ABSTRACT
Russian soldier had begun his attack on a full stomach and his spirits were high with thoughts of a quick victory. His weapons were big and new, often right from the factory, and the light-weight clothing was only moderately uncomfortable. In the deep freeze of talvisota, human blood froze and plasma was useless. Most of the Red Army soldiers simply froze to death, like grotesque statues, in whatever position they happened to be at the time they were hit. Most Finns were fitted out with a motley array of knitted garments from the home front, lovingly fashioned by little old ladies, housewives, teen-age girls, and anyone who could handle the knitting needle. The Russians' light-weight, olive-brown tunics were only slightly warmer than a good dungaree overall. Unlike the Finns, who had their dugouts and warming tents, the Russians' only shelters were the holes they dug into the snow where they built fires to keep from freezing to death.
