Letters from Finnish Soldiers during the Winter War

What were the concerns of Finnish Army soldiers during the war? Obviously, I figured that events taking place on the front line would be paramount in the letters written by soldiers to their families back home. But, rather boredom, loneliness, the food, and concern for family and home were the subject of most of the letters. While some soldiers mentioned a little about life in the front line, they were prevented from naming locations and certain activities by the army censors. Recently, I had over 25 letters and cards translated out of the collection of almost 100 letters. What follows are a few of the letters and some background information about what was taking place in Finland at the time.

More letters will be added soon as they are translated and typed into the website. - Marshall

Mynamaki February 19, 1940

Dearest son Osmo,
Many thanks for your letter which had gone to Langvik and had been forwarded here.  You must have received

the letter from the both of us from Mynamaki.  Your father writes in that letter that he possibly will have to go

into the defense service.  I don't know if he is still in Helsinki or not.  He will give you his new address when he

gets it himself.
I received your new address from father; he said he had received two letters from you during the time he was

here in Mynamaki.
Martti is working here at Nuuskala.  He and Eero are in the woods felling trees.  I don't ever remember having

such frosty weather as we've had.  Martti and Eero go down the hill on skiis from Ruaus Mountain, almost from the top.

It makes me nervous to watch them.
Are your clothes still in good condition?  Your socks must be torn.  Aunt Aino has knit you a pair of new socks;

I will send them to you soon.  If you're not able to get your socks and clothes washed and mended there, send them here.

Do you have enough clothes or do you need anything; so you don't have to freeze.  You don't know how long this cold

weather will last.  Now our home in Helsinki will be left vacant and will go to the dogs, but we can be thankful as long

as we know its still there.
I'm sitting here alone in the kitchen - it is 7:15 A.M. February 20, 1940.  Martti just left to go to work and

the rest are still sleeping.  I'm looking out the window and I see a beautiful morning.  The sky has a red glow from the

sun as it's rising and the trees are white with hoarfrost, and everything is sparkling clean.  A fervent prayer arises

from my heart, so that we would have peace soon in this dear fatherland.  I know for sure we will get help in time if we

wait patiently and pray.
I've decided to write to you once a week so I'll close for now and leave something to say the next time.
Heartfelt greetings to dear "Little Osmo boy".

From Mother, Aunt Aino, Martti, Heikki and Maiya  Eero sends his greetings also.

May 20, 1944

Father Dear,
I received your letter several days ago but haven't got around to answering it.  I had planned to write

yesterday but some touring entertainers came and the whole evening went by watching then.
The weather has been quite nice here for awhile.  Today has been rather cold and it seems as though tonight

we'll have frost.
I've been thinking of asking you to send me some reading material from our lovely library, as everything

we've been able to get here has been read already.  I think Heikki would know what I've read and haven't read.
I was hoping to get out soon but it looks as though nothing will come of it.  I have to wait patiently,

although I do want to come home already.
I'll end now and loving greetings and good health.

Your son
Osmo

August 11, 1944

Dear Father,
Must get a letter out to you as I hear mother and Maija have left or are soon leaving to Mynamiki.
Nothing special has happened here.  I have once again changed units, and my address is now 2 Kpk 1339.

It was a bit lousy that I had to move to a different group now that I just got to know the previous crowd.  Even

though so far I've had no problems with that since I became a clerk in a company.  So I don't have to be in the

front line.  I'll see now how long I'm able to be in this position.
I sent mother a card yesterday and it may have come that way - if so you must know my new address already.
The address should be changed on the newspaper subscription also.  I do receive the "Helsinki "Donomat"

there.  I have no news of my furlough.  On the 16th will be a half year since I've had one.  It surely is a long time.

If this war would only end so we could have peace.
I'll end for now - Lots of greetings
Matti

September 13, 1944

Dear Beloved Vilma,

Loving greetings to you again, I don't remember if I've answered your letter.  There's such a hurry always

that I can't remember to whom I've written.  Forgive me if I haven't written to you.  Its always better late than

not at all.  I have been especially well healthwise and otherwise.

Saturday we went to pick lingonberries, we had a large sack and got quite a lot of berries. It was so nice

to walk in the woods and forget all the hustle and bustle of work.

How have you been feeling?  Have you been well?  Have you picked a lot of lingonberries?  Is all your grain

harvested already?  And are your potatoes dug?  Oh! If I only could pick potatoes!  I'm not sure if I'm able to have

my vacation now - otherwise it won't be until November and then I'll go to be with Aune.  It would be nice to be able

to come and see you too.

I received a package from Aune and she sent apples.  It was wonderful to get them and they were so good.

Mother probably received some too.  I just go an apple - a member of the womens auxiliary just threw one in from the

door - They had received a package.

I sent a letter to Hilja and I wonder if she received it.  Nothing more except good health and have a pleasant

fall.  Greetings to cousin Annikki.  Is Kaija at home?  Those families don't remember me.

Hei Father,
Thank you for the letter I received from Mynamaki. It came already 
several days ago but I haven’t had time to write. We’ve had a lot of 
work lately. Every morning we wake up at 6 and we keep moving almost  
constantly util 5 o’clock. In the evening I’m too tired to write letters.
My furlough plans don’t look good. I have no idea when I’ll be able 
to come now but I should be able to next month if nothing happens. 
The furlough for the farmers are beginning soon so they’re changing 
the others.
I haven’t received word from Osmo’s new place. Is he still in the 
hospital? He will probably have a long recuperation time after that.
I’m also sending a few stamps. It would be worth leaving some unmarked 
and some postmarked so they could be put into an album.
I don’t have anything more now. I have to go to sleep early so I’m able 
to get up in the morning. 
Much greetings and good health to you.
Martti
April 17, 1944

Mother Dear,
I received your letter yesterday and your package today. It came rather quickly this time. Many thanks as it

was so nice to get a package again. I can have a snack now as the food here is the kind that even if I eat a

solid meal I’m hungry within an hour.  
I was hoping to get out from here but we had our monthly check-up and my blood was still not right. It may be

quite some time before it is and you can’t be released until its normal. It probably would get better more

quickly if I had some additional butter.  It would be good if there was extra butter available to send me

although it may be difficult to get it. I’ll try to get some from here if you’re unot able to get it from there.

Under no circumstances do I want you to send from your rations as they aren’t so plentiful.
I really had thought I wouldn’t mention this matter at all but next time I’ll try to write about more pleasant

things. Greetings to all of you.

Your son, Osmo.

May 26, 1944

(letter from a Lotta Svard)

Greetings Cousin,
Greetings from this way to my home Finland.  Many thanks for your letter I received just yesterday.

I really have nothing special to write about as everything is going along just fine.
It is so nice to be back in our former place and live goes on as before. It happened so nicely that we got

back here and are able to eat vegetables from our own garden. I’ve gotten potatoes and carrots.
How sad it is the boys have to go to war but that is the law and we can’t change it. No one can avoid death

as it can come anytime.
Its wonderful that you and your mother have been well. So Anti Tervo was killed in action and also Ville

Koiviko. 
Yesterday we were in church and almost our whole area was there. After services the funeral at Sankari was

held. I wasn’t able to be there but I heard and saw everything as the Sankari cemetery is on the other side

of the road and our house is close by.  
I haven’t received any letters from Anni for quite some time but I understand she doesn’t have time to write

now that she has little Juhani. He’s so cute. At sometime next month I’ll be able to have a vacation but

here’s a couple of girls ahead of me.
Bring greetings to your mother and good bye. Love Annikki.

August 28, 1944

Mother Dear,
Many thanks for your letter. All is going well here just as before. We’ve begun to have cold weather but

haven’t had any snow yet. Has Heikki been there on his evening pass? He is back in his unit. Has father been

to see the principal of the technical school? I think later on I’ll order some books so I can begin studying

here but not just yet. It may be that later on a better opportunity may come. Wasn’t there some mention this

Spring that the matter of the private students would be taken up in the fall with the ministry of education?

Has anything been heard of this?
I’ve been thinking of doing some craft work in the evenings and for this I would be needing some things such

as water colors (gold also) and brush, some wood or cold glue and a couple small soft brushers for varnish.

If you could send these to me along with some sandpaper – 0 and 000. 
There isn’t anything more to write about now. Much greetings to all of you.

Your son, Osmo.

September 22, 1944