19.03.2013 Brussels Veikko Saksi FINLAND. Undersigning of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 23.08.1939

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