When was the Moscow Peace Treaty signed?
The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed on the evening of the 12th of March 1940, Moscow time, which was the early hours of the 13th of March in Finland. Ratifications were exchanged on the 21st of March 1940.
Questions about Moscow Peace Treaty
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What territory did Finland lose under the Moscow Peace Treaty?
Finland ceded approximately 9% of its total territory, including the Karelian Isthmus, the city of Viipuri, Finland's shore of Lake Ladoga, part of the Salla area, islands in the Gulf of Finland, and the Finnish portion of the Kalastajansaarento Peninsula. The Hanko Peninsula was leased to the Soviet Union for 30 years at 8 million marks per year.
What did Finnish President Kyösti Kallio say when signing the Moscow Peace Treaty?
Kyösti Kallio said "Let the hand wither that signs this monstrous treaty" as he signed the document. He had resisted giving up Finnish territory for as long as possible before circumstances compelled him to agree.
How many Finns were displaced by the Moscow Peace Treaty?
422,000 Finns were displaced, representing 12% of Finland's total population at the time. They were evacuated hastily from ceded territories, many of which were still physically held by Finnish troops when the treaty was signed.
Who signed the Moscow Peace Treaty for Finland and the Soviet Union?
For the Soviet Union, the treaty was signed by Vyacheslav Molotov, Andrei Zhdanov, and Aleksandr Vasilevsky. For Finland, the signatories were Risto Ryti, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden, and Väinö Voionmaa.
What is the Karelian question in Finland?
The Karelian question refers to the ongoing debate within Finland about whether the country should seek to reacquire the territory it ceded to the Soviet Union under the Moscow Peace Treaty. The terms of the treaty were not reversed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, so the land remains outside Finnish borders.