The industrialization builds prosperity in the Vuoksi river area, but the happy times are over when Russia attacks in 1939.

In WW2 Valtionhotelli served as a headquarters for the Finnish troops in Karelian Isthmus. One of the towers of the castle was remodelled to an observatory platform and machine gun stage.

After the Winter Ware, Stalin draws the new state border with wide brush strokes, and later into the war Hitler visits Imatra.