As I was studying history of World of last century I realized how ignorant I had been about my country. Finland, my home country, has a history, which one can be proud of.
I always considered Finland as a western country, always comparing with other western countries like France, GB and so on. We have bit less in everything, we are supposed to be like them, like a western country which we are, I thought. But a realization struck me. Finland is an eastern country.
In 1917 the revolution in Russia happened. Finland gained independence along some other countries. After this one could say that Finland was balancing between two devils for a short, event rich, time. Devils with names Stalin and Hitler. Germany which has always been more or less friend of Finland gave Finland to Russia in the secret part of Molotov-Rippentrop treaty.
The Winter War, the Soviet juggernaunt rolled to Finland. Marshall Mannerheim, without argument the greatest war hero of Finland, had foreseen this and had mobilized the military of Finland. Finland having barely 4 million people, had no large army. The weapons of the army were few and there was little or no heavy equipment like tanks, planes etc. But Finland held.
Second war, Continentual war, was fought few years later. This time equipped with German weapons, like Panzerfausts(not much heavy equipment tough), Finland launched attack at SU alongside Germany. Another hero of the war, president Risto Ryti, made a deal with the Germans. Finland would fight to the very end alongside Germany and the president personally guaranteed this. Bit diplomatic trickery, one could say, and it was that. Even as the president guaranteed the deal personally it wasn't legal. It would have needed the confirment of parliament for it. Later president resigned and peace was made with SU.
Technically Finland had lost the wars with SU. But considering what the SU had thrown at Finland, and what had happened to the other states that had gained independence in 1917, Finland was a victor.
During the events from independence to the end of WWII Finland had fought, defended and earned its independence. Finland was a democracy, a democracy which had a long common border with SU.
Cold War. Finland won the Cold War. Political, economic, militaristic pressuseres of CW could not defeat Finland. As west(=USA) poured monetary help to all its allies, and east(=SU) enforced its socialistic ideologies to its allies, Finland was on neither group. Finland never received any monetary support from west, nor Finland never was a socialistic state(we had a communist party tough). With political geniuses like Urho Kalevi Kekkonen(had he born in either USA or SU, he would have taken over the world) Finland remained neutral trough the whole affair. A great policy in this not black/white world.
Year is now 2002. Finland has one of the best basic educations in the world. Finland offers basic means of life to its whole population, healthcare, education, monetary support, etc.(Actually bit socialistic trait, in most western countries some of those are done by companios after money). Our main income is industry, as some might know Nokia cellphones. Finland is one of the most computer oriented countries and so on. We didn't end up like many eastern countries did. No western money was poured here. Our history is a political masterpiece, something to be proud of.
I always considered Finland as a western country, always comparing with other western countries like France, GB and so on. We have bit less in everything, we are supposed to be like them, like a western country which we are, I thought. But a realization struck me. Finland is an eastern country.
In 1917 the revolution in Russia happened. Finland gained independence along some other countries. After this one could say that Finland was balancing between two devils for a short, event rich, time. Devils with names Stalin and Hitler. Germany which has always been more or less friend of Finland gave Finland to Russia in the secret part of Molotov-Rippentrop treaty.
The Winter War, the Soviet juggernaunt rolled to Finland. Marshall Mannerheim, without argument the greatest war hero of Finland, had foreseen this and had mobilized the military of Finland. Finland having barely 4 million people, had no large army. The weapons of the army were few and there was little or no heavy equipment like tanks, planes etc. But Finland held.
Second war, Continentual war, was fought few years later. This time equipped with German weapons, like Panzerfausts(not much heavy equipment tough), Finland launched attack at SU alongside Germany. Another hero of the war, president Risto Ryti, made a deal with the Germans. Finland would fight to the very end alongside Germany and the president personally guaranteed this. Bit diplomatic trickery, one could say, and it was that. Even as the president guaranteed the deal personally it wasn't legal. It would have needed the confirment of parliament for it. Later president resigned and peace was made with SU.
Technically Finland had lost the wars with SU. But considering what the SU had thrown at Finland, and what had happened to the other states that had gained independence in 1917, Finland was a victor.
During the events from independence to the end of WWII Finland had fought, defended and earned its independence. Finland was a democracy, a democracy which had a long common border with SU.
Cold War. Finland won the Cold War. Political, economic, militaristic pressuseres of CW could not defeat Finland. As west(=USA) poured monetary help to all its allies, and east(=SU) enforced its socialistic ideologies to its allies, Finland was on neither group. Finland never received any monetary support from west, nor Finland never was a socialistic state(we had a communist party tough). With political geniuses like Urho Kalevi Kekkonen(had he born in either USA or SU, he would have taken over the world) Finland remained neutral trough the whole affair. A great policy in this not black/white world.
Year is now 2002. Finland has one of the best basic educations in the world. Finland offers basic means of life to its whole population, healthcare, education, monetary support, etc.(Actually bit socialistic trait, in most western countries some of those are done by companios after money). Our main income is industry, as some might know Nokia cellphones. Finland is one of the most computer oriented countries and so on. We didn't end up like many eastern countries did. No western money was poured here. Our history is a political masterpiece, something to be proud of.
, although I will concur that the politics within his country are ridiculous.
