19.03.2013 Brussels
Veikko Saksi
FINLAND
Undersigning of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 23.08.1939
The Soviet PartnersDuring the Winter War, SU was
political, military and economic partner of Germany
During the Continuation War, SU was political, military and economic partner of the USA and GB
The three Big Partners
The Soviet Attacks
SU broke broke several int’l laws: Haag conventions, Kellogg-Briand Pact, Anti-War Treaty
SU broke mutual agreements: Tartu Peace Treaty 1920, Soviet-Finnish Non-Aggression Pact 1932 (and 1934)
Results of the attacks
SU attacked Finland in 1939 and 194190,000 dead250,000 wounded45,000 km2 territorial loss (13.3 %)Totally 800,000 evacuated (of 3.5M),
some 3 times
The Ceded Territories
Use of violence
SU occupied 1/3 of the territory that it took in the Paris Peace Treaty
A violent agreement: a party uses or threats to use violence
Finland was not capitulated
Internal evacuation
People from Karelia, Pechenga and other ceded territories were internally evacuated in different parts of Finland
This was a huge task but it possibly later saved Finland
This is not deportation, but evacuation of Finnish people by train
Evacuation of children
About 80,000 children were evacuated to Sweden, Norway, Denmark
20,000 of these children were “lost”About 30,000 war widows
Economic figures
Finland was to cover expenses of the wars started by the Soviet Union:
War remedies (GNP basis) 50 – 60B €Total economic burden of the wars
almost 500B € (GNP basis)The US Lend-lease (GNP basis) 2,200B
USD
Later effect
Effects of the Allied Control Commission
Soviet effects in political and economic system
62 % of Finns are still RussophobesCausation of FinlandizationCausation of current Finnofobia
The Control Commission had a great influence in war quilt judgement and politics
International security
The most important consequence of the Soviet aggressions is the lack of trust
Solving of the old totalitarian crimes create more secure future for the total world
A better future for our children
Thank you for your time!
Russian/Soviet crimes