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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2006
After the end of the Second World War, when Finland sought to redefine its position vis-à-vis Germany, negotiations were dogged by the fact that Finland had been a close ally of Hitler's Germany in 1941–4 in the war against the USSR. In April 1948 Finland signed a Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (FCMA) with the USSR, in which the military articles were based on the need to counter a potential German attack on the Soviets via Finland's territory. Finland's international position was so difficult that it became the only country in the world that did not establish full diplomatic relations with either of the German states. It was also the only country in the world to pursue a policy of absolute neutrality vis-à-vis both Germanys. When the Finnish government offered to host the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in May 1969, its main preoccupation was the German question, and it succeeded in fending off Soviet pressure to recognise the GDR. In 1973, with West German Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt's Neue Ostpolitik easing tensions with regard to the German question, Finland was able to establish full diplomatic relations with both German states simultaneously.
1 On Finland's relations with divided Germany see Putensen, Dörte, Im Konfliktfeld zwischen Ost und West. Finnland, der Kalte Krieg und die deutsche Frage 1947–1973 (Berlin: Arno Spitz, 2000)Google Scholar, and Hentilä, Seppo, Kaksi Saksaa ja Suomi. Saksan-kysymys Suomen puolueettomuuspolitiikan haasteena (English summary: The Two Germanys and Finland. The German Question as a Challenge to Finland's Policy of Neutrality) (Helsinki: SKS, 2003)Google Scholar.
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4 Pankow was the part of Berlin in which the East German leaders lived until the 1960s. The name was used in West Germany to refer to the East German communist government.
5 Telegram from the Auswärtiges Amt to Koenning, 26 Sept. 1955, B 23, Bd. 13, Politisches Archiv des Auswärtigen Amts (PAAA).
6 Memorandum by R. R. Seppälä, 27 Sept. 1955, 12 L Länsi-Saksa, Ulkoasiainministeriön arkisto (UM, Archives of the Finnish Foreign Ministry), Helsinki. All translations of quotations are by the author.
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10 Rentola, Niin kylmää että polttaa, 488.
11 Vermerk vom Gespräch mit dem Genossen Lunkow, Moscow, 11 Dec. 1961, A 14053, Bestand MfAA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the GDR), PAAA, Berlin.
12 Kekkonen's secret memorandum ‘DDR > Viipuri’, talks in Moscow on 13 and 24 June 1968, Kekkonen's Yearbook 1968 MK (micro card) no. 112–13, UKA.
13 Minutes of the annual meeting of the Finnish–East German Friendship Society on 29 March 1967, Suomi–DDR–seura (Finnish–East German Friendship Society), Kansallisarkisto (KA, National Archives), Helsinki.
14 DC-20 Nr.4531, Nachlass Willy Stoph. Länderakten Finnland, Stiftung Archiv der Parteien und Massenorganisationen der DDR im Bundesarchiv (SAPMO BA).
15 Vermerk vom Gespräch zwischen dem Parteisekretär der SDPFi Kalevi Sorsa und dem Leiter der Handelsvertretung, Genossen Oelzner, 19 Nov. 1969, ZK der SED, Abt. Internationale Verbindungen, DY 30 IV A 2/20-561, SAPMO BA.
16 Notes of talks with Herzfeldt, deputy Foreign Minister of the GDR, on 7 Oct. 1968. Lauri Puntilan kokoelma, F 232. Notes from 18.3. to 17.12.1968, KA.
17 Interview with Niilo Hämäläinen on 16 Jan. 2001.
18 Rules, annual reports and annual plans of Finland's commission for the recognition of the GDR, 1973, Finnish–East German Friendship Society, KA.
19 Minutes of the Politbureau of Finland's Communist Party, 14 Jan. 1970, 1B SKP Ac MF 97 Kansan Arkisto (KansanA, People's Archives), Helsinki.
20 Rules, annual reports and working plans of the Recognition Committee for the GDR, Annual report from 1 Jan. 1971 to 30 Apr. 1972, KA.
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28 Aufnahme von diplomatischen Beziehungen mit Finnland, Besprechung mit den drei Mächten und Nato-Partnern, gez. Thomas 17 July 1972, Ref. 304, Bd. 366, PAAA.
29 Suomen hallituksen tiedonanto 11 Sept. 1971 (note from the Finnish government), in ULA 1971, 77.
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32 Tasavallan presidentin radio- ja televisiopuhe (Radio and TV broadcast by the President of the Republic), 11 Sept. 1971, in ULA 1971, 82.
33 Verhandlungen zwischen den Delegationen der Republik Finnland und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Nov. 8, 1972. 7 D 2 F 311, UM.
34 Urho Kekkosen päiväkirjat (Urho Kekkonen's Diaries), ed. Juhani Suomi, Vol. 3 (Helsinki: Otava, 2003), 258 (31 May 1972).
35 Kekkonen's Memorandum on the recognition of the two Germanys and on the CSCE, 3 July 1972. Kekkonen's Yearbook 1972 MK no. 138, UKA.
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