Summary:

Sinikka Wunsch,
Opinion and morals in focus: views, plans and actions for information and propaganda in Finland 1934–1941.
Faravid (2003), 211–234.

This article discusses the Finnish views and plans concerning the erecting of Finnish official propaganda organization in the late 1930’s. It also studies the propagandistic actions during the Winter War and the so called Interim Peace; the period from the end of the Winter War to the beginning of the so called Continuation War at the end of June 1941.

Plans to train propagandists for times of crisis were introduced in 1934 and regular work began three years later. The army called up well-known journalists, admen and other media professionals to special reservist military manoeuvres. During a three-week training the participants were familiarized with the means and practices of propaganda used in other countries. Afterwards the participants first founded the Propaganda Union and then the semi-official news agency Finlandia Uutistoimisto to furnish official propaganda.

The whole Finnish army and the propagandists were called up in October 1939. At the same time the Finnish Headquarters founded a propagandistic organization of their own, the Propaganda Bureau of the Military Headquarters. The main official propaganda organization was also established in October 1939: State Information Bureau worked in the Prime Minister’s Office and headed all information and propaganda for domestic and foreign purposes.

In the beginning of the Winter War, there were even too many organizations dealing with war propaganda: State Information Bureau commanded by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Education, Propaganda Bureau of the Headquarters and also the Separate Office of Censorship were all handling issues of information and propaganda. They all had an agenda of their own which led to disputes from time to time. That is why the whole propaganda organization was reformed during the years 1940–1941.

 

Faravid 27/2003