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Question: Idealists and the Winter War!?
What would an Idealist have thought about the Winter War and its results!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Well, that's a fairly broad question, because idealists come in all shapes and sizes, and certainly there were Russians who considered themselves idealists who felt completely differently about the Winter War than did people from different nations!.

But assuming you are referring to the Woodrow Wilson brand of idealism that became almost the definition of the term, then the answer is fairly easy!. Since Wilson and other "idealists" believed in the power of the League of Nations to prevent, avoid, and end wars, and since the Soviet Union illegally invaded Finland and was as a result kicked out of the League of Nations, this is a pretty good indication that persons of that "idealist" bent were very much against the Soviet action!.

As for what idealists would have thought about the results, there would likely have been some relief that the Soviet Union failed to conquer Finland and indeed failed in almost all of its objectives!. So these "idealists" may have had a bit of a "serves you right, Russia!" attitude!.

The Winter War was a major factor influencing Germany to attack the Soviet Union, which of course turned the course of World War II against Germany!. The Winter War showed the Soviets to be an extremely weak force, despite their overwhelming numbers!. This was due to the paranoid Soviet dictator Josef Stalin having purged (murdered) half or more of the military officers, leaving the military in the hands of inexperienced and inept men!.Www@QuestionHome@Com