Chapter 146: 146

While the Empire of the Orient celebrated its newfound unity and sovereignty, on the other side of the world, a different narrative unfolded. The echoes of conflict reverberated across Europe, as the continent grappled with the relentless advance of totalitarian regimes.

In the winter of 1939, Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, launched an invasion of Finland. The Winter War, as it came to be known, was a testament to the tenacity of the Finnish people against overwhelming odds. The conflict persisted until March 1940, leaving scars on the Finnish landscape and international relations.

As the Winter War concluded, another storm brewed on the horizon. In April 1940, Adolf Hitler's Germany unleashed a swift and coordinated invasion of Denmark and Norway. The strategic importance of these nations, with their valuable sea routes and resources, made them prime targets for German expansion.