Finland allied itself with Nazi Germany during the second world war not to prevent Soviet conquest but to win back territories lost to the USSR as a result of the winter war of 1939-40. The peace treaty that ended the war in March 1940 left Finnish independence’ intact’....... It was the reckless act of joining the Nazi attack on the USSR that endangered Finland’s national existence and cost tens of thousands of lives.
.... In 1944-45 the Red Army could have occupied Finland with impunity, but Stalin chose not to, mainly because Finnish leaders admitted their error and pledged neutrality and friendship with the Soviet Union. “Finlandisation”, as it was called, enabled Finland to remain free of Soviet domination and communist takeover.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/23/why-finland-allied-itself-with-nazi-germany
That is a CNN type summary.
Yes Finland allied it self with Germany to take back what was stolen and avenge the soldiers and civilians murdered by the Soviet Union in 1939-40 during their land grab.
Yes, at the end of WWII Finland had to bow down and kiss the Soviets hind end. On the other hand, the Soviets were reluctant to “occupy Finland with immunity” as you put it because the land they stole in 1939/40 cost them dearly in lives and treasure. There was face savings on both sides.
You Stalin’s great-grandchild?
This is some fascinating audio because it’s one of the rare recordings of Hitler in his normal speaking voice.
He’s talking with Finnish Commander-In-Chief Mannerheim in 1942 about how the war against the Soviets is going.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE6mnPmztoQ
Yes Finland made it a hard commitment right from the start with Nazi Germany, that they would fight the Soviets only to their former border, only to reclaim what the Soviets had taken.
The Nazis were the only ones with the capability, who were willing to help Finland. There was a famous picture at the time of the Finnish leader with Hitler - the Finn visibly disgusted with him.