A Frozen Hell

The true story of the battle between Finland and Russia that erupted at the dawn of World War II.Winner of the Finlandia Foundation Award for Arts and Letters

On a November morning in 1939, Soviet bombers began attacking Helsinki, Finland. In the weeks that followed, the tiny Baltic republic would wage a war—the kind of war that spawns legends—against the mighty Soviet Union, which was desperate for a buffer against Nazi Germany.With “a well-balanced blend of narrative and analysis” (Library Journal), historian William R. Trotter tells the story of guerrillas on skis; heroic, single-handed attacks on tanks; unfathomable endurance; and the charismatic leadership of one of the twentieth century’s true military geniuses. This little-known but dramatic battle would be decisive in Finland’s fight to maintain its independence—and A Frozen Hell brings it to fascinating life.“We will not often find a book written with such authority as this one.” —New York Times Book Review

“A fast-paced and even-handed introductory overview to what is at once both the most tragic and most triumphant moment in Finnish history.” —The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

“A refreshing look into the Russo-Finnish War. . . . A balanced account that accurately describes the horrifying price both sides were forced to pay.” —Marine Corps Gazette