In regard to the Winter War, it is important to note Soviet Command sturucture in the days following the Officer purges.
In mid-1937 a so-called “dual-command,” or “collegiate control” arrangement was instituted in which political commissars were assigned to each unit with status equal to that of the tactical commanders.
Field commanders were obligated to submit their plans and decisions to political councils comprised of these commissars, which had veto powers.
The political councils could also recommend demotions, reprimands, etc., which, during this period of Stalin’s purges, were tantamount to death sentences. As can be imagined, such a system severely undermined command confidence, innovation, and effectiveness.
Sounds a lot like the Combat Lawyers we have today, doesn’t it?
It does at that. It also sounds like the government supported segment of the "scientific" community.