Finland commemorates 85 years since parliamentary evacuation to Kauhajoki during Winter War

During the Winter War, Finland’s parliament was relocated from Helsinki to Kauhajoki, where it convened 34 sessions. The Parliament Museum, established in 1984, commemorates this historical evacuation. According to Parliament Secretary Antti Pelttari, the current administration has contingency plans for emergencies and would not need to evacuate from Helsinki again.

Kauhajoki provided swift accommodations for the parliament, even organizing the inauguration of the parliament during the war. With the onset of the Winter War 85 years ago, Helsinki became a target for bombardment, prompting a quick decision to move the parliament to a safer location. The following day, a special train transported members of parliament and officials, many accompanied by their families, to the small municipality in southern Ostrobothnia.

Historical documents reveal that there was no formal evacuation plan; participants were simply informed to gather at the railway station that night at 3 AM, with further details to be communicated later. The local secondary school was swiftly repurposed for parliamentary activities, with the school head announcing that classes would cease and parliament would take over within two hours.

Throughout its stay from December 1, 1939, to February 12, 1940, parliament held its sessions in the Kauhajoki community lyceum. The museum reflecting this unique period was opened on December 1, 1984, marking 45 years since the evacuation began.

Today, the parliament’s preparedness strategies are kept largely confidential, although Secretary Pelttari highlights the importance of robust facilities beneath Helsinki, ready for various contingencies. There is ongoing interest in historical events, and the number of visitors to the Parliament Museum has notably increased recently.