Finns Fiercely Defend Their Homeland Because of Their History and Trauma

Finland was occupied by Russia from 1713 to 1721. Already during the war, Russian soldiers and Cossacks looted everything of value they could get their hands on from the local population. 

In addition, officers and soldiers would capture women and children they encountered on the streets, use them for service in their homes, and send them to their estates in Inner Russia. The Cossacks transported women and children to St. Petersburg to be sold at very low prices.

During the occupation, the reign of terror continued. Even though, for example, Northern Ostrobothnia was not occupied, about a quarter of its population perished. 

The single most horrific massacre took place on the island of Hailuoto on September 29, 1714, when 200 Cossacks killed around 800 people in one night using axes. This atrocity was driven by direct orders from Tsar Peter the Great himself, who twice commanded the total destruction of Northern Ostrobothnia, turning it into a wasteland where life could not be sustained.

Finns were treated with incredibly brutal methods elsewhere as well. One such method was to torture mothers and fathers in front of their small children — and vice versa. Victims were suspended painfully by the wrists with hands tied behind their backs, left to freeze in snowbanks, scorched with fire, or even roasted in ovens. The aim was to force them to reveal any hidden valuables—and if they did, the victims were usually killed anyway.

A large part of the population was also captured and sent into forced labor in Russia. Over 20,000 people were taken to help build the newly founded city of St. Petersburg, and almost none of them ever returned to Finland. At least five percent of all Finns were taken as slaves — a staggering number, given that Finland’s population in the early 1700s was under 400,000.

Not all of the enslaved ended up in Russia—some were also sold to places like the slave markets in Persia, where fair-skinned Finns were considered exotic. All in all, the destruction wrought by the Russians resulted in at least a quarter of Finnish peasant homes standing abandoned by the end of the war.

I wrote this text for two reasons. First, I wanted to support the Ukrainians’ will to defend their country against Russian brutality and to motivate Europeans to support them in every possible way. Second, I wanted to explain to you—my esteemed international readers—why Finns are more ready than most nations to fight for the independence of their homeland. Especially against the Russians.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Bless Ukrainian Soldiers With the Spirit That Once Defined the Celebrated Finnish Veterans
Finally, Finland Speaks the Truth Without Fear!
Finns Feel Sympathy for Ukrainians Because They Share a Similar Experience

Do Belarusians Have the Will and Ability to Preserve Their Independence?

The American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) speculates in its latest publication that Russia may soon absorb Belarus into its own territory. This would significantly expand Russia's border with NATO countries, thereby heightening tensions between Western Europe and Russia.

Today, Belarus is particularly known for its dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his close ties with Russia. Despite this, Belarus has not participated in Russia’s war against Ukraine but has remained separate from it.

The fact remains, however, that little is known about Belarus in Finland—or, as far as I can tell, elsewhere in the world. That’s why I thought I’d share a few words about its history.

Belarus is a region inhabited by a Slavic people who have their own language, spoken by about 85 percent of the country’s citizens. In other words, Belarusians are not Russians, nor do they wish to be.

Belarus also has a long history, although for most of it, the rulers have come from outside its borders. Between 1068 and 1069, the Belarusian Prince of Polotsk ruled the entire Kievan Rus for a few months, but the tables turned in 1129, when Kievan Rus subjugated the region. In 1240, it became part of Lithuania, and in the 16th century, it fell under the rule of the Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth.

In the 18th century, it was incorporated into Russia during the partitions of Poland and remained under Russian control until the First World War. During the war, the Germans occupied the area and established the short-lived Belarusian People's Republic, which quickly became part of the socialist Soviet Union after the war, though Poland seized about half of it in 1921.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact resulted in Belarus once again becoming fully part of Russia. The war swept over the region in both directions, and afterward, most of Belarus remained part of the Soviet Union. It declared independence once more in 1990 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

In summary, what I have written above means that if Russia were to annex Belarus once again, it would return to its historical "normal" of being subjugated by others. However, it remains to be seen whether the Belarusian people will find the will and ability to avoid this fate and—contrary to my own expectations—retain their independence and keep their future in their own hands.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Elections in Georgia and Japan: The Future of Democracy on Different Paths
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs reminded Russians about their nightmare
History of Finland XIV: The end of the first Finnish Republic

Anecdotes and Jokes About Vladimir Putin

Today, a few anecdotes and jokes about the beloved leader of our neighboring country came to mind. Since they are fresh in my memory, I decided to share them with you, my dear readers. So, here you go!

* * *

A high-ranking officer who fought in Vladimir Putin's army led his unit so effectively that the Ukrainians were forced to retreat several kilometers. Naturally, the president was pleased and invited the officer to the Kremlin.

There, he told the hero that he could ask for anything as a reward for his actions. The man replied, "I don’t want anything. I just ask that you don’t mention this to my friends."

* * *

God was angry about the hostility humans held toward each other and decided to destroy all of creation. After some thought, however, He chose to give humanity one last chance to see if there was still kindness, goodness, and love within them.

So, He appeared to a Frenchman and told him of His plan to destroy humanity the next day. He also asked what the man intended to do before then. The man replied that he would get some fine wine and prepare a delicious meal to enjoy with his wife, and then make love to her.

God was pleased and decided to also appear to a Finnish man and share His plans. The Finnish man thought for a moment and said he would first go to the sauna with his wife, enjoy some good beer and sausages afterward, and then make love to her.

God began to doubt the idea of destruction but decided to also ask Vladimir Putin what he planned to do before the end of the world. Putin thought for a moment and declared that he would immediately order his army to invade Georgia so that Russia could conquer it before the apocalypse.

* * *

Vladimir Putin believes he has made himself indispensable to Russians and the world. Because of this, he has been deeply concerned about what would happen to the world, Russia, and his wealth if he were to die.

One day, he summoned his trusted lawyer and expressed his concerns. The lawyer opened his laptop and asked the president to dictate his will. Putin began: “If I ever die…”

* * *

In early September, President Vladimir Putin set a goal for the Russian forces: the expulsion of Ukrainians from Russian soil by the beginning of October.

However, it is now early December, and Ukrainians are still holding large areas in the Russian Kursk region. Clearly, the goal Putin set in September has not been achieved. His position is, therefore, reminiscent of his role model Joseph Stalin, who in 1939 issued a guide for Soviet soldiers on how to reach Helsinki in two weeks — only to fail completely in capturing the city.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Did You Know That 1952 Was a Turning Point in World Eras?
Putin Set a Goal — Failure Would Be an Embarrassment
Tractor course for Ukrainians