Europe 1940: Winter War

On 17 September 1939 the Soviet Union moved to occupy eastern Poland as had been agreed with Germany. The Soviets followed this by establishing influence over the Baltic states and attempting to invade Finland. Finnish defences were unexpectedly tough, however, and the Russians were forced to make do with territorial concessions.

Main Events

17 Sep–6 Oct 1939 Soviet Invasion of Poland

In accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union invaded Poland on 17 September, meeting the Germans invading from the west on 6 October. On 1 November, the Soviets annexed Eastern Poland, incorporating its territory into the Belarusian and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republics.in wikipedia

29 Sep–10 Oct 1939 Soviet influence over Baltic states

Following the fall of Poland in 1939, the Soviet Union pressured Finland and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—to conclude mutual assistance treaties. Pressure was applied to Estonia first, which also had to agree to host Soviet army, air, and naval bases in late September. Latvia and Lithuania followed in early October, although the Soviets agreed to reward the Lithuanians for their support by ceding the historically-disputed city of Vilnius to Lithuania from what had been Poland.in wikipedia

30 Nov 1939–13 Mar 1940 Winter War

The Soviet Union invaded Finland with some 450,000 men, without declaring war and in violation of three non-aggression pacts. Despite numerical superiority, the Soviets suffered repeated setbacks until reinforcements allowed them to break through in January 1940. At the Moscow Peace Treaty, the Finns agreed to cede significant territory along the border of the two states, including the Karelian Isthmus.in wikipedia