WINTER WAR, THE [FInnIsH: TALVISOTA] 339
Reel History Versus Real History
Talvisota, both book and film, are historically accurate to an unusual degree; both
are meticulously based on the actual combat history of 4th Com pany, 23rd Infan-
try Regiment, commonly known as “Laurilan Rykmentti” [“Laurila’s Regiment”]
after its commanding officer, Lt.- Col. Matti Laurila. As depicted in the film, Infantry
Regiment 23 was mobilized by the Southern Pohjanmaa Military District; its
4th Com pany was a rifle com pany composed mostly of reservists from the munici-
pality of Kauhava. As also depicted in the film, the regiment fought in the frontlines
in Taipale for a total of 36 days in four separate stints: 17–27 December 1939; 7–16
January 1940; 27 January–5 February 1940; and 11–19 February 1940, spending
the time in between these periods at rest. As also shown in the film, the 23rd was
transferred to Äyräpää- Vuosalmi on the 27–28 February 1940, where it fought in
the frontline for another 14 days, from 29 February–13 March 1940. In sum, the
23rd Regiment fought on the frontlines for a total of 50 days— almost half the
duration of the war. At full strength it numbered 2,955 men. Of that number, 682
men were killed in action: a 23 percent fatality rate. The movie’s depiction of con-
stant shelling and a seemingly endless series of frontal assaults by Soviet troops is
true to history. Excessive Rus sian losses due to poor tactics can be pinned on Sta-
lin; he had many of his best officers killed off in po liti cal purges in the 1930s.
As also reflected in the movie, Finnish soldiers were exceptionally well trained,
resourceful, and disciplined; they made the Soviet invaders pay a terrible price.