Stalin also launched an attack on Finland but the Red Army met staunch Finnish resistance in what became known as the Winter War and succeeded in gaining only limited territory from the Finns .
Finland he hoped to reduce to little more than a Soviet puppet state .
Stalin also launched an attack on Finland , which he hoped to reduce to little more than a Soviet puppet state , but the Red Army met staunch Finnish resistance in what became known as the Winter War and succeeded in gaining only limited territory from the Finns .