The iconic Finnish confectionery company Fazer has made a historic decision to open its private archive of wartime field post to the public. The collection contains hundreds of letters sent by Finnish soldiers and Lotta Svärd members from the front lines during the Winter War and Continuation War. These documents remained sealed in the company's vaults for over eight and a half decades, offering a raw, personal glimpse into a nation's struggle for survival. The archive's release coincides with Finland's Independence Day, adding profound cultural weight to the annual remembrance.
During the war years, the Finnish field post system handled over one billion letters, cards, and parcels. This communication served as a critical lifeline. Sakari Martimo, the Managing Director of the Tammenlehvä Heritage Association, explained the archive's significance in a statement. He said the correspondence was a vital survival mechanism that sustained the spirit of soldiers and their families. It brought hope during extremely difficult years. Martimo emphasized that the preserved field post represents culturally valuable veteran heritage. The letters offer researchers and families crucial information about wartime social relations, family history, combat experiences, and the Finnish narrative of resilience.
Liisa Eerola, Fazer Confectionery's Communications Director, noted that Fazer itself received hundreds of letters from the front during the war. Soldiers thanked the company for received shipments and requested products to boost morale and alleviate homesickness. Eerola observed that despite the harsh conditions, a sense of humor often shines through in the letters. The archive includes poignant personal stories, like that of 103-year-old Helka Visuri. She served as a messenger Lotta from the age of 17. Visuri recalls how parcels sent to the front, especially before wartime Christmases, were packed with books, caramels, pastries, canned goods, and handicrafts. She and other Lottas made a point of writing to and sending packages to unknown soldiers, ensuring those with no one else to write to them would still receive mail.
This move by a major Finnish corporation to democratize access to historical records is notable. It shifts culturally sensitive material from private stewardship into the public domain for academic and personal study. The decision reflects a broader societal trend in Finland toward reconciling with its complex 20th-century history. It provides an unfiltered, grassroots historical source that contrasts with official military histories. For international readers, the story underscores the deep, enduring impact of the war years on Finnish national identity. The survival of a company like Fazer is itself intertwined with that history, as its products provided small comforts during a period of total mobilization. The opening of this archive is not just a corporate gesture. It is a contribution to the collective memory of a generation that endured immense hardship, ensuring their personal voices are not lost to time.