborg war museum.

The Vyborg war Museum

The war between the Soviet Union and Finland in 1941-44 is much less known than the Winter War 1939-40. For Finland the Continuation War is one of the cornerstones of its national identity. The Vyborg offensive, the battle that ended the Russo-Finnish war, is described very differently in Russian and Finnish literature.

A rare sighting of a JS2 in the Continuation war

This book attempts to provide an extensive description of the build-up and course of the battle as well as the diplomatic games that lay behind it, including the role of the Tehran Conference between the Allies. For me this was the most enlightening and explains the Finnish understanding of the real “end game” and its links to the battlefield.

The book covers all the main areas of the offensive including where the Leningrad front was victorious and where it failed. The author tries to give credit to simple soldiers on both sides using the recollections and memories of the men who were there. Extensive archival research in Russia and Finland was undertaken, as well as numerous trips to the actual battlefields (the museum conducts regular tours) that lie less than 100 miles north from Saint Petersburg.

The book includes photos and maps of the operations. The final part of the book summarises the end of hostilities between the Soviet Union and Great Britain on one side and Finland on another.

This book is not an easy read but if you are interested in the Finnish/Russian conflict of WW2 then it is worth the purchase. It is extremely well researched by an expert on the topic using Finnish and Russian sources hard for us in the West to access.

It was a great pick up for me, but not one I would never read cover to cover but rather use it more as a reference when required. I obtained the book from Helion & Company.