I heard somewhere that the Russians had their bold a bit more "free", - i.e. not too accurate to the size of the rifle, and that the Fins preferred that layout when they learned about it.
Also, the Germans learned about what the Russians did to the aircraft engine oil in excess cold. They mixed th lubricants, while warm, with petrol. It would stay thin, and then they could evaporate when the oil got warmer.
Before that, the standard German way was to keep the oil pan warm, - for example by having a fire under it!
When you live in the cold, you learn stuff
