Onneksi olkoon! Always good to hear about Finland. Maybe you could do something on the complicated historical relationship between the Finns and the Russians. We lived there when the USSR was crumbling and the atmosphere was changing, both with fear of what might happen (government preparing for masses of refugees) and hope (people and organizations speaking more freely about the "iso naapuri.")
Thanks! That topic has been on my list since the beginning. I think it's especially notable that unlike many other European nations, Finland did not let its guard down after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Visitors are often surprised to learn that Finland still has mandatory military service for nearly all men (there is a chance to choose non-military service). Yes, that's all men. The training training/conscript period can last up to a year, and then you have to service in the reserves until about age 50. It really is a different kind of place.
Picked up a book at our local library there written by a BBC reporter about his experiences in the USSR in WW2. He mentioned a couple of times how much the Russians hated the Finns and considered one Finn worth ten Germans in combat.
On a related note, this came to mind. Back in 1991 I was looking at Finnish nautical charts and noticed a couple of small islands near Parainen (if I remember correctly) marked "YYA Alue." I know what it means, but wondered if you knew someone who could explain what actually went on there. Thanks.
Interesting. I didn't know that the YYA alue extended that far west. YYA refers to the Soviet-Finland friendship treaty which ceded Finnish territory and gave the USSR some 'leased' Finnish territory- but I thought that the only major area affected was Porkkala, near Helsinki. There were several islands that were military only areas, but most of them have now been opened. There used to be a large number of large coastal artillery emplacements throughout the archipelago. Some of them remain, but many were dismantled in favor of mobile missile batteries.
Great substack and happy anniversary!
Onneksi olkoon! Always good to hear about Finland. Maybe you could do something on the complicated historical relationship between the Finns and the Russians. We lived there when the USSR was crumbling and the atmosphere was changing, both with fear of what might happen (government preparing for masses of refugees) and hope (people and organizations speaking more freely about the "iso naapuri.")
Thanks! That topic has been on my list since the beginning. I think it's especially notable that unlike many other European nations, Finland did not let its guard down after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Visitors are often surprised to learn that Finland still has mandatory military service for nearly all men (there is a chance to choose non-military service). Yes, that's all men. The training training/conscript period can last up to a year, and then you have to service in the reserves until about age 50. It really is a different kind of place.
Picked up a book at our local library there written by a BBC reporter about his experiences in the USSR in WW2. He mentioned a couple of times how much the Russians hated the Finns and considered one Finn worth ten Germans in combat.
That reminds me- I should definitely tell the story of Lauri Törni at some point.
On a related note, this came to mind. Back in 1991 I was looking at Finnish nautical charts and noticed a couple of small islands near Parainen (if I remember correctly) marked "YYA Alue." I know what it means, but wondered if you knew someone who could explain what actually went on there. Thanks.
Interesting. I didn't know that the YYA alue extended that far west. YYA refers to the Soviet-Finland friendship treaty which ceded Finnish territory and gave the USSR some 'leased' Finnish territory- but I thought that the only major area affected was Porkkala, near Helsinki. There were several islands that were military only areas, but most of them have now been opened. There used to be a large number of large coastal artillery emplacements throughout the archipelago. Some of them remain, but many were dismantled in favor of mobile missile batteries.
Well done Peter. Happy one year anniversary, keep up the good work.