Question about ordering doc. from Finnish Military Archives

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:50 pm

I need to order a document from the Finnish Military Archives (Sota-arkiston). I sent an email to ask how to order a document and the autoresponse said it might take them two months to reply. What I am afraid will happen is that in two months they will reply and tell me how to place an order -- which will then take another two months to process.

Does anyone have suggestions for shortening the process?

Backstory
I'm helping my 91 year-old father-in-law with his declaration for Finnish citizenship (he was born in Nivala, Finland in 1916 and lost his Finnish citizenship in 1946, when he married a beautiful first-generation Finnish-American woman and ultimately became a US citizen. (Yes, Hank, a case of HBS.)

We have gathered the documents and were about to submit when I read on the Embassy of Finland's Web site: " A person who can prove that he or she served in the Finnish armed forces during Finland's wars (1939-1945) as a conscript, reservist or a volunteer will not be charged for processing the necessary declaration. " Well, why my F-I-L loves Finland he also loves saving money (in this case $314 USD).

My F-I-L served in the Finnish Army (Artillary) in the Winter War but we can't find his soldier identification. He lost many documents during WWII when his ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat (that he even survived was a miracle as their cargo was dynamite; the torpedo missed the cargo hull but sank the ship). According to the Finnish Military archives Web site we can order a copy of his military record. Although we have until May 2008 to submit the declaration I confess that I worry about time given my F-I-L's advanced age and poor health.

**Sponsor:**

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:57 pm

Yes well did you guys look at the price list of the Military Archive before this "thinking" bit?

You need a draft of his service record - if it exists.
http://www.sota-arkisto.fi/inet/tutkimusluvat.htm
It says tilaus-ja tutkimuslupahakemus pdf... 4 pages...

You *really* want to...

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:41 am

I'm often confused by your pseudo-aggressive humor, Hank.

What exactly are you trying to tell me?

Best,

Kate

smilesalot · Post by **smilesalot** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:00 am

Thats the link to the pdf form(Tilaus- ja tutkimuslupahakemus you need to fill out, and that its 53 euros an hour to do the research with a minimum fee of 26,50 euros.
I guess what Hank W is infering the cost to do the research might be twice as much as paying the citizen fee.

I guess you could work out a deal with someone on this board to go and visit and do the research for you.

smilesalot

We build our lives each day with the bricks of habits we have

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:40 am

Okay -- I understand (most appreciative for the Finnish to English translations).

In the USA, I can do the research myself via an online database of the National Archives. Then all I have to do is submit the request form via an online form and pay a photocopying and mailing fee.

We do have friends and relatives in Helsinki upon whom we could prevail to do the research for us. The declaration fee is $314 USD so at $53 EUR/hour research could get quite expensive.

Kate

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:17 am

I can only add my single experience with the Sota-Arkisto.

I turned up at their door on a Thursday last year, armed only with the name, birth date and unit number of my grandfather. Within half an hour I was in their quiet room, reading his service card. I asked for more details and left it with them.

I had an email later that day and on the Friday I turned up to find them ready with the unit records and war diaries for his battalion. It was absolutely fascinating, flicking through original maps, Russian propaganda leaflets, but the most important to me were the war diary entries around the day he was wounded in Feb 1940, honestly they could make a film from those 20 pages. It brought it home when even the handwriting becomes shaky as the front line has come under attack and they are in danger of being over run.

The girl who helped me was called Riia and she was efficient beyond belief.

In the end I spent around 45 euro, but this did enclude around 40 pages of photocopy.

Just my experience.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:06 am

I was more thinking of the filling in of the 4-pages taking time the 2 months...

Maybe if the relatives can be bothered, it might go slightly faster.

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:40 am

A follow up to my original post. Despite the somewhat discouraging auto-reply email I received from the Finnish Military Archives (that it would take them up to two months to even reply to my inquiry about *how* to order documents) today we received a a nice surprise in the mail: A cover letter in English which gives us a summary of my father-in-law's service record and official copies of his military card showing his service in the 1st Regiment of the 9th Field Artillery Brigade 13.10 1939-15.6.1940.

This is the last document we needed to submit his declaration for citizenship. I've known my father-in-law for almost 26 years now and I have never seen him as excited (in the Finnish way of course) about anything as he is about getting his Finnish citizenship back.

Thank you to those who replied to my earlier post.

Rob A. · Post by **Rob A.** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:58 am

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:19 am

mrshourula wrote:I've known my father-in-law for almost 26 years now and I have never seen him as excited (in the Finnish way of course) about anything as he is about getting his Finnish citizenship back.

Hey, congratulations! I guess you made your own copies as well? So I guess we'll have the population of Finnish citizens rise suddenly sometime this year

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:07 pm

Great to hear some good news on here for a change....... I'm smiling at your news and it feels good.

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:36 pm

Hank W. wrote: Hey, congratulations! I guess you made your own copies as well? So I guess we'll have the population of Finnish citizens rise suddenly sometime this year

By at least one, we hope.

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:34 pm

I'm pleased to end my story with the good news that my father-in-law received his decision from UVI and, as of March 19, 2007, he is once again a proud citizen of Finland.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:59 pm

Congrats, thanks for taking the time to post a happy ending story :

mrshourula · Post by **mrshourula** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:59 pm

mrshourula wrote:I'm pleased to end my story with the good news that my father-in-law received his decision from UVI and, as of March 19, 2007, he is once again a proud citizen of Finland.

One of Finland's oldest (and newest) citizens passed away on March 22. Almost everything I know about Finland I learned from him -- which is why I think so highly of the country and its people.

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