Suomen kansanvaltainen tasavalta Demokratiska Republiken Finland Finnish Democratic Republic ← 1939 – 1940 → Capital Terijoki Government Socialist republic Chairman¹ Otto Ville Kuusinen Historical era World War II  - Established 1 December, 1939  - Disestablished 12 March, 1940 ¹ Chairman of the Supreme Soviet and head of government

The Finnish Democratic Republic (Finnish: Suomen kansanvaltainen tasavalta, Swedish: Demokratiska Republiken Finland) was a short-lived government dependent on and only recognised by the Soviet Union. It operated in those parts of Finnish Karelia that were occupied by the Soviet Union during the Winter War and was known under the name of the Terijoki Government. The Soviet Union argued that it was the only rightful government for all of Finland that was capable of ending the Winter War and restoring peace. However, before the end of the war the Soviets gave up this interpretation to make peace with the Republic of Finland's' government.

It was established on 1 December 1939 in the Finnish border town of Terijoki (now Zelenogorsk, Russia). During its lifespan Otto Ville Kuusinen was chairman and head of government.

On 12 March 1940, it was merged with the Karelian ASSR within the RSFSR to form the Karelo-Finnish SSR, a Soviet republic in its own right, after Finland had ceded the areas to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty.

Vyacheslav Molotov signing a deal between the USSR and the Finnish Democratic Republic

Terijoki Government

See also

• Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic, an earlier, independent socialist state which existed for several months in 1918.

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