Page 416 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo I

416 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

and war becaMe literature
In Finland the first war story of high quality was published by J. L. Runeberg in the 1840s.
It was a heroic poem, “Ensign Stool”, telling about 1808-1809 Swedish-Russian War. In
1940 was published over 80 books about the Winter War, but real boom of war literature had
to wait till 1970s.
Of war literature the half-fictional has been a channel through which Finns have unburdened
their feelings. It has also been one of the ways through which Finns have tried to get acquainted
with the wars. Today, the war literature on the artistic top generally speaks for peace.
The unity of the Finns during the wars was partly based on a trust: the Finnish soldiers
and natural conditions would diminish the technical advantages of an enemy. Finland could
not be put down in days or weeks – it would take months. At least some of this image was
caused by the epic poem of Runeberg, which sold plenty during the Winter War.
But it has also been said that some of the books were too chauvinistic. Russians shared
this opinion and it became evident, when Ždanov said to Prime Minister Paasikivi in fall
1944: “Ensign Stool is good poetry, but it is misused for revenge purposes” .
16
A new way to look upon the things had to wait till 1954, when “The Unknown Soldier”,
a novel of Väinö Linna was published. It made the old point of view questionable. It was not
easy; some critics thought that the novel disparaged the Finnish soldier. However, the novel
was quite realistic and down-to-earth, had a sense of proportion, in telling about the Con-
tinuation War from the point of view of ordinary soldiers. Linna conveys their account of the
war: “The Soviet Union won, but the little and persistent Finland took silver” .
17
The first proper scientific study of the Finnish wars published by Professor Arvi Korhon-
en begins: “After a defeat in a fight and war, generally there starts a more or less thorough
search of the causes of the defeat” .
18
The time passed by and brought up two new aftermaths of the Finnish wars in 1939-1945.
In fall of 1961 President John F. Kennedy asked: “What we Americans are most interested
in is why the Soviet Union has allowed Finland to keep its independence ?” Molotov gave
19
one answer in 1974: “We were clever, when we did not incorporate Finland to the Soviet
Union. It would have become a bleeding wound - - the people over there are very stubborn,
very stubborn.” In other words: it was easier to the Soviet Union to have Finland that way
20
it was in 1944-1990.

the Picture Of the wars in late 1900’s
The age groups, born between 1945 and 1949, grew up to their active age during an eco-
nomical, social and cultural change. it led to a secularized industrial and innovative Finland.
When the older generation wanted to keep up a patriotism connected with the wars, the youth

16 Paasikivi 1985, p. 100; and Niemi 1988, p. 125–126.
17 Linna 1982, p. 308 and 1973 p. 441. The translation of the book into English version could be better. I have
had to correct this sentence so that it corresponds better with the original.
18 Korhonen 1961, p. 7.
19 Jakobson 2004, p. 3-4.
20 Jakobson 2004, p. 3-4.