Word: finlande
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...first phase of the Communist offensive in Finland was over. The Reds' carefully timed barrage of successive strikes had so far failed to paralyze the country's economy or to intimidate Premier KarlAugust Fagerholm's tough Social Democratic government. But the fight was not over. For the second phase of their drive, the Red strategists had held back some important reserves: Finland's 55,000 metalworkers...
...strike of metalworkers would hold a special danger for Finland: it might delay delivery of Finnish reparations to Russia. That, explained Premier Fagerholm last week, was what the Communists wanted; delay might give Russia an excuse to "intervene" under terms of the peace treaty...
...Come On, Boys." The Red push started at Kemi, a lumber town 50 miles from the Arctic Circle. Kemi's lumberjacks had been on strike for higher wages all summer; last week, Finland's Social Democratic government ordered the men back to work, sent police to Kemi to help enforce order. To the Communist bosses, that situation seemed ready-made for their purposes. To launch their offensive with a bang, the Red bosses decided to start a riot at Kemi...
After this short overture, the Communist plan of campaign went into full swing. The Reds' idea was to paralyze Finland through a carefully staggered wave of strikes. According to their meticulous timetable, the building workers' union-which like most other unions in Finland is infiltrated by Communists-was to strike the day before the Kemi blowup. Next day it was to be the dockers' turn, then the food workers' (including bakers and brewers). At intervals the woodworkers, truck drivers, textile workers and stonemasons were to follow...
...Hard Work." The government called out army units to maintain order. The Social Democratic Central Organization of Trade Unions ordered all its member unions to stop their strikes or be expelled. Chief strategist of Finland's courageous defense against the Red assault was a brilliant, little-known Socialist named Unto Varjonen. He is a minister-without-portfolio, but Finns know that his specific job is to fight Communists...