Beloved Lotta Sisters-
You have gathered here today to
pledge your volunteers oath.
PROMISE
Europe is in an uproar;
nobody knows what will happen.
But in this stormy sea of nations; we
can put our trust in the eternal God.
I now ask you to pIedge your
Lotta Oath.
I, Anna Moisio swear by my honor;
to honestIy and conscientiousIy-
assist the CiviI Guard as it defends
our homes; nation and reIigion-
and to conduct myseIf by the ruIes
of the Lotta Svard Organization.
I, Ruth LimneII, swear by my honor;
to honestIy and conscientiousIy-
assist the CiviI Guard as it defends
our homes; nation and reIigion-
and to conduct myseIf by the ruIes
of the Lotta Svard Organization.
PORKKALA, MOISIO FARM,
SOUTHERN FINLAND Two weeks Iater
Mona!
What are Mona's pIans?
She can't stay in the stabIes forever.
We'II have her married. Right; HeImer?
-Haven't even married Anna off yet.
No sense in marrying at times Iike
this. -Look at me and HeImi.
We started off a bit Iate,
but once we got going...
The BibIe says: be fruitfuI;
and repIenish the earth.
You pIan to do it singIe-handed?
-Too oId for that now, I am.
StiII have a handfuI
with the chiIdren I have.
What is it? Are you sad about
having to Ieave Lasse? -I don't know.
I'm sure he understands.
-Of course he does.
It just feeIs so bad somehow.
You're not one to Iose your head
over a man.
I know I wouIdn't.
Am I disturbing you?
The third wheeI shouId roII on.
-You don't have to go.
No; huh? I'II Ieave you two aIone.
How about today?
-In the middIe of Mona's party?
That's over and done with aIready.
Lasse, pIease, there's no time.
-AII it takes is to sIip the ring on.
You have to ask my father's
permission.
I got it aIready.
-Got what?
We're being sent to the KareIian
border next week to provide-
suppIies for the entrenchers.
Then we're off to training again.
Who has time to get engaged now?
Or married.
So you don't want to?
-I do.
The same as you. A famiIy
and chiIdren, but Iater.
My dear daughter and our newest
graduate, Mona Mosio.
On this very speciaI day ; your mother
and I wouId Iike to remember you-
with this neckIace your mother and
your grandmother have both worn.
May it symboIize what we feeI
in our hearts today.
We have shed tears of joy for the
success of our youngest chiId-
but are aIso deepIy concerned over
the situation our country is in now.
May we Iook at the future
with a trustfuI mind.
Thank you.
-You're weIcome.
CongratuIations again; darIing.
Maybe I shouId teII you now
about my pIans for the future.
Go ahead; Mona.
-Thinking of marriage, eh?
So which one of them wiII it be?
Young Ake, I bet.
No. I'm off to OsIo to study
to become a veterinarian.
I though we aIready taIked this
vet idea through.
The worId situation hasn't changed.
If not for the worse.
You keep saying nobody's going to
attack us. -But how Iong wiII it Iast?
Who'd ever think of starting a war
on such a beautifuI summer day?
AImost seems you're hoping for it.
If things get bad; everyone of us wiII
have to do their share. IncIuding you.
Entrenching has begun by the eastern
border. You know what that means?
Why shouId I?
-You're a smart girI, Mona.
But sometimes you can be
surprisingIy chiIdish and seIfish.
You can do more with that head of
yours than just grow pretty hair.
You're stiII underage. We are not
going to pay for your studies in OsIo.
For the time being.
Is that cIear?
The Earth is Iike this smaII,
insignificant grain.
There couId be other kind of Iife
up there in the stars-
and I am going to study it.
We'II traveI there one day.
First the Moon-
then the past and the future.
-Stop fooIing around; Ake.
Ake!
Ake dearest! Open your eyes!
WouId you have been sad
if I had died? -CertainIy not!
You caIIed me ''dearest''.
I caII my horse that too.
-Because you Iove him.
ShouId we row out to the isIand
tomorrow? -What do you think?!
Germany and Soviet Union
sign non-aggression pact
Germany and Poland at war ( 1.9.1 939)
Warsaw surrenders
Estonia resigns to Soviet demands
Councilor of State Paasikivi to
negotiate Soviet territorial demands
The Lotta Svard
Women's Auxiliary Organization
We are in the process of mobiIizing
part of the fieId army.
The concentration of troops
begins tomorrow, October 1 1 th.
We need to discuss medicaI service.
-Where do we stand?
The training of the Lotta MedicaI
Service is proceeding weII-
and we are fuIIy prepared to
activate our fieId hospitaIs.
Air surveiIIance courses have aIso
been organized aII over the country.
If the message goes-
''Enemy pIanes are advancing
from east to northwest'';
it is coded as foIIows:
''EagIe fIies in; aIpha; tango, fox''.
Or you can bIur the content by giving
the Ietters new semantic vaIues.
Greetings from the maneuvers. -You got
to shake hands with a rifIe; too?
Are they ready for action now?
-Pretty much.
I was by the KareIian border, too.
They had every man jack buiIding
trenches; the richest and the poor.
So Roope put you to work?
-The potatoes have to be harvested.
Better this than getting
bored to death.
Is Anna back from training? -How
shouId I know, harvesting aII day.
They came for the horse.
See you soon; Roy.
It won't Iast Iong.
It's got the name and address on
both sides; and some sugar.
Look after yourseIf.
Do you know where you'II be stationed?
-Somewhere in air surveiIIance.
We have to aII be brave.
Come aIong now.
This is for you.
-It's your neckIace.
Take it.
-I can't wear any jeweIry there.
Keep it in your pocket for Iuck.
Thank you; Mona.
I'II write you as soon as
I find out my address.
Take good care of Mother and Father.
You must under no circumstances
stay out in the streets.
lf no permanent shelter is available
in the middle of an air raid-
go to the gateway or staircase
of the nearest building.
We'II be back as soon as
we've cIeared out the office.
The Russians are here!
They'II destroy the whoIe
country in four days!
Shut up. Hit the sheIter!
Dear Anna; the Russians bombed
Helsinki yesterday morning-
and again later when we were
fetching things from Father's office.
They say at least 44 people died-
and many more were wounded;
mostly women and children.
l can't just stand around and
watch these things happen.
KARELIAN ISTHMUS; December 1 939
Our course ended Iast week and I
took my Lotta Oath on Sunday.
Maybe I'II see you out there soon.
With joy we join together to serve
our native Iand-
every Lotta servicewoman;
together hand in hand.
You're one heck of a taIker.
HardIy a word
since we got on that train.
Want some?
Which division wiII you be in?
-Veterinary service.
You can speak!
I'm more into human service myseIf.
Took a six-month medicaI training
course up north.
Most of these girIs are going to
provisioning.
But there are others, too.
Like Ikki here and Kirri.
My sister's in air surveiIIance, and
I have a friend in medicaI service.
Anna Moisio and Ruth LimneII. You
know them? -Not as of yet.
But who knows; we may have shared
barracks by the time this is over.
AIarm!
WeIcome to the front;
voIunteers!
I hear the Russkies aIready gave
you a weIcome.
If you need medicaI attention,
you can stop by the sick bay.
Before you aII get to settIe down,
I want you to report to me-
and after that to Commander AnttiIa
with your assignment papers.
Are you hurt? -Just a scratch.
I brought some food and cIothes
from home.
Sorry, but I have to go.
I just came to wish you weIcome.
Where are you going?
-To the OP.
You'II be fine.
I'II see you Iater.
Come, I'II show you the barrack.
Dear Anna; had a few moments
alone in the tent-
so l though l'd write.
They sure make us sweat here.
l skied ten miles today and may even
have to top that tomorrow.
The Lottas have set up a canteen
a few miles from here.
l should get biscuits there;
maybe even candy.
Dear Lasse; thank you for your
letter-
and greetings from the barrack
l have come to know so well.
We call it the Sauna.
No chance of freezing to death here.
l wish you could see how nice we've
turned it. lt almost feels like home.
Our stove is smoking so hard that
l can't see to the next wall.
My friends look like blackamoors;
and our clothes are filthy.
Pants covered in tar; coats in soot
and mud; crinkled a thousand-fold.
Saw some planes headed out that way
today. May God protect us all.
Be careful and stay brave.
Over there. I see them.
Contact controI station.
Eye 1 8; attack!
Six big ones.
From 20 degrees, high.
-Six big ones, 20 degrees; high.
Getting cIoser; circIing west.
-Eye 1 8; circIing west.
Hi there, foIks!
These goods shouId Iast us
weII untiI the end.
Hi; Mona. So you decided
to join us too?
Kaisa suppIies the canteens.
-And heIps set up new ones.
I aIso do inspection rounds-
so if you ever need a ride somewhere,
just ask me.
Got to run.
The guy thinks he's a generaI;
waIking wide Iike that.
I apoIogize on behaIf of our
honorabIe messenger.
He usuaIIy sees the women;
not the ugIy but the pretty ones.
Wandering around Iike that
with his eyes cIosed!
But that's what I'm here for,
to foIIow him around-
and cIear up the mess.
-It's okay.
ViIIe SorvaIi is the name.
From KareIian Nuijamaa.
Lotta Moisio from PorkkaIa.
This one's got no name at aII?
-I prefer to keep it to myseIf.
A name is what you make of it.
But as you pIease.
l've been here almost a week now-
and with all the work to do;
l haven't had much time to be afraid.
l have twenty poor old steeds to
look after as we speak.
lt means getting up at five am
and collapsing in bed at night.
l have had such strange dreams
lately-
and it breaks my heart to see these
innocent horses suffer in vain.
P.S. The Stable Officer is nice; but
l'm not sure about Smith Ollinen yet.
How's it going with FreckIes?
-I can see he's hurting.
He needs to exercise that Ieg.
You are to ride these horse
every day ; a few miIes each.
Where's our IittIe debutant?
Came here to do her riding since
the army took her horses to war.
This girI can ride without a saddIe.
Saw her do it the other day.
Are these the ones?
They've been trampIing through the
snow aII winter in summer shoes.
Ruth! Wait!
My shift ended.
I came out for some fresh air.
How are things in the stabIe?
-Not good.
How come? -AwfuI rush
and the Smith keeps sneering at me.
And now the stabIe master wants me
to ride about a hundred horses a day.
Where wiII I find the time?
KARELIAN ISTHMUS; 23 December; 1 939
The stretches!
Ake!
-You know him?
How bad is it?
-Chest smashed by a spIinter.
Mona, don't go.
Mona... hand... hand.
Sing to me... it's Christmas Eve.
Christmas is here;
the awaited feast-
every heart is fiIIed
with Iaughter and joy.
She's a cIever girI-
but it won't do her
any good to know that.
The weather's been mild after
the southern storm has passed.
Snow has fallen;
it is the darkest day of the year.
ln just a few hours a new day will
dawn; a little longer than this one.
Long lines of our soldiers skied
past us last night-
l don't where they were headed.
The missiles light up the sky ;
but the machinegun roar has stopped.
The heat is on us now ; as the enemy
tries to put on a show of force.
Peace is such a beautiful
and solemn word.
Next year we will spend
the feast of light together.
Goodbye; dear Anna.
l hope to see you soon.
Your Lasse.
PS. Give my love to Mona and Anna.
You've taken good care of this Iot.
Like a reaI professionaI.
I ran out of shoes. I'II go see
if any new ones came in.
Got an hour tiII my shift starts.
Let's snuggIe up a bit.
Stop wriggIing!
Come sit on my Iap.
-No! Let go!
No way!
You want it just as bad yourseIf.
Stop!
HeIp! The stabIe is burning!
Let me go!
Easy, girI.
If you can't handIe yourseIf around
here; you shouId go home.
HandIe myseIf?
You know what was aImost done to me?
In case you don't know,
this is a dangerous pIace for us aII.
You women don't have to be here.
With us men it's different.
You're not even human!
Tough spot for Mona.
When are they hoIding the hearing?
-Tomorrow, aIready.
Mona was pretty shocked.
She's stiII so young.
Did they beIieve her?
-Who?
The Matron, for instance;
and the others.
That the Iabor conscript attacked her.
-Of course they did.
They won't charge her with improper
conduct and send her home?
You know how strict they are about
that. -That man attacked her!
Yes; but...
But what if he says something eIse?
-I want to go home.
Everything's fine now.
They sent that man away.
KARELIAN ISTHMUS; January 1 940
Ruth!
New orders from the Chief Commander.
The dead wiII no Ionger-
be buried in the fieId. They
are to be shipped home in coffins.
The men wiII sureIy bring them in-
but they can't cIean the bodies
and Iay them in the coffins.
WouId you be interested in heIping us
with that. -Me?
I figured you'd be used to bodies,
having worked in a nursing home.
You don't have to say yes.
It's a tough job.
You think I'd be up to it?
-Yes.
WeII; if someone has to do it,
why not me. -Thank you; Ruth.
You can report to the Reverend
in the morning.
So you are aware of the nature
of the assignment?
Yes; sir. And I'm used to harsh work.
In that case; I warmIy weIcome
you to join us.
OId Annie wiII show you the ropes.
I'm here if you have any questions.
The bodies freeze up reaI fast
in the winter-
but they can take days and days to
thaw. -Better this than summer.
FoIks say there are hundreds of
bodies out in the woods.
Oh weII; we have many pairs of hands.
And here's one again,
for us to make pretty and cIean.
No point in sending this one to wash.
FuII of hoIes Iike a sieve.
The men wiII burn it outside.
Then you empty his pockets;
take off the rings and watches-
whatever he happens to have.
Love never dies
How did the hearing go?
-Very weII.
Good thing Messenger Vuori
was there.
So they beIieved you were innocent?
-Yes.
February 1 940-
l seem to be getting used to all the
dreadful things happening here.
And at least l'm able to ease the
suffering of innocent animals a little.
But l can't help thinking of Roy ;
where he is and how he has got by.
Someone heard from our piIots that
outside Leningrad the Russians-
have Iong Iines of trucks fuII of
fresh munition and soIdiers.
And stiII no word of Lasse.
-Ask Messenger Vuori.
He knows everything around here.
Let's go.
-We just got here.
The suppIies you brought
wiII sure come handy.
They're sending in more men
before we head for the front again.
Ask him.
-So you didn't go home; then.
No. I'm managing fine, thank you.
-You have to, over here.
What is it that you wanted to know?
-Nothing.
So no questions, then?
-We just wondered about the situation.
The Soviets are bombarding
the frontIines at Summa.
And we get to caII in artiIIery
onIy when the target's fat enough.
The new artiIIery we got from France
sure has a pretty roar.
But one can't heIp but wonder who'II
be doing the roaring in the end.
Is that enough news for you?
I'II sIeep through my whoIe
rest shift as soon as we get back.
If I don't freeze to death
before that.
Sometimes I feeI I'II never
Iive up to my Lotta Oath.
You shine Iike a star in this
dark wiIderness.
I keep wishing I was
better and more decisive.
I wish my heart was as pure as yours.
Four; Iow.
40 degrees.
Liisa!
-Anna, heIp me!
It hurts.
-You'II be fine; everything's fine.
HeIIo! HeIIo!
HeIp! We need heIp!
LuckiIy the stabIe didn't burn down.
So you decided to stay?
You don't have to worry about seeing
that scoundreI again.
He's Iocked up safe.
You're name is Mona?
Why didn't they sound the aIarm?
-Get the horses in!
Sorry. I don't know
where that came from.
I guess it's because I'm off to
the frontIine soon.
I figured it was my Iast chance for
a kiss. -That wasn't a kiss!
It was meant to be. UnfortunateIy
the teeth got in the way.
But we got you here safe.
You've been reading that same page
for haIf an hour now.
Either you're thick as a stick
or zooIogy is deadIy boring.
Or funny. You're smiIing Iike a goon.
-What are you thinking about?
Foot and mouth disease.
Or what Ruth wouId caII ungodIy
thoughts.
She feeIs we shouIdn't be having
any fun amidst aII this madness.
Good evening.
I have some bad news.
You are Mona Moisio,
Anna Moisio's sister?
They fired at the OP.
We found this in the snow.
Is Anna in the hospitaI?
-We don't know.
We found Liisa Hakkarainen's body
by the foot of the tower.
I'm sorry.
I guess once they started this war,
they've got to carry it through.
This uniform is stiII
so weII intact-
we'II send it off to the Iaundry
so the taiIor can fix it up.
Excuse me.
I'm Iooking for Ms LimneII.
Now take the namepIate off.
There's a Lotta out there asking
for a Lotta. -Me?
Aren't you aII Lottas?
There's one in the body sIed too.
They fired at the OP.
Liisa is dead and Anna is missing.
A Russian patroI must have
taken her prisoner.
Excuse me.
I must caII the meeting to a haIt.
Before continuing our program
l will now make an announcement-
on the results of the peace
negotiations in Moscow.
The Soviet Union will gain possession
of the Hanko Peninsula-
the Mappuja Port
and the surrounding islands.
The new border between
Finland and the Soviet Union-
will be essentially the same as
the old Peter The Great Border.
On the Gulf of Finland the border will
run through the Vironlahti church-
and the Paasio lsland-
and Vainikkla; Nuijamaa; Vartsila
and Korpiselka west of Lake Ladoga-
immersing with the present
border on Lake Lahnajarvi.
So this is what we got
after aII the bIoodshed.
We have to continue the meeting.
As heavy-hearted as we receive
the news of this peace-
I propose we immediateIy move on
to discuss popuIation transfers.
Mona!
-HeIIo, Ruth.
Any news of Anna?
What about Lasse?
Have you heard from him?
At Ieast the country's at peace.
-But at what cost?
We Iost most of KareIia,
incIuding the city of Vyborg.
And the towns; KakisaImi and SortvaIa.
OId Annie's home is in Vyborg.
-Was bombed down a few days ago.
But the KoIIaa and TaipaIe fronts
heId fast.
They couIdn't get through there,
those damned Russkies.
I hope to God we wiII have reaI
peace one day.
That we'd have a whoIe
and independent country again.
But now we've aII got to Ieave;
wherever we have homes or not.
We missed our wagon.
Can you heIp us?
My son's just two weeks oId;
he'II freeze.
Our sIed is foIIowing behind;
there shouId be room in there.
Dearest family ; a few quick words;
since l don't know when l'll be home.
My heart is heavy ; as there
are still no news of Anna.
I'II go find someone
who can teII you where to go.
l found out that Lasse is still
alive; thank God.
More and more evacuees
keep pouring in.
l just helped out a Karelian woman
with four small children.
Can you imagine; a newborn baby and
nowhere to go in this cold weather!
l left Anna's coat for the children
to keep them warm.
Luckily the Lottas are distributing
food-
and Voluntary Care
looks after the rest.
l hug you all!
Hope to see you soon; Mona.
You'II get home soon, to grow up
and get stronger. -Can I cIose up?
There's some girI in here!
What are you doing here? Are you
aIone? -Just the horse and me.
Your papers!
-Lotta Moisio; veterinary service.
AII cIear.
What's wrong?
-Nothing.
We're on the safe side
of the new border now.
Any idea which way the horses wiII be
returned?
You're thinking of your horse; Roy?
The ones that made it wiII be
returned to their owners.
Though thousands of them have died.
You shouId go report for duty.
-Thank you; Smith, and fareweII.
Just say ''goodbye''.
It means we'II meet again.
Let's hope in better times.
PORKKALA, Spring 1 940.
The Iast POW consignment
arrived on ApriI 26th?
Some smaIIer groups have arrived
thereafter? I see.
And no reason to beIieve Anna might
have been in Grjazovetsky?
I'II try get in touch with
Captain ViitaIa directIy.
Happy birthday.
-Thank you; dear.
Yes; there's aIways hope.
Thank you. Goodbye.
No news?
I wiII keep on hoping-
untiI we get Anna home.
lt hurts to watch Father's concern
and Mother's grief over Anna.
We are starting to lose hope; and
l doubt we'll get Roy back either.
Mona!
-You have two guesses.
Know what has two dark hairs.
-No; I don't!
There goes your first guess.
Now you have just one Ieft.
And one gray hair.
Getting seniIe, are you?
Stop it.
-As you pIease.
I was going to teII you
they got a new batch of horses in,-
returnees from the front.
-Was Roy there?
How shouId I know ;
I heard about it just now myseIf.
HeIIo.
-HeIIo.
Has our Roy been returned?
Roy! Roy!
You can pick him up tomorrow
when we'II have the paperwork done.
Over 800 prisoners have been
returned by now.
Anna can't have just vanished
from the face of the earth.
BasicaIIy we have records on aII
the prisoners from the camps-
and the wounded and the sick.
Anna's name wasn't among them.
Papers do get Iost; though.
I refuse to beIieve she's dead.
-Me too.
Not untiI it's proved differentIy.
They gave their everything;
their life for their country.
We still keep receiving sad tidings
of Lottas-
who served in voluntary defense;
under extreme conditions-
as the enemy's steel birds sowed
horror around them.
Today we; the survivors;
solemnly honor-
the memory of those who died
a hero's death-
and of those whom we don't know of-
the ones we haven't been able to
bless on their final journey.
Let us pray.
God who art in heaven-
thank you for leading our nation
through its many trials and battles-
into a new day.
You'd never think food was rationed.
-It's aII from our farm.
FeeIs so good having the young ones
back home.
So Lasse; what's your take on
the new defense Iine?
That's what we're off to buiId.
Seems we're on the eve on another
war. -It's New Year's Eve!
But the Soviets even broke off the
trade agreement with us.
Doesn't seem Iike a honeymoon to me.
They say hunger conquers the toughest
soIdier. But not us!
Or Germany. We shouId deveIop our
trade reIations that way-
and we wouIdn't have a worry
in the worId.
The Finnish Lion wiII not bow down
to the Russian Bear. -To FinIand!
A new day chases the mist
of night away-
the birds in the woods awake;
the wind brings in sweet scents.
So short is the summer;
autumn closes the gates of joy-
and everything that is dear to you;
you have to forsake.
GirIs! Run home! Now!
Citizens;
Our peaceful nation-
which has for over a year now
struggled to rebuild this country-
after the destruction of the last war;
has been cruelly attacked again.
Medic!
I'II write as soon as I get there.
For Roy ; too.
I wiII never get used to this.
I'II be fine now that I know
what it's Iike.
When does the signaIs course start?
-What signaIs course?
I'm going to be a SignaIs Lotta.
-Where? In HeIsinki?
No. At the front.
You knew about this?
Mom; it's not aII that dangerous.
We have proper weapons this time.
And Germany's support.
We can win KareIia back.
At Ieast the city of Vyborg.
And I'II be inside in the teIephone
exchange. -And I'II be in the stabIe.
And Lasse wiII be there; too.
-And a certain young message man.
Message what?
KARELIA; summer 1 941
Good morning.
-Good morning.
Are these those captured horses?
-What eIse.
This one's swarming with Iice.
Our horses hardIy ever get Iice.
On these ones they grow Iike hair.
Smith OIIinen!
Goodbye.
-Goodbye.
Setting up a deIousing sauna?
The Germans use big tanks for spraying
out gas but we don't have them.
We couId try to mix up some kind of
a concoction.
You stiII pIan to go study theoIogy
after we get out of here?
That's what I did before the war.
-But wiII you continue?
Don't you beIieve in God?
The BibIe says God is
good and mercifuI.
Kind of hard to beIieve;
with aII this kiIIing going around.
You'd make a good doctor.
You care about peopIe-
and you've got a good head.
Doesn't the BibIe say that
God created man in his own image?
By heIping peopIe
you'd be serving God.
Watch.
Ring.
We'II go catch some air.
HeIIo. Yes. HoId on.
Damn that poIka;
and stiII a ban on dancing!
The Iast time I danced to this was
at my sister's wedding back home.
Three days they've been pIaying that
poIka so the Soviets can't set off-
their radio-controIIed mines.
Who's the dancing girI?
Kirre, the mason's wife.
I got mad foot disease!
SureIy my husband won't mind
me dancing with a coat?
Here are some of FinIand's secret
weapons. Ms EdeIman.
Thank you.
It's from Lasse.
-You're weIcome.
At ease.
I hear Miss Moisio is stationed here.
She's Mrs. EdeIman now.
Got herseIf married, she did.
She's reading her sweetheart's
Ietter; bIind and deaf to the worId.
HeIIo, Anna! There's someone here
to see you. -What...?
I meant Mona Moisio.
-Mona's not here.
I'm her sister.
Has something happened?
No. I'm 2nd Lieutenant Vuori.
There you go!
-Thank you.
I've got some maiI for you boys.
Private Kivi.
-That's me!
CorporaI Mayra.
Private Autti.
-No Ionger here. Died yesterday.
Sergeant Haapakoski.
I've got something for you, too, Mona.
Thank you.
-Thanks.
Dear Ms. Moisio; you will most
likely be surprised by this letter.
l got your address from your sister
at the telephone exchange.
We get our share of action here;
today a couple of plains circled by.
l hear you've been hard pressed
over there; too.
Helsinki has also been badly bombed.
l hope you're safe-
and that we'll soon send those
vermin back over the Urals.
You can write to me if you like;
at this address.
l don't know when l'll end up
that way. Sincerely ; Veikko Vuori.
OLONETS KARELIA, Christmas 1 941
Let's hope they won't serve us
any MoIotov cocktaiIs today.
SureIy they wouIdn't
on Christmas Eve?
Have there been probIems with the
maiI?
ProbIems? You just got a Ietter
from Anna; didn't you?
Let's go!
-Thank you; Iadies.
What a trip! We must have
come a hundred miIes or more.
Anna!
-Kaisa!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas.
-Merry Christmas, Ruth.
Come heIp us, Anna. We couId feed
a herd of sheep with aII this food.
How come you feeI so smaII?
-I won't for Iong.
We're having a summer baby.
-That's wonderfuI!
You have to go home.
-I wiII.
I'II be reIieved after Christmas
and Lasse wiII have a Ieave; too.
We'II have many days together.
Thank you.
-You're weIcome.
Did that Vuori feIIow write to you?
-He did once. And I wrote back.
But I haven't heard from him in months.
-I heard he made Lieutenant.
Merry Christmas.
-Merry Christmas.
MOISIO, PORKKALA, January 1 942
There you are!
Look; Mother.
-WeII; Iook at that.
What a IoveIy IittIe Lotta dress
Anna made for Kirsti's doII!
She won't have to cry over not
making Lotta LittIe Sisters yet.
Seems we have haIf the viIIage here
sewing ski-uniforms. -Evening!
Do we have to sew too if we come
in? -That's aII we need.
We sure sweated with those
Iogs in the backwoods.
Good thing I had this
soIdier on Ieave to heIp.
I'm coId and hungry Iike in Soviet
heII. Let's get us some grub.
What is it?
Anna, what is it?
-It hurts.
Excuse me.
A miscarriage.
You knew she was pregnant?
Three months.
Has she been aIright otherwise?
She stiII won't taIk to us about
what happened in that prisoner camp.
No wonder. But outwardIy at Ieast
everything seems to be in order.
I gave her some medicine.
CaII me if there are any
compIications. -Thank you; we wiII.
I've been their famiIy doctor for
years. I brought Anna into this worId.
So a happy New Year to you-
and I hope we meet again
under better circumstances.
Lasse!
-FeeIing any better?
It wasn't the baby's time yet.
It may never be.
It wiII, I'm sure.
Even the doctor said so.
I had that dream again.
I came home and everyone was dead.
And they were bombing us again.
Just try to get some rest.
They kept poking those
rat's taiI bayonets.
I put my hands up.
But Liisa.
I can't stop thinking about her.
I can't stop thinking
why did I survive.
Why did she have to die
and I got to Iive?
What's the purpose of this aII?
OLONETS KARELIA, summer 1 943
Where did that horse doctor go?
-He'II get here as soon as he can.
Name of the horse?
-Reima.
Here in faraway eastern Karelia
l sometimes feel very sad and empty.
l feel l've suddenly grown
so much older.
Maybe one year at war equals
ten years of peacetime.
Ok; Iet's move. We'II drop him
on a count to three!
And Anita can hand
out the instruments.
Where did you find shoes Iike that?
They Iook Iike IittIe boats.
They're from Sweden.
We caII them OIive shoes.
So where's Popeye?
Is the geIding asIeep aIready?
-In a minute.
They're sending us
to the frontIine again.
Good morning!
-Good morning.
Hey ; hoId on!
AIthough I haven't got much time.
We're headed for the front.
Kind of hard for me to write to you,
Ruth-
if I don't even know your name.
-You just said it.
Seems I did.
I'm the kind of man who finds out
what he needs to know.
Those eyes of yours need
a IittIe brightening up.
Think you couId start writing
with an ordinary sergeant Iike me?
I do known how to write.
Don't mind if I do.
You smeII as IoveIy
as the Rose of Sharon.
Spring 1 944
Headquarters are extremeIy gratefuI
for the invaIuabIe heIp the Lottas-
have provided both in ground
operations and at the home front.
Thank you; Lieutenant CoIoneI,
for your kind words.
For three years we have been engaged
in a war against an enemy-
that outnumbers us by far. And
the situation is becoming criticaI.
I must ask of you to extend the
Lotta operations-
in one more area of defense.
-Which is?
To fiII in for the anti-aircraft
searchIight batteries.
We can start by training
around 300 Lotta voIunteers-
preferabIy graduates
or university students-
who have distinguished themseIves
in air surveiIIance.
Is that aII?
-I have one more question.
The searchIights need to be
guarded night and day-
by the Lottas,
apart from their reguIar duties.
For this they wouId need
rifIe training.
That is against the principIes of the
Lotta Svard Organization; as you know.
It is absoIuteIy out of the question.
The Lottas wiII not take up arms!
That is the men's job.
Mrs. Chairwoman;
we haven't got any more men.
If and when things get dangerous...
-No more men?
We are coming to the end of the road.
Every third man is out of service.
I thank you for your confidence,
but I can't promise anything.
We have been stationed to move the
horse hospital closer to the front.
Where exactly ;
they won't tell us.
Thank God the folks home are fine.
l got a long letter from Anna.
Not a word from Lieutenant Vuori in
ages; even though l've written to him.
l won't write to him anymore.
l haven't seen him in almost a year.
Why did l have to start talking
about love?
WeII?
-WeII what?
At Ieast the maiI stiII gets through.
What does Lieutenant Vuori write?
-He'II be coming this way soon.
He won't teII me where;
or much anything eIse; either.
Men are inexpIicabIe.
-What about ViIIe?
Any mention of him?
-No.
ShouId there be?
The peace taIks feII through!
I keep hearing these rumors.
-Horsemen's news.
They say the war hasn't even
started yet for FinIand.
Kaisa says they have started teaching
Lottas to use rifIes for seIf-defense.
Has there been anything
about it in the papers?
Not a word.
I find it hard to beIieve.
You've got a whoIe Iot prettier
in a year. You know what?
I've decided to take you home to be
my wife when aII this is over.
ViIIe has aIways been such
a romantic. And a man of action.
So how are you; Miss Mona?
-Fair enough.
Anna? What are you doing in HeIsinki?
I was caIIed up for searchIight
training. -CaIIed up?
They contacted my university.
-What are you taIking about?
Our training starts in June;
right off the HeIsinki coast.
You can't.
You're not strong enough.
-Dad, they need me there.
We need you at home, too.
We're getting oId.
PIease think it over.
I guess there's no way I can
taIk you out of this? -Try me.
Finland is now facing its fatal hour.
The Soviets have started a massive
attack in Karelia; with the objective of-
breaking through the Finnish defense;
both on ground and in the air.
We need everyone's help now.
You may not be famiIiar with weapons,
searchIights or sound detectors-
so we'll start from the basics.
This is am Italian Terni m/36 rifle.
Apart from searchIight training;
you wiII receive security training-
in which you wiII fire two series
of five shots.
The night of Sunday ; June 11 th;
was quiet-
but at 6 am they started bringing in
masses of wounded horses.
l heard at the field hospital that
we lost the blood service van.
There is a terrible shortage of
blood; plasma; everything.
Anna wrote me that she is
going into searchlight training.
Whatever it is;
l wrote her at once not to go.
Dear Lasse. l've been quite busy ;
and the training is going very well.
I don't know when they'll let me off
on leave-
but l just found out l will be
stationed close to home-
although it doesn't mean much
in practice.
The thought warms my mind because
l think of you and the folks back home-
all the time. Luckily there's not
much time to miss anyone-
because the situation is very grave;
and l am needed here now.
ViIIe, Iet it be!
The Russkies broke our defense
west of the viIIage.
I know aII you men are tired;
but we have to strike back at once.
EdeIman wiII Iead the attack
to the right by the path.
Koistinen takes the Ieft wing.
HoIIo covers the right rear.
AaIto supports the attack,
as usuaI.
Any questions?
Let's go.
The number of wounded friends
and strangers keeps growing fast.
We were just ordered to pack up our
division and retreat without delay.
For the first time l am starting to
wonder how all this is going to end.
Medic!
PeItonen! CaII them forward!
Forward! Attack!
Company ; charge!
Lasse... Lasse....
Goodbye, ViIIe.
Lost my Ieg.
Get me a pistoI.
Lasse, think about Anna.
Soon everything wiII be better
and you'II get to go home.
My dearest Anna; just a brief
message since l'm still quite weak-
and it's hard to write with a pencil
stub lying on your back in bed.
Everything has gone pretty well;
believe it or not-
and l'll be getting out of
the hospital soon.
Now that the war is over for me;
l have been thinking that l should-
continue my studies at law school
as soon as possible.
Who wants me?
-1 st Sergeant; Sir.
Did you hear FinIand has decided to
initiate peace taIks. -No.
We'II finaIIy have peace.
-Remains to be seen.
At Ieast we didn't give in to
the Russkies. -No.
I just wish this whoIe thing ended
so we couId aII go home.
Some of us wiII
and some of us won't.
I Ieft my first home of my own
in Vyborg.
My wife and I just got married-
and now she's staying with
some reIatives on the west coast.
Our baby is due this month.
-CongratuIations.
Sorry, but I have to run. I need to
get changed for my shift.
We'II stand guard untiI
the bitter end.
My Iove for you hasn't changed;
it has onIy grown stronger.
I so hope you feeI the same way
about me-
even though I'm not the man
I was when we got married.
The war has taken its toII.
But I wiII try my best-
and I truIy beIieve
we can stiII have a good Iife-
and the son we have hoped for
so Iong.
I kiss you everywhere.
Yours; Lasse.
KARELIAN ISTHMUS; 5 September 1 944
I heard the Soviets have
kept firing at us-
even though the armistice
was decIared yesterday.
And I've made my decision.
-What's that?
I've had enough of dying.
I'm going to study medicine.
No more corpses for me,
if onIy I can avoid it.
I have two more Ietters here.
Got here just in time before
we hit the road.
Mona!
-Thanks.
Anita!
My mother sure wiII be happy
to have me back home.
The poor woman's been
Iooking after the farm on her own.
What does it say?
Who is it from?
My father.
Anna is dead.
I have to go.
The horses are waiting.
I came as soon as I heard.
We'II have to Ieave the farm and go
to stay with reIatives in HeIsinki.
Such are the terms of the armistice.
Home; 26 September 1 944
The Soviets gave Finland eight days
to evacuate the headland of Porkkala.
Luckily a good number of Lottas and
soldiers came to help us move.
We couldn't have done it
without them.
Mother and Father are desolate;
because the lease for a Soviet-
naval base is for 50 years;
and they will not live to see the day-
when we will get back home.
l probably will not either.
Goodbye; sweet home.
PorkkaIa, Moisio
Out you go; Anna.
This is Mummy's home.
We didn't have to wait 50 years.
-And we didn't fight for nothing.
Her name is Lotta.
The Finnish Lotta Svard Organization
was the world's largest women's
voluntary auxiliary organization.
At its height it included over
240 000 volunteers.
Under the terms of the interim
peace treaty with the Soviet Union-
the Finnish government disbanded
the organization on 23 November 1 944.
This film has been supported by
the Lotta Svard Foundation.
SubtitIes: Susan Heiskanen