Rising Finland was a Finnish political association founded on October 5, 1940. It aimed to "nurture the

Spirit of the Winter War The Spirit of the Winter War ( fi, Talvisodan henki, ) is the national unity that had been credited with having saved Finland from disintegrating along class and ideological lines under the invasion of the Soviet Union during the Winter War from No ...

", promote the idea of a united people, to reorganize the bourgeois party field and to create a stronger leadership and increasing personal responsibility. According to the organization, its goal was to bring together citizens around national symbols whose value was "perceived by all our people in the great trials of the 1939-1940 War of Independence". The organization was founded by

Vilho Helanen Vilho Veikko Päiviö Helanen (24 November 1899 – 8 June 1952) was a Finnish civil servant and politician. Helanen was born in Oulu, and was a student as the University of Helsinki, where he gained an MA in 1923 and completed his doctorate in ...

, director of the extremist nationalist and far-right

Academic Karelia Society The Academic Karelia Society (''Akateeminen Karjala-Seura'', AKS) was a ethnic Finn, Finnish nationalist and Finno-Ugric countries, Finno-Ugric activist organization aiming at the growth and improvement of newly independent Finland, founded by aca ...

(AKS), who also served as chairman of the board. Helanen was also a vocal supporter of National Socialism and Adolf Hitler. Philip Rees, '' Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'', 1990, p. 176 Many were members of the AKS or the far-right

Patriotic People's Movement Patriotic People's Movement ( fi, Isänmaallinen kansanliike, IKL, sv, Fosterländska folkrörelsen) was a Finnish nationalist and anti-communist political party. IKL was the successor of the previously banned Lapua Movement. It existed from 1 ...

(IKL). Rising Finland had many influential members in important positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Eljas Erkko. Rising Finland and its program, which borrowed from Nazis, received a lot of positive publicity in the press. Rising Finland was remarkable among multitude of extreme right organisations in that it supported cross-party cooperation and worked with National Progressive Party, among others. However, Helanen's calls for reorganisation of the state aroused suspicion in some of the traditional parties. In addition the chairman of the fascist IKL Vilho Annala considered Rising Finland a competitor to his own party. Rising Finland is notable for having formed , the Family Federation of Finland, together with

Association of Finnish Culture and Identity The Association of Finnish Culture and Identity ( fi, Suomalaisuuden Liitto), also known as the Finnish Alliance, is a Finnish cultural organization. The official name of The Association is in Finnish Suomalaisuuden Liitto, in German Verband für ...

to increase population and promote wellbeing of families, active to this day. The organisation originally strongly promoted eugenics and forced sterilisations.

Board

*Ph. D.

, Chairman *agronomist Paavo A. Viding, vice chairman *Judge Eero Mantere, vice chairman *Professor Arvo Ylinen, vice chairman *D.Sc.

Reino Castrén Reino is the Portuguese, Galician and Spanish word for ''kingdom'' and may refer to: * Reino, Campania, a town in the province of Benevento, Italy People Surname Reino is a Spanish surname. Notable people with this surname include: * Fernando Góm ...

, member *engineer MA Haro, member *agronomist EJ Korpela, member *J.S.D.

Veli Merikoski Veli Kaarlo Merikoski (2 January 1905 in Pyhtää – 28 January 1982 in Helsinki) was a professor at the University of Helsinki and once the Minister for Foreign Affairs representing People's Party. Merikoski worked as an associate professor ...

, member *editor-in-chief

Yrjö Niiniluoto Yrjö, a masculine Finnish given name that is the equivalent of George, may refer to: * Yrjö von Grönhagen, (1911–2003), Finnish anthropologist * Yrjö Jylhä, (1903–1956), Finnish poet * Yrjö Kilpinen (1892–1959), Finnish co ...

, member *Sc.D

IO Nurmela Io, IO, iO, I/O, i/o, or i.o. may refer to: * Io (mythology), daughter of Inachus in Greek mythology, and lover of Zeus who was turned into a cow *Io (moon), a moon of Jupiter Arts and media Fictional elements * Scylla Io, one of Poseidon's M ...

, member *M.Sc.

LA Puntila LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

, member *Director General

Eero Rydman Eero is an Estonian and Finnish masculine given name (pronounced: /e:ro/). Notable people with the name include: * Eero Aarnio (born 1932), Finnish interior designer * Eero Aho (born 1968), Finnish actor * Eero Akaan-Penttilä (born 1943), ...

, member *M.Sc.

Jussi Saukkonen Jussi Jaakko Saukkonen (until 1948 Johan Jaakoppi; 17 February 1905 – 6 April 1986) was a Finnish politician and a Member of the Parliament of Finland. He was born in Oulu and became a member of the National Coalition Party (Finland); he was ...

, member *M.D.

Pauli Soisalo Pauli is a surname and also a Finnish male given name (variant of Paul) and may refer to: *Arthur Pauli (born 1989), Austrian ski jumper *Barbara Pauli (1752 or 1753 - fl. 1781), Swedish fashion trader * Gabriele Pauli (born 1957), German polit ...

, member *M.Sc.

Erkki Virta Erkki is a Finnish and Estonian given name (derived from Erik). Notable people with the name include: * Erkki Aadli (born 1974), Estonian orienteer * Erkki Aaltonen (1910–1990), Finnish composer * Erkki Ala-Könni (1911– 1996), Finnish eth ...

, member *M.Sc.

Yrjö Vuorjoki Yrjö, a masculine Finnish given name that is the equivalent of George, may refer to: * Yrjö von Grönhagen, (1911–2003), Finnish anthropologist * Yrjö Jylhä, (1903–1956), Finnish poet * Yrjö Kilpinen (1892–1959), Finnish co ...

, member *M.D.

Saara Väyrynen Saara may refer to: Places * Saara, Estonia, a village in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia * Saara, Greiz, a municipality in Thuringia, Germany * Saara, Altenburger Land, a municipality in Thuringia, Germany Other * ''Saara'' (lizard), a genus of li ...

, member

Sources

Pekka Peitsi, Suomen kansan eheytymisen tie Luku 6, s. 48-52
* ''Nouseva Suomi''. Nousevan Suomen julkaisuja N:o 1. Helsinki 1940

References

{{Fascism Political organisations based in Finland Far-right politics in Finland Nazi parties Nazism in Finland