Brief and subjective, but honest summary of Russo-Finn relationship
The so called "Ryssä-tsuhna" love/hate relation 1812-2014.
1812-1899
Happy times, Finland was autonomic grand duchy of Russian Empire. Finland had own parliament, currency, post etc... Finnish industry developed creating product and services for Russian market
Fazer.fi - Fazer,
Gummerus Publishers,
Stora Enso. Finland had a population of appr. 3 million with only 8000 Russians in the country. Actually that time has a lot of similarities with current EU Finland. Typical image from that period:
1900-1917
Russification starts. Russia wants to bring Russian systems in legistlation, post, currency, language etc. Finnish people start to look for ways to keep their own systems and look for help in Germany and Sweden.General governor Bobrikof is murdered by a nationalistic finn Eugen Schaumann. 1917 Revolution in Russia and Finland is able to get independence from new russian socialistic government. Typical image from that period:
1918-1944
Turmoil and war.1918 Two moths after independence Red Guards gain power in Helsinki and industrialized south of Finland. Legal governmet has to leave for exile in northern finland. Finland has no army, in the country are 10 000 Russain troops, but they are warweary from WWI and not enthusiastic to fight for the reds. Two years earlier nationalistic finns have send 1400 young men to get military training in Germany
Jäger Movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . They are now called back to Finland to form the backbone of the army. "Whites" start to re-occupy lost south from the reds. Finnish government asks for help from Germany. Germany decides to send division to help.
Baltic Sea Division - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. They land in the souther coast and together with whites liberate the country and reds are defeated. Finland remains democratic country and Soviet system is adapted to Russia.
1918 to 1939 relative peace, but Russia is closed, no tourism or trade relations. Mistrust between countries.
1939 After Molotov-ribbentrop pact Stalin start war against Finland object to make Finland one more Soviet republic. War ends with peace agreement with Russia annexing 10% of Finlands lands. Summer 1940 Stalin wants to start the war again to get the rest, but Hitler refuses. 1941 Finland starts separate war against russia in order to get the lands back. 1944 another peace, Finland losts permanently 10% of its country. Country in not occupied. In WWII were only three capitals in Europe that were not occupied: Moscow, London and Helsinki. Typical image from that period:
1945-1991
Friendship, co-operation and helping. Finland has close cultural and economic ties with Russia. Finland benefits from bilateral trade tredemendously. Finland prosperes and nordic model proves to be succesful. From one of the poorest country in Europe in 1900 Finland becomes one of the richest by 1991. Finns study and travel in Soviet Union. Meantime Finland also deepens relationships with the west. Helsinki is a city of spies. Military co-operation is outside of the field of co-operation. No common exercises, military equipment in Finland is bought from both west and east. Typical image from that period:
1991-2007
Soviet Union collapses, Finland abolishes neutrality and friendship co-operation agreement. Finland joins EU, Relationship with Russia is good. A lot of help is given to Russia in turbulent years of the nineties. Finnish tourism to Russia collapses. Image of Russia is that of a poor country with huge environmental and social problems. Finland does not apply NATO membership, because old friendship with Russia is still intact and no need is seen for such. Typical image from that period:
http://photo.qip.ru/photo/fishki_net/3538970/76847768.jpg
2008-2013
Russia is getting richer, fast train between helsinki and St.Petersburg is created, tourism flourishes. People talk about Helsinki-St.Petersburg axel becoming one of the centers of Europe competing with Berlin and Paris. Affluent Russians visit Finland. Finns cheer when Russia win Ice-hockey championship. All are happy and remember the good times of early 1800´s which were the last good times. Typical image of that period:
2014-
Ukraine crisis start. Everybody remembers old bad times and cannot believe what is happening. Is Russia really wanting to turn agains Europe? Start a war in Europe? Occupy Crimea? Russian anti press, anti gay, anti NGO laws are viewed with disbelief. Is Putin the new Stalin? Mistrust starts to develop, NATO support in Finland rises. People joke "ryssä on ryssä vaikka voissa paistaisi" Russian is a Russian even if you fry him in pan with a lot of butter... How the saga continues, nobody knows... Typical image from that period: