Patriotic People's Movement (, IKL, ) was a
Finnish nationalist
Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
and
anti-communist
Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when th ...
political party. IKL was the successor of the previously banned
Lapua Movement
The Lapua Movement (, ) was a radical Finnish nationalist, fascist, pro- German and anti-communist political movement founded in and named after the town of Lapua. Led by Vihtori Kosola, it turned towards far-right politics after its founding ...
. It existed from 1932 to 1944 and had an
ideology
An ideology is a set of beliefs or values attributed to a person or group of persons, especially those held for reasons that are not purely about belief in certain knowledge, in which "practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones". Form ...
similar to its predecessor, except that IKL participated in elections with limited success.
History
Formation
The IKL was founded at a conference on 5 June 1932 as a continuation of the Lapua Movement.
[Upton, p.215] The three major founding members were
Herman Gummerus,
Vilho Annala
Vilho Annala (17 January 1888 – 28 July 1960) was a Finnish civil servant, economist and far right politician.
Early years
Annala was born in Lapua, and first came to prominence as a student at the University of Helsinki, where he edited the s ...
and
Erkki Räikkönen
Erkki Aleksanteri Räikkönen (13 August 1900 – 30 March 1961) was a Finland, Finnish nationalist leader.
Born in St. Petersburg to a Cantor (church), cantor, he attended the University of Helsinki before taking part in the ill-fated mission to ...
. Lapua leader
Vihtori Kosola
Iisakki Vihtori Kosola (10 July 1884 – 14 December 1936) was a Finnish politician, activist and a farmer who served as the leader of the fascist and anti-communist Lapua Movement, and later as the leader of the Patriotic People's Movement po ...
was imprisoned for his part in the
Mäntsälä rebellion
Mäntsälä () is a municipalities of Finland, municipality in the provinces of Finland, province of Southern Finland, and is part of the Uusimaa regions of Finland, region. It has a population of
() and covers an area of of
which
is water. ...
at the time of formation but the leadership was officially kept in reserve for him and other leading rebels, notably Annala and
Bruno Salmiala, were involved in the formation of IKL.
Relationship to mainstream politics

IKL participated in parliamentary elections. In
1933
Events
January
* January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand.
* January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...
its election list was pooled with the
National Coalition Party ''(Kokoomus)'', and got 14 seats out of 200. Kokoomus collapsed from 42 to 18 seats. After the collapse,
Juho Kusti Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (, 27 November 1870 – 14 December 1956) was a Finnish politician who served as the seventh president of Finland from 1946 to 1956. Representing the Finnish Party until its dissolution in 1918 and then the National Coaliti ...
was elected chairman of ''Kokoomus.'' He converted his party to the voice of big business and as such had no interest in the direct action tactics of IKL, and thus weeded out the most outspoken IKL sympathizers from the party.
[Upton, p. 218]
IKL came under increasing scrutiny from government and was subject to two laws designed to arrest its progress. In 1934, a law passed allowing the suppression of propaganda which brought government or constitution into contempt and this was used against the movement, whilst the following year a law banning political uniforms and private uniformed organisations came in, seriously affecting the ''Sinimustat'' in particular.
[
IKL kept its 14 seats in the elections of 1936 but was weakened by the overwhelming victory for the coming social democrat-agrarian coalition, under Prime Minister ]Aimo Kaarlo Cajander
Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (4 April 1879 – 21 January 1943) was the Prime Minister of Finland up to the Winter War.
Cajander was born in Uusikaupunki, and became a botanist, a professor of forestry 1911–34; director-general for Finland's Fores ...
that would replace in the spring of 1937 the centrist minority government of Kyösti Kallio
Kyösti Kallio (, 10 April 1873 – 19 December 1940) was a Finnish politician who served as the fourth president of Finland from 1937 to 1940. His presidency included leading the country through the Winter War; while he relinquished the post ...
, which had, in turn, replaced the narrow right-wing minority government of Toivo Mikael Kivimäki
Toivo Mikael Kivimäki (5 June 1886 – 6 May 1968), ( J.D.), was a Finnish politician of the National Progressive Party who served as the head of the department of civil law at Helsinki University 1931–1956, Prime Minister of Finla ...
.[ The strong new government soon moved against the IKL, with ]Urho Kekkonen
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (; 3 September 1900 – 31 August 1986), often referred to by his initials UKK, was a Finnish politician who served as the eighth and longest-serving president of Finland from 1956 to 1982. He also served as Prime Minister ...
, then Minister of the Interior, bringing legal proceedings against the movement late in 1938. However, the courts did not find sufficient grounds for banning IKL. Despite this the prosperity experienced under Cajander's government hit the IKL and in the 1939 elections they managed only eight seats. Kekkonen was one of two leading government opponents of the IKL who would later go on to serve as presidents of Finland, the other being Juho Kusti Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (, 27 November 1870 – 14 December 1956) was a Finnish politician who served as the seventh president of Finland from 1946 to 1956. Representing the Finnish Party until its dissolution in 1918 and then the National Coaliti ...
.
According to docent André Swanström, IKL was by far the most popular party among Finnish Waffen SS recruits.
Final years
The Winter War
The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peac ...
, and particularly the Moscow Peace
The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on 12 March 1940, and the ratifications were exchanged on 21 March. It marked the end of the 105-day Winter War, upon which Finland ceded border areas to the Soviet Union. The ...
, were seen by IKL and its sympathizers as the ultimate proof of the parliamentary
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
government's failed foreign policy
Foreign policy, also known as external policy, is the set of strategies and actions a State (polity), state employs in its interactions with other states, unions, and international entities. It encompasses a wide range of objectives, includ ...
. During the year after the Winter War, Finland's foreign policy was drastically changed, by and large to correspond with that of IKL, and Annala was even included in the Cabinet in January 1941, when all but one parties of the parliament were represented. The price of this recognition was however an end to IKL attacks on the system and as such an effective end to the very reason it had support. After the initial enthusiasm of the Continuation War
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet–Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union during World War II. It began with a Finnish declaration of war on 25 June 1941 and ended on 19 ...
in 1941 waned during the first winter, IKL wasn't included in Edwin Linkomies' cabinet in spring 1943.
In the aftermath of the Continuation War
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet–Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union during World War II. It began with a Finnish declaration of war on 25 June 1941 and ended on 19 ...
, IKL was banned, on the insistence of the Soviet Union, four days after the armistice between Finland and the Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
was signed 19 September 1944.
Legacy
The IKL initials returned to the far-right
Far-right politics, often termed right-wing extremism, encompasses a range of ideologies that are marked by ultraconservatism, authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and nativism. This political spectrum situates itself on the far end of the ...
political scene in 1993 with the foundation of the '' Isänmaallinen Kansallis-Liitto'' by Matti Järviharju. The new movement died out by 1998.
Ideology
Ideologically, IKL was ardently nationalist
Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
and anti-Communist
Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when th ...
, and endorsed an aggressive foreign policy against the Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
and hostility towards the Swedish language
Swedish ( ) is a North Germanic languages, North Germanic language from the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family, spoken predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland. It has at least 10 million native speakers, making it the G ...
. The creation of a Greater Finland
Greater Finland (; ; ) is an irredentist and nationalist idea which aims for the territorial expansion of Finland. It is associated with Pan-Finnicism. The most common concept saw the country as defined by natural borders encompassing the ter ...
was an important goal for the party.[Carsten, F. L. (1982) ''The rise of fascism''. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. pp. 168–169 ] Its manifested purpose was to be the Christian-moral conscience of the parliament. A more hard-line tendency was also active, centered on Bruno Salmiala.
Organization
Structure
Many of its leaders were priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...
s or participants of the mainly Ostrobothnian Pietist
Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christianity, Christian life.
Although the movement is ali ...
movement called ''Herännäisyys
The Awakening (, ; or , ) is a Lutheranism, Lutheran religious movement in Finland which has found followers in the provinces of Savonia (historical province), Savo and Ostrobothnia (historical province), Ostrobothnia. The origins of the movement a ...
.''
Symbols and uniforms
The IKL uniform
A uniform is a variety of costume worn by members of an organization while usually participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency serv ...
was a black shirt with blue tie, inspired by the Italian fascists
Italian fascism (), also called classical fascism and Fascism, is the original fascist ideology, which Giovanni Gentile and Benito Mussolini developed in Italy. The ideology of Italian fascism is associated with a series of political parties le ...
,[ and also by the ''Herännäisyys'' movement, which had a tradition for black clothing. Members greeted each other with a ]Roman salute
The Roman salute, also known as the Fascist salute, is a gesture in which the right arm is fully extended, facing forward, with palm down and fingers touching. In some versions, the arm is raised upward at an angle; in others, it is held out pa ...
.
Youth wing
The IKL had its own youth organization, called ''Sinimustat (Blue-and-blacks)'', members of which were trained in combat.[ It was led by Elias Simojoki, a charismatic priest. ''Sinimustat'' were banned in 1936 (although they were immediately reformed as ''Mustapaidat'' ("Blackshirts")).
]
Support
The party received its main support from wealthy farmers, the educated middle-class, civil servants, the Lutheran
Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
clergy and university students. Geographically, IKL obtained its largest share of votes in Southern Ostrobothnia
South Ostrobothnia ( ; ) is one of the 19 regions of Finland. It borders the regions of Ostrobothnia (administrative region), Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, and Satakunta. Among the Finnish regions, South Ostrobo ...
n municipalities such as Kuortane
Kuortane is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the South Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The neighboring municipalities of Kuortane are ...
, Lapua
Lapua (; ) is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland's South Ostrobothnia regions of Finland, region.
It is located next to the Lapua River. The town has a population of
() and cov ...
and Ilmajoki
Ilmajoki (; ) is a municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. Ilmajoki is a town and municipality situated in Finland's South Ostrobothnia region, founded in 1865. Ilmajoki has a population of 12,165 (28. February 2017)and covers an are ...
.
Notable IKL supporters
* Arne Somersalo, Commander of the Finnish Airforce 1920–26, IKL MP
* Paavo Susitaival, Lt. Col., IKL MP
*Paavo Talvela
Paavo Juho Talvela (born Paavo Juho Thorén; 19 February 1897 – 30 September 1973) was a Finnish general of the infantry, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross and a member of the Jäger movement. He participated in the Eastern Front of World Wa ...
, General
*Rolf Nevanlinna
Rolf Herman Nevanlinna (né Neovius; 22 October 1895 – 28 May 1980) was a Finnish mathematician who made significant contributions to complex analysis.
Background
Nevanlinna was born Rolf Herman Neovius, becoming Nevanlinna in 1906 when his fa ...
, Mathematician, Professor, Rector of the University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki (, ; UH) is a public university in Helsinki, Finland. The university was founded in Turku in 1640 as the Royal Academy of Åbo under the Swedish Empire, and moved to Helsinki in 1828 under the sponsorship of Alexander ...
* Vilho Lampi, painterVilho Lampi: Viimeiset vuodet ("Vilho Lampi: The Last Years")
Oulun Taidemuseo ulu Art Museum/ref>
* Elias Simojoki, clergyman, IKL MP.
*Hilja Riipinen
Hilja Elisabet Riipinen (30 October 1883 – 18 January 1966, née Miklin, later Metsäpolku) was a Finnish politician involved with the nationalist and anti-communist Lapua Movement and Patriotic People's Movement (Finland), Patriotic People's ...
, the only women MP.
Election results
Parliament of Finland
File:IKL at Ilmajoki.jpg, Members of IKL saluting at the statue of Jaakko Ilkka
Jaakko Pentinpoika Ilkka (1550s, Ilmajoki – late January, 1597, Isokyrö) was a wealthy Ostrobothnian landowner and leader of the Cudgel War, a 16th-century Finnish peasant revolt against Swedish rule.
Life Early years
Ilkka's father, P ...
File:White Victory Parade.jpg, 15th anniversary of White Victory Parade, SKJ and IKL marching
File:Isänmaallisen kansanliikkeen juhlakokous lokakuussa 1936.jpg, IKL meeting in 1936
File:Kansanedustaja Hilja Riipinen puhumassa IKLn naisten kokouksessa Helsingissä maaliskuussa 1936.jpg, IKL women's meeting
See also
* History of Finland
The history of Finland began around 9000 BC during the end of the last glacial period. Stone Age cultures were Kunda, Comb Ceramic, Corded Ware, Kiukainen, and . The Finnish Bronze Age started in approximately 1500 BC and the Iron Age star ...
* Academic Karelia Society
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
* Rees, Philip (1990) ''Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890
The ''Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'' is a reference book by Philip Rees, on leading people in the various far right movements since 1890.
It contains entries for what the author regards as "the 500 major figures on the ...
''
*Upton, A. F. "Finland" in Woolf, S. J. (1981) ''Fascism in Europe'' London: Routledge
Further reading
* Vares, Vesa Yrjö (2020
"From allies to opponents. Conservatives facing fascism in Finland in the 1930s"
Scandinavian Journal of History
The Scandinavian Journal of History is a peer-reviewed journal in English, published since 1976 under the auspices of the historical associations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. It aims to survey themes in recent Scandinavian hi ...
v.46, n.2, pp. 224–247.
External links
*
{{Authority control
Finnish nationalism
Defunct political parties in Finland
Banned far-right parties
Nationalist parties in Finland
1932 establishments in Finland
Political parties established in 1932
1944 disestablishments in Finland
Political parties disestablished in 1944
Fascism in Finland
Fascist parties
Anti-communist parties
Anti-communist organisations in Finland