My mother’s Swedish grandparents immigrated through Finland to the US. Her grandfather was forced to serve in the White Russian Army before leaving.
Now, Fins are a tough people. Wonder if there are grandchildren of Simo Häyhä still alive?
Simo Häyhä “The White Death”
http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/simohayha.asp
Both the Russian and the Germans hated him. They did their best to kill him personally.
Russians taking Finland would not be bloodless.
But as we have seen in Ukraine, first Putin sends in a bunch of irregulars (aka GRU) to start destabilization propaganda, they the Finns of Russian descent clamor for Mama Russia to save them from the deplorable Finns.
Same tactics that we saw in Ukraine, Crimea, Venezuela and Commie parties everywhere.
Even our own college campuses.
Why would the Germans try to kill him? The Finns and the Germans were allies during WW2. Besides which, Hayha was shot in the face toward the end of the Winter War and spent the next few years recovering.
Are you sure they weren't in Finland all along? Finland was regarded as part of Sweden for many centuries. When my Swedish-speaking grandparents entered thru Ellis Island, they reported they came "from Sweden" though they had never set foot in Sweden and neither did their parents. Indeed,in the US Census reports of 1910, 1920 and 1930, they answered as country of origin "Sweden" then "Russia" then "Finland." Technically speaking, all 3 answers were correct.
Wow, he took down 500 Soviet soldiers in 100 days. Amazing.