ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070004
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANN LANDERS
DEAR ANN: I enjoyed reading your column about Denmark and how the country saved its Jewish population. However, little mention is made of what happened in Finland.
With only 2,000 Jews, the Finns did not allow a single one to be harmed while the Germans were in the country. Unfortunately, through a bureaucratic error, eight Austrian Jewish refugees were sent from Finland to Poland, where they perished.
In expiation for having allowed such a tragedy, some Finns formed a kibbutz in Israel with the name ``Yad Hashmona,'' which means ``In memory of the eight.''
Over 300 Jews fought in the Finnish army in its struggle against the Soviet Union and against the Germans at the end of the war. Many of Finland's war heroes, officers and enlisted men were Jews.
Finland can rightfully be proud. |PORTLAND, ORE. DEAR PORTLAND: Several readers wrote to tell me how Finland saved its Jewish population.
Read on:
FROM STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Although Finland was officially neutral, it allowed the Germans into the country in order to help fight off the Soviets.
In 1942, the Finnish prime minister let the Germans know that Finnish Jews were citizens with the same rights as any other Finn.
Of course, Finland did not have the same pressures as a Nazi-occupied country like Denmark. Nevertheless, it was the only European country to save all its Jews.
Finland also had its own Oskar Schindler-type character.
In 1938, Algot Niska, known as an adventurer and liquor smuggler, was credited with rescuing 150 Jews by making trips into German-occupied territory and supplying Jews with forged Swedish or Finnish passports and getting them out of danger.
I don't know if Niska did this for the money or out of kindness, but had he been caught in Nazi Germany, he most certainly would have been killed.
OSLO, NORWAY Denmark deserves to be commended for helping its Jewish population during World War II. However, the only Scandinavian country that actually fought the Germans for the duration of the war was Norway.
Denmark allowed the Germans to enter the country without a fight.
Sweden was officially neutral.
Finland was busy with the Soviets.
In Norway, the Germans had to fight inch by inch and lost thousands of troops. On top of that, over 100 escape routes were set up to help Jews flee into Sweden.
I'm not looking for any medals. I just want to set the record straight. |LONGTIME READER DEAR L.T.R.: Thank you and all the others who wrote. You've given us a splendid history lesson. ``The record'' is a lot straighter - and I am grateful.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB