Elementary Education and Children’s Lives during The Second World War in Finland

Abstract

During the Second World War, Finland fought twice against Russia and then against Germany. Except for some exceptions, children’s everyday life and living surroundings changed dramatically because of war.  This study provides a multidimensional picture of the war time happenings in Finland regarding elementary education. This study analyzed how elementary education was arranged during the Second World War in Finland and how war children described their life during the war. The data comprised former war-children’s memories (N = 13) and supplementary archival sources and carefully selected, relevant research literature of the time of Second World War in Finland. The archival sources included letter copies and minutes of teachers’ meetings. The study showed that the patriotic ideals and strict demands on decency and industry were a salient, unquestionable part of children’s practical lives in the war-time Finland.