A Famous Russian War Historian Visited the Museum

A Russian war historian Artem Drabkin and his interpreter Svetlana

in the museum. In the background, the blue and white Finnish

swastika. Photo by Teisuka.

Last Sunday, a Russian war historian Artem Drabkin (Артём Драбкин) from Moscow visited the museum, my current workplace. I had the privilege to be his guide. In addition to Artem, there were two other people: Artem's interpreter, a Russian woman called Svetlana (Светла́на), and their Finnish host and organizer, Matti. We walked around the museum about 90 minutes, and I told about the objects in the exhibition and the Finnish war history, especially about the Lotta Svärd organisation and the Finnish women at war.

"Very interestings place. Spasibo" (thank you), Artem said when the tour was over. Then we shook hands and said "dosvidaniya" (until we meet again) to each other. Both Artem and Svetlana were nice and kind people, as Russians used to be. For me, this was a wonderful opportunity to meet a famous Russian war historian. I'm just reading his book called The Continuation War from the perspective of the Red Army (Finnish: Jatkosota puna-armeijan silmin). Excellent book, including a lot of rare photographs.

In Finland, Artem Drabkin also interviewed the Finnish veterans and Lottas of World War II. In my opinion, this kind of intercultural and international cooperation is remarkable and ground-breaking. Seventy years ago we (Finns and Russians) were enemies but now we are friends.

Artem Drabkin is the creator of a website devoted to the oral history of World War II on the Eastern Front. Like my Russian friend Victor says, Drabkin's project I remember is very interesting and important as it helps to keep our memory of WWII. Drabkin is recording interviews of war veterans in Russia, Germany, and Finland. At the moment, there are more than 2000 interviews in his collection. Artem's website is available in English and Russian at http://english.iremember.ru/

You can find the Russian Wikipedia article by clicking here.

Lotta Svärd and the Finnish Swastika

Finally, I want to tell something about the Finnish swastika, because it appears in my photos. The Finnish swastika has nothing to do with Nazism, just like a wholesome Finnish patriotism has nothing to do with that sick ideology. (All of my friends know that I hate Nazism more than any other "ism".)

In Finland, the swastika was often used in traditional folk art products, as a decoration or magical symbol on textiles and wood. It is thousands of years old symbol of luck. The swastika was also used by the Finnish Air Force until 1945, and is still used in air force flags.

The Finnish Air Force uses the swastika as an emblem, introduced in 1918 (the Nazi swastika came at a later date, in 1920). The type of swastika adopted by the air-force was the symbol of luck for the Swedish count Eric von Rosen, who donated one of its earliest aircraft.

Also a design by the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela from 1918, the Cross of Liberty has a swastika pattern in its arms. Gallen-Kallela used the Finnish swastika in his early works, for example the painting called The Aino triptych (Finnish: Aino-triptyykki) from year 1889.

 The Aino triptych, an old Finnish painting by Akseli

Gallen-Kallela, 1889. Click the image to see it bigger.

The Lotta Svärd emblem was designed by Eric Wasström

in 1921. It includes four heraldic roses and a swastika.

In Finland, the swastika is an ancient symbol of luck.

On Japanese maps, a swastika is used to mark the location of a Buddhist
temple. 日本では、卍は、寺院などの地図記号として使用されている。

The swastika was used by Lotta Svärd, a Finnish voluntary national defence organisation for women between 1921 and 1944. The organisation was religious-patriotic, unarmed and non-political. In 1944, there were more than 240 000 Lottas in Finland. About 90 000 Lottas served their country at the front during the wartime 1939-1945. They worked in hospitals, at air-raid warning posts and other auxiliary tasks in conjunction with the armed forces. The motto of the organisation was "religion, home and fatherland" (specifically in that order; the mentioned religion was the Lutheran Christianity).

In addition, the swastika is a good symbol in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Originally, it's a symbol of the Sun. The Buddhist sign has been standardized as a Chinese character 卍 (wàn) and as such entered various other East Asian languages such as Japanese where the symbol is called 卍 (manji) or 卍字 (manji). The swastika is included as part of the Chinese script in the form of the character 萬 (wàn). In East Asian countries, the left-facing and horizontal swastika often marks the location of a Buddhist temple on maps.

P.S. I also add here some other new photos from my workplace, taken this week.

Teisuka
museum assistant

Me in the work. Last Wednesday, there was a Christmas event in the museum.
All workers were dressed in the old costumes. I used the Finnish military
uniform from the time of World War II (reconstruction, not original).

Me and Marshal Mannerheim (a lifelike wax figure, 194 cm

in length) in the headquarters, a railway carriage. This is my
favorite room in the museum. Click the photo to see it bigger.