Although there are many tactical & strategic lessons that can be learnt from this complex theatre of operations, I would highlight the following ones:
1. Local determination to resist can greatly influence the result (or at least the development) of the invasion. In the case of Finland, the wish of the Finns to opose soviet rule (they must have been well aware of what awaited them in case of submission to Stalin's rule) made a great difference to their lives and the simple fact of being alive.
In the case of the Norwegian people, we can say exactly the opposite. Though the degree of preparation of German forces threatening them was far superior to that of their soviet counterparts, Germans initially faced even greater obstacles. First of all, the sea, with the permanent threat of the powerful Home Fleet (Royal Navy). Norway had alies (at least for some time), whilst Finland was completely isolated and faced an enemy moving directly inland from a short distance (Leningrad). But they used the terrain (and their complete knowledge of it) to move around the enemy, create pockets and eliminate them (with the obvious moral consequences on the surviving oponents). They opposed sheer strategic strength with superior tactics. They delayed the enemy. They demoralised it. In short, they created the conditions for the soviet government asking for a portion of Finland, but most importantly for the Fins, letting the other part free. Almost at the same time, the Norwegian people faced the determination of Germany to seize the port of Narvik and occupy an area from which they could thraten British interests (the North Sea). They did not take advantage of their terrain (they did not play with it) to impose superior tactical movements. Furthermore, they faced an enemy far more mobile than the Fins did. To top it all, British command was poor (to say the least) and did not take advantage of the Royal navy to impose their obvious superiority at sea in an equaly obvious sea country. These factors and the fact that Britain and France (Norway's alies) were facing the Blizkrieg in the North of France would be decisive to the outcome of German operations.
2. The Russians learnt valuable lessons that would probe vital for their survival in the critical years of 1942-1943. On the other hand, the Germans never thought that the URSS forces would improve and this enormous mistake would ultimately determine the fate of Nazi Germany. The paradox then is that the Russians played the part of the Finns defending their homeland whilst the Germans acted more like the Russians on Finnish soil. And the USSR , with their vast resources, wasn't exactly Finland. And it wasn't alone.
3. Gerrilla warfare has proved very effective against any enemy since its origins, provided that it accounted on the total support of the local population. It remains to be seen if it will resist the test of the 21st century technologies, not only referred to conventional weaponry and improved means of defence but also to the superior use of psychological warfare.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Y7Vn3llGR3w?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autohide=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=DFocBpjQLq4uAkbKvQxxWg&feature=share
