Finland: Some History, Part Three

The wars and strife united the Finnish people.  In the words of Franklin Roosevelt, "The Finns have won the moral right to live in everlasting peace and independence in the land they have so bravely defended." Finland also evaded the Soviet Union's grasp.  "One theory is that Stalin feared the Finns would take up arms again and mount a ferocious resistance" (Chislett, 1996).  

Hence, the Finns in following generations valued freedom, liberty, and democracy.  

Post-War, Finland spend time recovering from its wounds.  The country denied millions of dollars in aid due to Soviet pressure, but allowed them to gain the trust of their neighbors.  

Finland paid back its war debts by 1952, the same year as Helsinki hosted the Olympics.  This time signified the end of an era in Finland, the time of unease and apprehension.  

After Stalin's death, the USSR and Finland began new relations, and the Soviet Union became Finland's main trading partner.  Nevertheless, Finland felt the chills of the Cold War, sharing a border with the Soviet Union while struggling to maintain neutrality.