Russia’s attack on Finland on
November 30, 1939 radically changed the situation in Scandinavia, immensely increasing its strategic importance to both the Western Allies and Germany. France and Britain began to organize an expeditionary force in Scotland to be sent to the aid of the gallant Finns, who, defying all predictions, held out stubbornly against the onslaughts of the Red Army. But it could reach Finland only through Norway and Sweden, and the Germans at once saw that if Allied troops were granted, or took, transit across the northern part of the two Scandinavian lands enough of them would remain, on the excuse of maintaining communications, to completely cut off Germany’s supply of Swedish iron ore. Moreover, the Western Allies would outflank the Reich on the north. Admiral Raeder was not backward in reminding Hitler of these threats.
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
Helsinki Civilians taking shelter from air raids, Molotov tells Soviet citizens on Moscow Radio that bombers are "dropping bread to the starving Finnish people" that they are "Rescuing".