Niet Molotoff is a Finnish propaganda song composed during the

Winter War The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...

to mock the

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

invaders. It was composed by Matti Jurva and the lyrics were written by Tatu Pekkarinen. Jurva first recorded the song in 1942 with a group named Kristalli-Tanssiorkesteri conducted by

George de Godzinsky George de Godzinsky (5 July 1914, Saint Peterburg, Russia — 23 May 1994, Espoo, Finland) was a Finnish composer, pianist and conductor of Polish descent. Godzinsky is known for his Schlager music although he composed music for movies and opere ...

. The orchestral accompaniment of the recording was arranged by Robert von Essen. The song ridicules Soviet foreign affairs minister

Vyacheslav Molotov Vyacheslav Mikhaylovich Molotov. ; (;. 9 March Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O._S._25_February.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Old Style and New Style dates">O. S. 25 February">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dat ...

, comparing him to

Nikolay Bobrikov Nikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov (russian: Никола́й Ива́нович Бо́бриков; in St. Petersburg – June 17, 1904 in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland) was a Russian general and politician. He was the Governor-General of Finla ...

, a tsarist official who was murdered for his attempts to institute

Russification Russification (russian: русификация, rusifikatsiya), or Russianization, is a form of cultural assimilation in which non-Russians, whether involuntarily or voluntarily, give up their culture and language in favor of the Russian cultur ...

policies in Finland. The chorus lambasts Molotov for "lying more than Bobrikov himself" in response to Molotov's justifications for the invasion, while the rest of the song mocks the Soviet expectations of a smooth conquest and also derides

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secreta ...

"and other charlatans". The song's melody is based on that of the Russian folk song ''Ukhar-kupets'' (Ухарь-купец). It was re-recorded by Solistiyhtye Suomi as Njet Molotoff in 1989. In 2022, as a result of the

Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

, a Ukrainian version of the song called "Njet Vladimir", referring to

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

, was created.

References

{{authority control Propaganda songs Finnish songs 1942 songs Continuation War Songs about the military Songs of World War II Cultural depictions of Russian men Cultural depictions of politicians Songs about politicians Anti-communist propaganda Winter War in popular culture

See also

References