Breaking the Silence : A Discussion of the Finnish SS-volunteers in Finland 2018-2019

Abstract: Since the 1960s the memory of the Finnish SS-volunteers has been seen as a special group which did not participate in the atrocities while serving in Waffen-SS. A new study about the Finnish SS-volunteers was published at the end of 2018 sparking an active discussion about the role of Finns in the Holocaust and atrocities in World War II. The debate about the painful past further invigorated when the National Archives of Finland carried out an archival survey concluding that volunteers most likely participated in atrocities against Jews, civilians and prisoners of war. This master thesis investigates the discussion that took place in the newspapers, tabloids and journals, and based on the arguments used, it analyses how the memory of Finnish SS-volunteers is dealt with in Finnish society. The discussion confirms that there are uncomfortable parts in Finland's past which are yet to be dealt with and the old interpretations of Finland having separate war and being a victim still has a meaningful place in the historical consciousness. There is also a need to further investigate the empty pages of Finnish history, the painful ones too.