1
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:06,399
It's a country with one
2
00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,919
of the smaller
populations in Europe,
3
00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,679
but Finland has
a modern fighting force
4
00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,639
twice the size
of the British Army
5
00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:20,559
and boasts the strongest
artillery in Western Europe.
6
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,039
The whole country is primed
to turn into a fortress.
7
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,639
Bridges can be blown
to stop invaders.
8
00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,840
Roads transformed into runways.
9
00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,280
But why?
10
00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,239
This is the extraordinary story
11
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,759
of a nation born out of battles
between superpowers...
12
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,519
All 70 warships
open up a barrage of fire.
13
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,399
...of World War II survival
14
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,399
against enormous odds...
15
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,359
They were facing
an overwhelming opponent.
16
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,279
It must have been
absolutely terrifying.
17
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,359
...and a Cold War
crisis that's made Finland
18
00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,079
one of the best defended
countries in the world.
19
00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,119
An entire city
can quite comfortably
20
00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:13,559
survive underground.
21
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,359
Every country is
a prisoner of its geography--
22
00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,479
bordered by mountains,
23
00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:27,919
rivers,
24
00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,679
seas,
25
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,719
or stone.
26
00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,440
And every country must defend
these borders from attack...
27
00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:39,599
...on land,
28
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,519
in the air,
29
00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,959
and on the high seas.
30
00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:49,599
This series explores
the incredible structures,
31
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,999
ingenious weapons,
32
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,879
and brilliant strategies
33
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,719
that have shaped Europe's
most battle-hardened countries
34
00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,719
over the last thousand years
35
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,959
and played a crucial role
36
00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,080
in creating the nations
we see today.
37
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,719
A remote and tranquil
wilderness,
38
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:33,679
a patchwork of magical forests
and mirror lakes.
39
00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:38,480
For over 2,000 years, home
to Finnish speaking peoples.
40
00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,359
Today this land
of reindeer and saunas
41
00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,159
is home to
a sophisticated economy,
42
00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,279
and Finns have gained
a reputation
43
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,199
as the happiest people
on Earth.
44
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,760
But this wonderland
is highly vulnerable.
45
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,759
Located in Europe's far north,
46
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,239
sandwiched between east and west,
47
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,440
Finland occupies a strategic
position on the Baltic Sea.
48
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,959
To understand how Finland
grew in the shadow
49
00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,039
{\an8}of neighboring superpowers,
50
00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,039
{\an8}we need to go back 150 years,
51
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,480
{\an8}to a time before Finland
existed as a nation.
52
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,999
And to a remarkable
island stronghold,
53
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,119
site of bloody battles
and proudly known to the Finns
54
00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,959
as Fortress of Finland.
55
00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,479
Andy Torbet is
a nautical archaeologist
56
00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,480
and former soldier with
a passion for military history.
57
00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,199
Behind me is Helsinki,
the capital of Finland,
58
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,519
but ahead of me is
a group of small islands,
59
00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,399
known as Suomenlinna in Finnish,
60
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,839
and I'm heading there to get
a better understanding
61
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,000
of the impact they've had
on the history of this nation.
62
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,999
Just 20 minutes'
sail from Helsinki,
63
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,920
Suomenlinna is a group of
eight interconnected islands.
64
00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,279
They have been
heavily fortified
65
00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,199
with six kilometers
of defensive walls
66
00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,999
protecting a large naval base
of 200 buildings.
67
00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,199
It's bristling with cannon,
68
00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,399
housed in star-shaped
bastion walls
69
00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,879
up to nine meters thick.
70
00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,039
The outer wall gave the
defenders two key advantages.
71
00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,039
The first is the cannons
themselves would be housed
72
00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:41,999
in these protective little
alcoves, rather than being
73
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,599
on top of the wall,
where they're vulnerable.
74
00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:45,959
And the second
is the shape of the wall.
75
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,759
This zigzag design meant
the cannons would sit
76
00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,559
and their, their arcs
of fire would cross,
77
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,639
so there's no blind spots,
78
00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:59,239
and there's nowhere safe
for the enemy to attack.
79
00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,639
Whoever controlled
Suomenlinna wielded
80
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,679
{\an8}immense power
in the eastern Baltic Sea.
81
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,160
{\an8}In the 18th century,
this was Sweden.
82
00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:12,879
{\an8}But in the 19th, Suomenlinna
83
00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,919
{\an8}and the Finnish-speaking
territories
84
00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,319
{\an8}fell to the Russians,
85
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,279
{\an8}making up a new province
of the Russian Empire
86
00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:26,079
{\an8}called the Grand Duchy
of Finland.
87
00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,279
Suomenlinna provided the
Russians with vital protection
88
00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:31,319
for their Baltic trade routes
89
00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,440
and guarded the gateway to
the Duchy's capital, Helsinki.
90
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,839
But for the Grand Duchy
of Finland,
91
00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:42,199
being on Russia's
western frontier
92
00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,040
also made it open to attack
by Russia's enemies.
93
00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,679
{\an8}And in 1855,
94
00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:57,360
Russia's enemies were
these guys, the British.
95
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,279
It was all due to a fight
96
00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:03,439
1,500 kilometers away
in Crimea,
97
00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:04,719
which Britain and her allies
98
00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,160
were desperate to keep
out of Russian control.
99
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,519
So, to hit the Russians
where they least expected it,
100
00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,159
the British and French
dispatched a huge fleet
101
00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,520
to the Baltic
to attack Suomenlinna.
102
00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,120
{\an8} One morning in 1855,
the defenders of the fort awake,
103
00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,279
and what they see is 70 warships
stationary on the horizon,
104
00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:37,719
frustratingly out of range
of the fort's cannons.
105
00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,479
And those ships are from the
French and the English navies,
106
00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:45,959
and they sit there silent
and immobile for days and days,
107
00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:47,319
and it puts the fear of death
108
00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,399
into the inhabitants of
Helsinki, who flee in terror.
109
00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,960
{\an8}And the story goes
that on the Sunday morning,
110
00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,719
the defenders hear a noise,
and they strain to hear,
111
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,919
and the sea wind is blowing
in this low drone,
112
00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,839
and it turns out to be the
English sailors singing a hymn.
113
00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,559
And then the singing stops,
and the world goes silent,
114
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:21,239
and then all 70 warships open up
a barrage of fire on the fort.
115
00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,560
And the defenders
faced a new weapon--rockets.
116
00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,559
Because of their light weight,
rockets could be fired
117
00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,680
in large barrages from
small boats at close range.
118
00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,680
Packed with incendiary charges,
they were devastating.
119
00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:47,999
Fires quickly spread,
120
00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,520
destroying many of
the buildings in Suomenlinna.
121
00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,079
The spectacle
was watched in horror
122
00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:59,119
by the inhabitants of Helsinki,
123
00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,240
but after two days
of constant bombardment...
124
00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,759
...the guns fell silent.
125
00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,599
When the bombardment
finally stopped,
126
00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,559
the people who hadn't
fled in terror from Helsinki
127
00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,359
assumed they were next,
and for days,
128
00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,559
they waited and waited
for the inevitable attack.
129
00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,639
But the ships did nothing.
130
00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,199
And then, as suddenly
as they'd arrived,
131
00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,839
the French and British warships
moored out there
132
00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:32,039
just turned around
and sailed away.
133
00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,599
Why?
134
00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:35,879
The reason
for the retreat
135
00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,959
when the fort seemed
there for the taking,
136
00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,679
has long remained a mystery,
137
00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:42,559
but a rich new source
of evidence
138
00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:46,199
could shed light on this event.
139
00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:47,519
To really get
to the bottom
140
00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,319
of the history of this site,
141
00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,679
I think you need to go
beneath the waves,
142
00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:54,759
and that is where
I'm heading now, with the help
143
00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,759
of one of Finland's finest
underwater archaeologists.
144
00:08:58,760 --> 00:08:59,759
Hello!
145
00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:00,759
How you doing?
146
00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:01,759
Welcome on board.
147
00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,559
Thank you.
148
00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:05,119
Dr. Minna Koivikko
149
00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,239
leads a major underwater
archaeology project
150
00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,719
exploring the seabed
around Suomenlinna.
151
00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,519
So, uh,
what's the plan today?
152
00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:14,559
Well, the plan today
153
00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:18,639
is to make you meet
a specific wreck,
154
00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,439
which is a wooden wreck,
155
00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,479
and it has been there
for quite some time.
156
00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,719
Okay, Andy, I jump first,
157
00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,279
and then we will swim to the
buoy and go and meet the wreck.
158
00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:38,479
Perfect.
159
00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:50,679
With low visibility,
160
00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:53,839
Andy and Minna
have to stay close.
161
00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,440
Eventually,
the edge of something.
162
00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:08,840
Hey, Andy!
163
00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,599
This is the wreck!
164
00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:21,239
It's a lot bigger and
165
00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:22,959
the wood is
much better preserved
166
00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,040
than I would have thought.
167
00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:29,359
The large size
and density of the timbers
168
00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:33,479
are typical of a warship.
169
00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:39,039
What would clinch it
is the presence of cannons.
170
00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,599
Moving through the gloom,
171
00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,120
Andy discovers
something solid and heavy.
172
00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:51,120
I see here like a big pile
of rocks or boulders.
173
00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,039
But there are no cannons.
174
00:10:55,040 --> 00:11:00,719
So far, this wreck is producing
more questions than answers.
175
00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,799
But down here somewhere
is the key to what happened
176
00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:08,040
during the Crimean War attack.
177
00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,999
After a murky dive,
Andy is hoping that Minna
178
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,599
can shed some light
on the mystery warship
179
00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,959
and the events
of the Crimean War.
180
00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,559
She has spent years
and hundreds of dives
181
00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:30,239
pulling together evidence.
182
00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:31,599
Okay, Andy.
183
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:32,599
That...
184
00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:33,999
Yes, look at this.
185
00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:34,999
...looks
pretty incredible.
186
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,119
Yeah.
187
00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,119
I'll confess,
it's much better here
188
00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,519
than what I,
what I saw today.
189
00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,759
This 3D model
has been created
190
00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:47,359
by stitching together thousands
of images of the wreck.
191
00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,119
We have
the information of the wood,
192
00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,479
so that it was
harvested in 1780.
193
00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,919
The length is over 30 meters.
194
00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,079
This points to the ship
195
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,599
being a turuma-type frigate.
196
00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,199
Originally built
at Suomenlinna by the Swedes,
197
00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,919
they were sturdy,
heavily armed warships,
198
00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,599
specially designed to maneuver
199
00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,759
in the shallows and straits
of the Baltic.
200
00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,639
During the dive,
I wondered if it'd be a warship,
201
00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,679
and I thought we might see
some cannons if it was,
202
00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:20,159
but there were none.
203
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,359
Yeah, so basically, if
this is a turuma-type warship,
204
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,399
it should have 22 cannons,
so you are quite right,
205
00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,399
the barrels are missing.
206
00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,319
And a lack
of cannons isn't the only thing
207
00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,279
that's puzzling
about this wreck.
208
00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,119
Also, there's
this big pile of rocks
209
00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,239
in the middle
of the, of the wreck
210
00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,999
which, again, I wasn't really
sure what that was about.
211
00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,439
This pile of stones,
212
00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,159
it's not natural,
so this is manmade.
213
00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,199
So we think that it was
scuttled in this position.
214
00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,079
So it was purposely sunk,
and these stones
215
00:12:55,080 --> 00:13:00,039
were assisting
with, with the scuttling.
216
00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,359
But why would
the Russian defenders disarm
217
00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,959
and then scuttle
one of their own warships?
218
00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,479
In the war situation,
you want to prevent the enemy
219
00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,679
to enter the harbors,
so you scuttle ships
220
00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,639
to stop the traffic.
221
00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,199
Using scuttled ships
as blockades
222
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,359
is most effective
in shallow water,
223
00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:26,319
exactly what surrounds
Suomenlinna.
224
00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,679
So, in this area,
are there any other ships
225
00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:31,639
like this one that have
been intentionally sunk?
226
00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,919
Actually,
I need to show you one map.
227
00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:36,759
Minna has
plotted the positions
228
00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,999
of all known scuttled ships
around the islands,
229
00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,799
with remarkable results.
230
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,879
Our excitement here is
the strait leading to Helsinki,
231
00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,599
and during the Crimean War,
there was two Russian ships
232
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,839
and they were scuttled.
233
00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,679
The ships
were strategically sunk
234
00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:59,439
exactly where any invading
fleet would have to pass
235
00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:00,999
to reach Helsinki.
236
00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:02,639
And you think
the sinking of these ships
237
00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,799
to block off these waterways
would have been a factor
238
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,919
in the decision of the,
the British and French navies
239
00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,359
to turn round and go home,
rather than attack Helsinki?
240
00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,839
Well, I think that
definitely had some, some role
241
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,800
in, in the events of war.
242
00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,599
By blocking
these vital channels,
243
00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:27,319
the Russian Empire had
protected its Finnish citizens.
244
00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,439
The story of Suomenlinna
tells us what a dangerous
245
00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,119
geographical location
Finland has,
246
00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,879
putting it into conflict
with one superpower
247
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:42,319
and making it dependent
on the protection of another.
248
00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,519
Throughout the 19th century,
the Grand Duchy of Finland
249
00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,119
remained part
of the Russian Empire.
250
00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,759
But Russian rule
became more repressive
251
00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,839
and Finns increasingly agitated
to control their own destiny
252
00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,399
{\an8}until one world-shaking event
in Russian politics
253
00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,600
{\an8}worked in their favor.
254
00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,159
The Russian Revolution
presented the Finns
255
00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:15,079
with the chance
of self-determination,
256
00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,439
an opportunity
they readily seized.
257
00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,199
And a year later,
on the 12th of May 1918,
258
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:27,719
Russian troops moved
out of Suomenlinna.
259
00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,959
At last, the flag
of an independent Finland
260
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,279
was hoisted over the fortress.
261
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,359
After centuries of struggle,
262
00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:40,359
Finns finally had control
of their own country.
263
00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,519
But without the protection
of a superpower,
264
00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,000
would they be able
to defend it?
265
00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,719
They would soon find out.
266
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,279
The newly constituted USSR
267
00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:59,199
now posed a much greater
level of threat.
268
00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,119
{\an8}Its Red Army was
the largest armored force
269
00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,200
{\an8}the world had ever seen.
270
00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,199
{\an8}As soon as the mayhem
of the Second World War began,
271
00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,319
Stalin moved
to take Finland back
272
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:19,279
to provide a vital buffer
against the West.
273
00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,119
Compared with
the well-defended south,
274
00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,639
the shared
1,200-kilometer border
275
00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,639
could be attacked
at almost any point.
276
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:38,359
There were few forts,
walls, or even fences,
277
00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,159
and hardly any troops.
278
00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,360
Just endless forest.
279
00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,399
Mika Kulju is a historian
280
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,599
whose grandfather was
in the small Finnish Army
281
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:58,959
that would be called on
to face the Soviet might.
282
00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,199
We are on the Raate Road,
and behind this flimsy gate,
283
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:08,919
just a few kilometers away,
there lies Russia.
284
00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:10,359
Mika
wants to make sense
285
00:17:10,360 --> 00:17:14,279
of the extraordinary series
of events that began here,
286
00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:18,719
on the Raate Road,
in late 1939,
287
00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,519
when thousands of Soviet troops
288
00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:25,039
smashed through
this remote border gate.
289
00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,679
There, on the Finnish
border guards' post,
290
00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,199
there were only
15 Finnish soldiers,
291
00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,959
so they were facing
an overwhelming opponent.
292
00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,359
In mid-December,
the Soviet 44th Division,
293
00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:45,519
numbering 14,000 men with
tanks, artillery, and trucks,
294
00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,160
thrust into the heart
of Finland.
295
00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,639
A small, lightly armed
Finnish force of 300
296
00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,599
rushed to stop it.
297
00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,879
Failure could
simply mean the end
298
00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,039
of Finland's
short-lived existence.
299
00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,599
The defenders' best hope
would rest on exploiting
300
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:12,279
their natural environment,
the impenetrable forest,
301
00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,719
the freezing hell of winter,
302
00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,640
and guerrilla tactics.
303
00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,239
Now I'm going to explain
the Finnish tactics
304
00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,679
at the Raate Road Battle.
305
00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:34,639
Imagine that this branch is
the column of the 44th Division.
306
00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,159
The Finns knew
that the narrow forest road
307
00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,839
would force the Soviets
to move in a single column,
308
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,919
making them vulnerable.
309
00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,200
The column is cut
into small pieces.
310
00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,679
And after that,
they are destroyed,
311
00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,319
one by one.
312
00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,599
Each piece
was known as a motti.
313
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,959
But how could
the vastly outnumbered Finns
314
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,239
go about chopping up
a Red Army column,
315
00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,359
let alone destroy it?
316
00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,199
{\an8} As the 14,000 troops
of the Soviet 44th Division
317
00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,199
{\an8}moved down the Raate Road
into Finland,
318
00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:29,159
{\an8}just 300 Finnish soldiers
were preparing to make a stand
319
00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,600
{\an8}on the west bank
of the frozen Kuoman River.
320
00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,759
{\an8}They blew the bridge
and waited for the Soviets
321
00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,559
{\an8}to attempt to cross the ice.
322
00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,199
{\an8} There's
a Maxim machine gun.
323
00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,799
That was the most
important weapon
324
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,639
that Finnish Army did have.
325
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,079
A tried and tested weapon
326
00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,119
from the First World War,
the Finnish Army tweaked it
327
00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:59,639
to increase the firing rate
328
00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:05,159
and adapted the water-filled
cooling jacket to run on snow.
329
00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,639
But the Finns had
just a dozen Maxims
330
00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:12,599
to stop a division
of Soviet troops.
331
00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,159
When the 44th
Division's first parts
332
00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,159
came from that direction,
333
00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:25,559
it was stopped
by massive machine gun fire.
334
00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:27,959
Concentrated fire
shocked the Red Army
335
00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,919
to a standstill.
336
00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:35,639
Now, the Finns began to wear
the Soviet troops down.
337
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,359
One of the most
important equipment,
338
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:46,399
this kind of white overcoat.
339
00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,759
Very simple
but very good camouflage.
340
00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:52,879
By contrast,
the Red Army soldiers,
341
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,359
who came from
the southern Soviet Union,
342
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:57,199
wore dark uniforms--
343
00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,640
easy targets
for crack Finnish snipers.
344
00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,239
Whilst temperatures
plummeted to minus 40,
345
00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,279
the Finns moved ghostlike,
346
00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:13,159
hitting hard and melting
back into the forest.
347
00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,999
I can tell you that
most of the Finnish soldiers,
348
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,120
they were excellent skiers.
349
00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,439
After two weeks
of fierce fighting,
350
00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,679
Finnish reinforcements,
including Mika's grandfather,
351
00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,359
{\an8}arrived and launched
a surprise attack,
352
00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:34,159
{\an8}severing the Soviet column
353
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,359
{\an8}and creating the first motti,
354
00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:39,320
{\an8}trapping several thousand
Red Army soldiers.
355
00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,279
The Finns came at them
through the forest.
356
00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:51,199
And when the Finnish
troops took over these foxholes,
357
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:52,799
like this one here,
358
00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:57,279
so they placed
machine guns on those holes.
359
00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,039
The tightly packed
Red Army soldiers
360
00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,999
made easy targets.
361
00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,279
It was a massacre.
362
00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:14,080
It is said that every bullet
did hit the target on that road.
363
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:16,919
The Finnish Army,
364
00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:18,839
although still with only
half the numbers
365
00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:23,999
of the Soviet column, now
attacked it in several places,
366
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,239
creating five motti sections,
367
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,000
each known by name
to the Finnish troops.
368
00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,959
Haukila, Tyynelä,
369
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,440
Mattila, Likoharju, Raate.
370
00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,879
Each was
systematically destroyed.
371
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,279
In just over a week,
372
00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:49,039
nearly 5,000 Red Army
soldiers had been killed,
373
00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,959
a whole division destroyed.
374
00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,399
The Raate Road was littered
with their frozen corpses,
375
00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,239
lying amongst
Soviet heavy weaponry.
376
00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,439
There were even
musical instruments,
377
00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,519
brought for
a planned victory parade
378
00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,199
through Helsinki
on Stalin's birthday.
379
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,399
Humiliated and demoralized,
380
00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,039
the Soviet Army fled on foot
through the forest,
381
00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,639
back across the border.
382
00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:23,319
And on the 10th
of January 1940,
383
00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,119
it was a historical day
for Finland
384
00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:29,800
because Finnish soldier was once
again standing on the border.
385
00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,799
Heroic victories,
like that at Raate Road,
386
00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,119
transformed the Finns'
self-confidence
387
00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:44,359
and sense of pride
into an ethos
388
00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:49,160
that became known as
the spirit of the Winter War.
389
00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,679
Despite Finland's
battlefield successes,
390
00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:59,239
{\an8}it proved impossible to
completely defeat the Red Army,
391
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,119
{\an8}so, to buy time,
Finland negotiated a peace,
392
00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:06,639
{\an8}ceding some
eastern territories,
393
00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,640
{\an8}and sought a new alliance with
another superpower--Germany.
394
00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:14,639
With growing self-belief,
395
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:16,399
Finland saw this
as an opportunity
396
00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,800
to regain its lost lands
from the Soviets.
397
00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:27,199
But to attack, it needed
offensive hardware.
398
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,840
Where was it going to get that?
399
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,959
At a secret location
north of Helsinki,
400
00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,119
military historian
Alexandra Churchill
401
00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:47,599
has come to investigate
how Finland got hold of tanks
402
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,479
to fight the Red Army.
403
00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:58,640
Wow!
404
00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:01,479
I'm gonna touch it first,
405
00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,999
that's the first thing
I'm gonna do.
406
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:08,319
So, this is a Russian T-26 tank,
407
00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,639
and it looks like it's just
rolled off the battlefield.
408
00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,159
At the outbreak
of the Second World War,
409
00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,439
the Soviet T-26 was by far
410
00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,680
the most heavily produced
tank in the world.
411
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,799
The Soviets
produced like 10,000 of these
412
00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,399
before the Second World War.
413
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,719
Finland is never gonna
have that capability.
414
00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,039
They don't have the population,
the money, the infrastructure,
415
00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,199
anything to get
anywhere near that.
416
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:41,519
It was
a problem that required
417
00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,999
a little lateral thinking.
418
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,239
So, stealing them
is the best-case scenario.
419
00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,720
And stealing them undamaged,
as well, is perfect.
420
00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,039
In the aftermath
of battles such as Raate Road,
421
00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,759
the Finns recovered hundreds
of trucks, field guns,
422
00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:05,560
and dozens of T-26 tanks
left by the fleeing Red Army.
423
00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:12,799
It was just what they needed
for the next stage of the war.
424
00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,799
Their new T-26s were soon
ready to fight the USSR
425
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,999
for Finland's lost territories,
complete with new paint job,
426
00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,559
including a surprising symbol.
427
00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,039
This is
an original swastika.
428
00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:29,879
So, before the Nazis came along,
429
00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:31,879
slightly rearranged it,
put it all over their flags,
430
00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,079
and ruined it forevermore,
for everyone,
431
00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:36,119
the swastika was
from the Indian subcontinent,
432
00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:37,639
and it was a symbol
of good luck,
433
00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,319
and the Finns have
actually just used it
434
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:40,759
in the spirit it was intended,
435
00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:44,439
and that's why
it's on this tank.
436
00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,319
But there is
something else about this tank
437
00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,559
that is particularly unusual
in a military machine
438
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,119
that is nearly 100 years old.
439
00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:56,879
So, if you are
an eagle-eyed history nerd,
440
00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,159
you will have noticed
that the tank tracks,
441
00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,439
from when we've been
poking about, are dirty,
442
00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,119
which means it moves!
443
00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:10,799
Olie, we're gonna go
for a ride. Ready?
444
00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,080
Ready.
445
00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,599
For Alex,
it's a chance to get
446
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,199
a first-hand experience
of the strengths and weaknesses
447
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,600
of a tank that was so important
in Finland's history.
448
00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,479
And to guide her,
Olie and Tommy,
449
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,599
both veteran tank officers
with the Finnish Army.
450
00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,480
It's very loud in here;
I'm just gonna shout!
451
00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,680
It's a lot smoother ride
than I thought it would be.
452
00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:57,800
We ran over that tree
and I didn't even feel it.
453
00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:00,199
Highly maneuverable,
454
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,399
the T-26 could push through
trees 30 centimeters thick
455
00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,480
and climb gradients
of 40 degrees.
456
00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:20,039
So, that's the joyride part
of the afternoon over.
457
00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,759
And now this is more like
it would have been in battle,
458
00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,280
so we've shut the hatches.
459
00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:28,039
Sounding like
a massive drama queen
460
00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,319
but one thing I've noticed
is the fumes from the petrol.
461
00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:32,360
I'm starting to get a headache.
462
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,999
We heard a story that there
were a lot of Russians
463
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,959
jumping out of the tanks
and running away.
464
00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:43,159
And I don't blame them,
because I think
465
00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,559
if smoke started
coming in here
466
00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:47,519
or fire came in here,
or anything,
467
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,959
I wouldn't care
what was outside.
468
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:51,119
I would just not want to be shut
469
00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:55,119
in this tiny,
little tin box anymore.
470
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,439
The Finnish Army
managed to steal enough T-26s
471
00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,519
to put together
a whole armored brigade,
472
00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,679
and in the summer of 1941,
473
00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,279
{\an8}T-26s led the Finnish charge
474
00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,519
{\an8}to reclaim
its eastern territories,
475
00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:15,799
{\an8}and beyond, into
the Soviet Union itself.
476
00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,879
{\an8}Despite these successes,
477
00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,759
the Finns' few dozen
stolen T-26s were still
478
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,439
massively outnumbered
by the Soviets,
479
00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,479
who had thousands, and
with limited anti-tank guns,
480
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:34,879
the Finns desperately needed to
find the T-26's Achilles' heel.
481
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,679
And it's that,
that's the engine intake.
482
00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,999
It sucks air into the tank
to cool the engine.
483
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,039
But it also, for all
the complaining I've done
484
00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:43,679
about the fumes inside,
485
00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,439
it spun clean air
around for the crew.
486
00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:47,799
So, the Finns start to think,
487
00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,719
"Well, what if we can make
that thing suck in something
488
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,119
other than lovely,
clean fresh air?"
489
00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,319
But for that, they needed
a special kind of weapon.
490
00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,799
What they came up
with was so ingeniously simple
491
00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,920
that it's still
widely in use today.
492
00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,519
With dry humor,
493
00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,839
they christened their invention
the Molotov cocktail,
494
00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,559
a sarcastic response
495
00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:16,599
to Soviet Foreign Secretary
Vyacheslav Molotov
496
00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,719
for his claim about the bombing
of Finnish cities.
497
00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,159
The Soviet foreign
secretary had the audacity
498
00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:23,559
to say they weren't
bombing them,
499
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,359
they were actually
dropping food,
500
00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:26,959
which was a big fat lie,
501
00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:28,879
so they named it
after him to say,
502
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:33,439
"Here you go, Mr. Molotov.
Have a cocktail in return."
503
00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,599
This a mock-up
of what one looked like.
504
00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:36,799
You've got the flammable liquid,
505
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:38,399
you've also got
potassium chlorate,
506
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,159
which is really irritating
to come into contact with,
507
00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,759
and it also has
a load of pine sap,
508
00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,479
and what that does,
when it burns,
509
00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,399
is create a lot
of annoying smoke,
510
00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,560
which is even more annoying in
a confined space, like a T-26.
511
00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,119
So, unsurprisingly,
no one's gonna let me play
512
00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:57,439
with a Molotov cocktail.
513
00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,879
We have a professional for that.
His name is Konsta.
514
00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,359
First,
a windproof storm match
515
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,239
on the side of the bottle
is lit.
516
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:19,799
Yeah,
I wouldn't want to be
517
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,599
inside that tank at all.
518
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,159
Never mind the fire
but the smoke as well,
519
00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:28,119
and if you imagine the hatch
is down and you can't get out.
520
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:29,399
I think we've established today
521
00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,959
that being inside a tank
is not comfortable anyway,
522
00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:37,319
but having one of those suddenly
sprung on you, no thanks.
523
00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,199
Half a million
Molotov cocktails
524
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,680
were mass-produced
by the Finns.
525
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:46,919
This simple weapon
would help destroy
526
00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,279
around 400 Soviet tanks.
527
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,959
Finland's ingenuity
and determination
528
00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,640
had turned the tables
on the Soviets.
529
00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,319
But as the Second
World War progressed,
530
00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,319
{\an8}things changed.
531
00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:06,879
{\an8}The Soviet Union started
to gain the upper hand
532
00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,039
{\an8}over Germany.
533
00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:10,399
Finland's deal with the devil
534
00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:14,919
began to look
like a very bad one.
535
00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:21,079
Now, to survive, it had to use
all its political know-how.
536
00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:24,519
It sent the Nazis packing
and finally agreed to give up
537
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:29,479
some eastern territories to
Moscow in exchange for peace.
538
00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:34,199
Those agreed borders
remain to this day.
539
00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:38,360
Finland had survived the war
more or less intact.
540
00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:44,359
But then, the world
changed again.
541
00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,679
Finland faced a new threat
542
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:53,160
the like of which
the world had never seen.
543
00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:01,359
For over 70 years,
Finland has lived
544
00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:04,960
in the shadows of opposing
nuclear superpowers.
545
00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,599
Arthur Williams, a broadcaster
of military history
546
00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,279
and former British
marine commando,
547
00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:18,159
is here to discover
how it ensures its survival.
548
00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:19,279
I became a soldier
549
00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:21,679
after the collapse
of the Soviet Union
550
00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,959
and before Putin became
the threat that he is today,
551
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,679
and so we never really
considered the realities
552
00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:31,959
of living
with nuclear Armageddon.
553
00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,719
But I think
for the Finnish population,
554
00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:36,479
a relatively small population,
555
00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,279
it would have been
very different.
556
00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:41,439
They're geographically
in a very vulnerable place,
557
00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,319
sandwiched between superpowers,
558
00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:48,039
and so, I'll be fascinated
to see just how
559
00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:51,160
they could defend themselves
if the balloon went up.
560
00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:57,319
Visitors to the
elegant streets of Helsinki
561
00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,999
might be surprised to learn
that it sits on top
562
00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,320
of one of the world's
largest fortresses.
563
00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:10,679
Arthur has a rendezvous
beneath the streets,
564
00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:15,119
18 meters underground
at one of the largest,
565
00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:19,320
most sophisticated defensive
structures in the world.
566
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:24,359
Hi, Jari.
567
00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:26,559
Hi.
568
00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:27,679
Good to meet you.
569
00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,039
Good to meet you,
nice to meet you, sir.
570
00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,239
Yeah.
This is pretty impressive!
571
00:34:31,240 --> 00:34:32,479
Welcome to Hakaniemi.
572
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:35,279
This is Hakaniemi
Civil Defense Shelter.
573
00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,039
Jari Markkanen
is amongst those responsible
574
00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:40,999
for keeping this civil
defense shelter ready
575
00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,159
for an attack on Helsinki,
576
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:48,959
whether conventional, nuclear,
chemical, or biological.
577
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:52,799
We have here
pressure-proof doors.
578
00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,879
Its main purpose is to protect
people inside the shelter
579
00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:01,079
from the blast wave
of outside explosion.
580
00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,239
Heavy duty, right?
And these are all like steel?
581
00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:05,759
Solid steel.
582
00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:08,879
So this door here can
withstand a nuclear explosion?
583
00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:09,960
Yeah.
584
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:12,919
To resist
the pressure wave
585
00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:14,839
from a nuclear explosion,
586
00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:19,399
the steel doors are
up to 30 centimeters thick.
587
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:23,399
But on its own,
that's not enough.
588
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:24,519
And there's
two doors as well.
589
00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:26,279
There's one back here as well.
590
00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:31,359
Yeah. These inner doors
are supposed to be gas tight.
591
00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:33,439
Seals in the inner doors
592
00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:37,120
will keep radioactive
and poisonous gases out.
593
00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:44,239
{\an8}The whole complex can
accommodate 6,000 people.
594
00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:49,919
{\an8}And this bunker is just one of
52 public shelters in Helsinki.
595
00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,479
{\an8}Along with thousands
of private shelters,
596
00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:56,559
{\an8}there's enough space
for 900,000 people,
597
00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:01,039
{\an8}the whole population
of the city, plus visitors.
598
00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:02,839
We see
these yellow squares
599
00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:04,479
all the way along here, Jari.
600
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:05,919
What are these for?
601
00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:11,679
We have 180 squares
to be this kind of dry toilet.
602
00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:14,319
In case we don't have
running water,
603
00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:16,479
we have to use dry toilets.
604
00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:19,759
Gosh, so this is
just a massive toilet block?
605
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:21,399
It's pretty basic, isn't it?
606
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:23,199
Yeah.
607
00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,279
And this is
the sleeping accommodation here?
608
00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:27,439
Yeah,
we have put examples.
609
00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:31,640
So, we have sleeping places
for 2,000 people.
610
00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:35,119
People
will sleep in shifts,
611
00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:39,479
with a changeover
every eight hours.
612
00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,839
Finland's preparations
might seem excessive,
613
00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,039
but for about a decade
after the war,
614
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,799
it was forbidden,
by treaty with Moscow,
615
00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:52,119
from having an army
big enough to defend itself,
616
00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,679
meaning its population
could be held to ransom
617
00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,919
by either nuclear superpower.
618
00:36:57,920 --> 00:36:59,999
Finland's
extraordinary response
619
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,559
was to build shelters
for everyone,
620
00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:07,239
a practice continued
to the present day.
621
00:37:07,240 --> 00:37:10,079
But during peacetime,
the shelter provides
622
00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:13,080
a very different sort
of public service.
623
00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:18,760
A perfectly
useable gym in there.
624
00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:25,079
Some sort of hockey pitch
or something.
625
00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:27,799
There's another one.
626
00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:31,119
This place is vast, it just
keeps going and going and going,
627
00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:36,519
and like, you forget that we're
18 meters underground here.
628
00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:39,679
It's a really surreal place
to spend time.
629
00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:42,559
This place is a leisure center
for all intents and purposes,
630
00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,719
but it's not, because
in 72 hours, everything you see
631
00:37:45,720 --> 00:37:48,479
gets packed away and replaced
with thousands of bunk beds.
632
00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:52,200
It turns into an air raid
shelter/nuclear bunker.
633
00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,359
Some bunkers are
twice the size of this one,
634
00:37:57,360 --> 00:37:58,719
and during peacetime are used
635
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:01,080
for everything
you can think of...
636
00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:09,599
...including underground
skate parks, car parks,
637
00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,079
and an Olympic-size
swimming pool.
638
00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,479
Even this must be able
to be drained and dismantled
639
00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:24,719
with 72 hours' notice, in order
that it can be repurposed
640
00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:27,160
as a civil defense shelter.
641
00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:34,639
It is mind-blowing
to see, and quite scary,
642
00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,839
to see that the Finnish
have gone to such effort
643
00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:40,079
to make so many preparations
for nuclear war.
644
00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:41,199
You know, an entire city
645
00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,999
can quite comfortably
survive underground.
646
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,039
Coming from a different country,
you can't help but think,
647
00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:47,359
"Well, what have we done?"
648
00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:49,319
And I don't know whether
we've really done anything,
649
00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:51,519
certainly nothing that
we've practiced for,
650
00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:53,559
and that's
the civilian population.
651
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,439
I wonder what the military
have been doing.
652
00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:11,399
Since Russia's
invasion of Ukraine in 2022,
653
00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:15,759
Finland's position seems
as vulnerable as ever.
654
00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:22,199
So, how ready is it to resist
an invasion by a modern army?
655
00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:25,399
Ever since independence,
every male in Finland
656
00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:28,159
has to do national
military service.
657
00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:30,440
Many women volunteer, too.
658
00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:37,759
Today, the country can call up
a massive well-trained army
659
00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:44,199
of 280,000 to fight
at a moment's notice.
660
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:45,999
Extraordinary for a population
661
00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,840
of just five
and a half million.
662
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:58,039
But how about ordinary Finns?
663
00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:00,559
Arthur is on his way
to meet one of many
664
00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:05,039
who is preparing for the worst.
665
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:06,479
Matias is a leader
666
00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,360
in the voluntary National
Defense Association of Finland.
667
00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:15,079
Hi, Matias.
668
00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:16,479
Hello.
669
00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:18,519
So, Matias,
I'm a former military guy.
670
00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:21,759
I'm fascinated to learn more
about the Finnish military.
671
00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:25,359
You're in uniform at the moment,
but is this not your day job?
672
00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:27,399
No, I'm
an active reservist,
673
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:31,119
so I work my 9-to-5 job
as a civilian.
674
00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:32,799
What do you do
every day, Matias, outside of--
675
00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:34,959
I'm a sky lift
driver, operator.
676
00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:35,959
So,
what sort of training
677
00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:37,839
will you be doing, Matias?
678
00:40:37,840 --> 00:40:41,759
This weekend
we're doing urban combat, CQB,
679
00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:43,799
close quarter combat training.
680
00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:52,559
From the learnings from Ukraine,
all the big battles are going
681
00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:56,319
to be fought in the cities
or suburbs of the cities,
682
00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:59,079
and it's, it's important
type of combat
683
00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:02,559
everybody should know
how to fight.
684
00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:04,199
Even for hardened soldiers,
685
00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:09,239
urban combat is about
as challenging as it gets,
686
00:41:09,240 --> 00:41:12,359
and these ordinary Finns
are using their spare time
687
00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:16,199
to learn one of
its most risky maneuvers--
688
00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:19,879
dynamic entrance to a building.
689
00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:21,519
Talk me through
the dynamic entrance.
690
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:24,119
I know that you work
in small teams.
691
00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:25,559
What's, what happens?
692
00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:27,679
So basically,
the group of three,
693
00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:30,839
the fire team, stack up
at the doorway first,
694
00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:35,239
and then the point man
takes the difficult corner.
695
00:41:35,240 --> 00:41:38,279
The second man
takes the easy corner,
696
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:40,799
and the third guy
is kind of roamer.
697
00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:44,919
He comes in and helps
if they need help.
698
00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:47,119
So, I guess the idea
then is that you kind of
699
00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:49,079
get into the room
as quickly as you can
700
00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:50,639
and spread out as
quickly as you can
701
00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:52,279
to cover all of the corners.
702
00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:54,759
Yeah, basically.
703
00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:57,079
And it's a dangerous
form of fighting, right?
704
00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:59,599
It is an extremely
dangerous form of fighting.
705
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,159
The doorway is, is
the kill zone, basically.
706
00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:03,519
Yeah.
707
00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:05,679
First priority is
to get out of that doorway.
708
00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:07,440
Yeah, yeah, sure.
709
00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,319
Images from Ukraine
leave no doubt how brutal
710
00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:18,920
urban warfare really is.
711
00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:24,039
But despite that,
the number of Finnish civilians
712
00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:28,720
training for it
doubled this year to 50,000.
713
00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:32,679
What types
of people do you see
714
00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:34,719
coming through the training?
715
00:42:34,720 --> 00:42:36,999
Well, we get
construction workers
716
00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:41,479
to dentists or doctors
or CEO of the company.
717
00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:44,799
But when we put on the gear,
we are, we are same, basically,
718
00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:49,719
and train the same things,
and we have women and men
719
00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:52,480
in, in the courses.
720
00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:54,599
Personally,
why do you feel motivated
721
00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:56,039
to defend Finland?
722
00:42:56,040 --> 00:42:58,399
When I train,
I train for my family,
723
00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,159
I train for my loved ones,
724
00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,519
so I can do my job
in the military, if needs be,
725
00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:07,079
as good as I can,
so my loved ones and my family
726
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:09,519
stays healthy
and in good shape.
727
00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:13,119
That's a powerful
answer, I like it.
728
00:43:13,120 --> 00:43:15,399
After decades
of neutrality,
729
00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:17,599
the invasion of Ukraine
prompted Finland
730
00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:21,119
to finally join NATO,
731
00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:24,880
adding its combined armies
to Finland's protection.
732
00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:29,679
Finland's complex history,
733
00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:32,479
its 1,200-kilometer border
with Russia,
734
00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:33,999
{\an8}and its resourcefulness,
735
00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,799
{\an8}ingenuity, and self-sacrifice
736
00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:38,799
{\an8}have all contributed
to making it
737
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,240
{\an8}one of the best defended
countries in the world.
738
00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:47,879
{\an8}But there is one other thing
that Finns have,
739
00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,959
{\an8}and it may be the most
important of all--
740
00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:55,759
{\an8}an undefeatable
determination to survive.