Moscow Peace Treaty
Moscow, Russia (then the Soviet Union)
What happened
The Soviet Union, represented by Vyacheslav Molotov and others, and Finland, represented by Risto Ryti, Juho Kusti Paasikivi and others. In the Winter War, the Soviet Union had invaded Finland after Finland refused to give up border land. Finland held out for over three months in bitter cold. In the peace treaty, Finland gave up about 9% of its land, including much of Karelia and the city of Viipuri, but stayed independent.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Winter War with Finland still a sovereign country. More than 400,000 Finns had to leave their homes in the lost lands.
What came next
Fighting between Finland and the Soviet Union resumed in 1941. The Moscow Armistice of 1944 ended that war too.
Did you know?
The League of Nations expelled the Soviet Union in December 1939 for attacking Finland.
Timeline
- 30 November 1939The Soviet Union invades Finland.
- 14 December 1939The League of Nations expels the Soviet Union.
- 12 March 1940The Moscow Peace Treaty is signed.
- 1941The Continuation War begins.
- 1944The Moscow Armistice ends the fighting.