Survived to Protect - Post Nuclear War Finland in 1984

[Jukra]

20. Connecting people

5 February 1984
Teknologiakylä, Oulu

While an old dairy would seem an unsuitable location for a numer of high-tech startups it really wasn't if one thought of predecessors. One hundred and fifty years ago it had been tar, one hundred years ago sailing ships, seventy years ago dairy products, thirty years ago lumber, ten years ago machinery and now the present generation had to thought about something completely different. It was always a question of exports. Only with exports the inhabitants of this small backwater could hope for a higher standard of living. The wooden mansions in the city center once built by succesfull tar traders of 19th Century were decaying. One could not rely on past successes.

Nokia was a typical Finnish industrial conglomerate with product ranging from rubber boots to telecommunications cables to computers. In Oulu the firm had a plant for producing cable as well as design staff and a radio telephone plant.

Veikko, a MSc Engineer who had graduated couple of years ago from University of Oulu was heading a Nokia-led task force for development of production in this new industrial reality. Now it was not a question trying to create something to export for Soviet Union as the main export client had evaporated.

New products would have to be made. One of those was SANLA, the Finnish Defence Forces digital text-based communications device the Defence Forces had ordered far in excess of amounts Nokia could even produce. One wonders, if one could put a device like that in everyman's pocket, would it be popular? Nah, just for businessmen or important officials decades away. One would not have to aim himself to achieve Maxwell Smart standards. The first and most important task would be to equip Finnish Army expeditionary forces with robust and secure communications.

After insertion of forces there would be a need of setting up communications network in areas of responsibility which would be large with much of the pre-war communications network either damaged or
destroyed. There would be need for providing wireless communications as they would be easier to build than landlines. They could also avoid too hot areas easily.

Long term adminstration would require something more refined than SANLA terminals suitable for short messages. The entirely new product would be a data terminal made for French standard, Minitel. Initially there would be no time to construct data networks robust enough for large scale voice communications. Moreover, most of the traffic would be of adminstrative nature. Data transfer devices would suit post-nuclear present far better than telephones.

Most importantly the designer would not have to be concerned with intellectual property rights. The whole problem with IPO had just been washed away. The challenge was just to make the best product they could and the engineers of Nokia would do just that. They would also design something which would enable an Apple or IBM/PC computer to connect with Minitel network, thus using the already existing computers, some of which surely could be acquired even from Europe suffering from untold destruction.

 

[Archangel]

Keep it up, Jukra!

 

[Jukra]

Keep it up, Jukra!

I will, I have three updates almost ready but the unfortunate need to work somewhat limits my creative efforts to weekends.

 

[Jukra]

Note: I decided to continue this as I had some fresh ideas where towards I could carry this TL.

21. Boozing in Geneva

12 February 1984
Hotel Le PrinceGeneva

The journalist from Finnish National Broadcasting Company Yle would soon have yet another Gin Tonic with his cameraman. Before that he felt he needed some privacy for smoking a cigarette alone in the street. The Yle team was covering the UN Conference on Rebuilding which was a truly historic event. The decisions made here would shape the world for decades, even more so like OSCE conference of 1975 or the Second World War Allied conferences.

The experience of flying into post-Nuclear Geneva had been unreal. It had been a bright day and the flight route of Finnair DC-9-51 had taken them over Berlin and Stuttgart among other destroyed German cities.

Like many of his generation he had briefly flirted with Soviet communism during late 1960's. Student excursions into Leningrad had cured him from this disease, althoug many others of his generation had done their utmost to understand Soviet practices in many fields.

Isn't it ironic? Though Soviet Union and the whole Eastern Block had been hit even more severely than the Western Block the surviving nations were clinging into socialization of industries for indeterminable future. President Koivisto, Social Democrat, President Mitterrand, Socialist, Prime Minister Mario Soares, Socialist, Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain, Socialist... Even if men like Garrett FitzGerald and William Whitelaw seemed to be odd men out, they would still have to stuck into principles of state-guided centralization during the long reconstruction period. Global capitalism would be dead for a long time.

The whole conference would be a facade indeed, reminding him of such constructions as the Holy Roman Empire just before the 30 Years War. While representants of each country would claim to be legitimate holders of power no one could be really certain, outside perhaps some military intelligence circles, on how much power outside their bunkers and emergency cabinet areas the politicians would actually have.

Still, holding this kind of conference, even a facade, would be of utmost importance. After devastation of the War no one would take risks with security. Common people would have to be presented some kind of bright future among all destruction.

 

[Jukra]

22. Greater Finland

27 February 1984
Presidential Castle
Helsinki

...With the problems of international trade everything must be made in order to secure best possible food supply for winters of 1984-1985 and
1985-1986. The problems of international trade also require as large domestic natural resources supply as possible.

The course of action should include, in order of priority, the following:

1.) Securing the Karelian Isthmus up to 1920 border

Securing Karelian Isthmus would clear the Saimaa canal for use, gain the best farmland available with direct and short land connection and
also make the future border with successor of Soviet Union easily defensible. Foreign nationals in the area should be a willing work force.

2.) Reclaiming Estonia for Estonians under Finnish protection

These operations would support the action formed by suitable Estonian authorities. With destruction of largest Estonian cities majority of
Russian minority is dead and the good quality agricultural land, although without law and order, is available.

3.) Securing Eastern Karelia as safety and resource zone

Eastern Karelia is important not just in terms of food supply but in future lumber use. The goal should be River Svir-Onega-White Sea line for
easiness of defence in the future. In this area reside a large number of Karelians in addition to foreign nationals.

4.) Securing Kola Peninsula as resource zone

Kola Peninsula offers ice free ports, large mineral resources and possibility of building hydropower in the future. Kola Peninsula may also
contain useful military hardware for future defence use. The amount of foreign nationals is estimated to be rather small due to destruction
during the War. A rather large former Soviet fishing fleet may be also available with willing crews.

These operations should be performed after spring sowing but before harvests. This would avoid the problems of traffic during late winter,
maximize the use of manpower and material for agricultural use and also make sure that as small number as possible of foreign nationals would
present problems with our operation as possible...

When reading the policy paper made by Ministry of Agriculture and Defence Forces Command officials President Koivisto wondered if the year
was 1919 or 1941. The difference was that this time Russia was really dead. Finland was not jumping too early to get the fur coat out of a living
bear like in 1919 and 1941. Of course the areas would not be annexed until suitable time. In the UN Conference on Rebuilding the functional
states had decided on Areas of Protection. In Europe great care had been taken in order not to create conflicts in the future. Conflicts
might still materialize and thus every measure had to be taken to secure Finnish position not only in short but also in long term.

 

[Archangel]

The annexations will be costly for a while, with the disruption in international trade.

 

[Jukra]

23. Sacking Germany

28 February 1984
Ympyrätalo,
Siltasaarenkatu 18,
Helsinki

The winter day was clear, cold and crisp in Hakaniemi near the center of Helsinki. Everything looked normal expect for almost complete lack of private cars. The old man had decided to walk although he was offered a ride in SAAB limousine with a now-coveted Civilian Driving Permit. He wondered when wood gas carburators would come back, or would they?

Professor Erkki Kivalo had retired last year from his post as Director for Finnish Board of Medicine but was not surprised when he had received the call for service from the new director, a member of the Center Party like him. Kivalo would represent Board of Medicine in TAMOK, Talouden monipuolistamiskomitea, the Committee for Diversifying Economy. Like other political acronyms this did not really mean what it was really about. TAMOK was about how to ransack Germany for best interests of Finland.

The long term situation for Finnish health care system which had progressed in leaps and bounds after the Second World War was now, like modern way of life in general, under great threat. As a small country Finland did not produce many of even basic medical supplies. While there was a stocpile for six months of medical supplies the clock was ticking. In practice much of the medication was already curtailed which was showing in much increased death rate of the sick and infirm. This was not a surprise and had been expected in pre-war planning althought not written down explicitly.

Switzerland and Austria would be the most important suppliers of
medical supplies for Finland as France was seriously damaged, UK, US and Japan virtually gone out of the market. Communication with Switzerland was difficult as it had to rely mostly on HF radios and microfilmed air mail. By summer the situation would improve as land and microwave links through Germany would be restored and the river Rhine would be cleared of debris. However the Swiss and the Austrians would need more than just Finnish wood and Baltic fish and the demand for medical supplies worldwide would be huge.

Like everyone else the old medical professional understood why Germany would be secured only by summer. By that time those who would die because of the radiation and malnutrition would be dead. Soldiers from the less damaged nations would not have to deal with difficult issues of triage and euthanasia. This was also something which would not be written down explicitly.

However not everything could wait for due to coming spring which would damage those installations and goods which had survived from pressure waves, fire, radiation and anarchy. Nor could one fully trust the new allies such as Switzerland and France to deliver all the goods. Thus a ransacking expedition would be formed to raid some specific warehouses and medical supplies producers particularly in areas near the Baltic Coast. The 3rd Jaeger Brigade from X Corps would be sent south as an advance element much sooner than expected. It would be equipped with as good gear and medical support as possible but casualties, especially long term ones, would be inevitable.

Even more exotic operation was planned in co-operation with the Swedish authorities. The Ruhr area medical companies might still have some operational equipment and supplies which could be used. The medical supplies would naturally not be the only things of interest in area formerly known as Germany. Representants of various industries would also be present in the meeting. Finnish economy would have to diversify fast.

 

[Jukra]

24. The Long View

Ritvala, Sääksmäki
1 March 1984

Fish traps had catched quite a lot of burbots. Their livers would be excellent in soup and they would sell quite well. After the War the demand for fish had risen. The man checking the fish traps did not care whether demand was high or not. He was a deep ecologist and his only use for selling the fish would be to trade the few supplies he would need. The local inhabitants were horrified about distruption of trade which would soon cause great changes in their style of living. The deep ecologist thought this to be a good thing, although the changes were not drastic enough, at least for now.

The war, of course, was a good thing. One could not exactly guess how much people had died, probably not enough. But nuclear war was a good start. Even if there would be immediate adverse ecological effects in the long run the nature would conquer over whatever man had built over the last few centuries. Soon forests would again cover Central European heartland, steppes would be abound with wildlife and the oceans would teem over with fish.

This was the golden opportunity to turn back the clock. Even if he did not believe in God he thought it would be good time for some religious anti-technological fundamentalism. Now there would be chance to return for older, better times. It would be time to contact some old acquintants who knew those religious types.

 

[Archangel]

This was the golden opportunity to turn back the clock. Even if he did not believe in God he thought it would be good time for some religious anti-technological fundamentalism. Now there would be chance to return for older, better times. It would be time to contact some old acquintants who knew those religious types.

He longs after things that were not so good for the quality of life of people, and often meant a shorter and worse life for most people.
Hope the authorities watch for any disruptive fundamentalisms.

 

[Jukra]

He longs after things that were not so good for the quality of life of people, and often meant a shorter and worse life for most people.
Hope the authorities watch for any disruptive fundamentalisms.

Like I wrote at the start I'm trying to explore what would a nuclear war do for a society which was not immediately hurt. Religious fundamentalism might be one option for many, as despite lack of immediate destruction in the neighbourhood this event would radically change the lives of 1980's common man and woman. There will be counter forces of course, some evne surprisingly positive with their outlook.

Next parts will be perhaps somewhat more relevant to those who are not Finns as they'll be about what to do with Germany - and who will be able to do anything with Germany. Even with all the destruction there are a number of things which make Germany very relevant for the future of Europe.

 

[Jukra]

25. The Case for Manifest Destiny

FROM: TAMOK, Committee on Diversifying Economy
TO: President of the Republic

Thoughts on national interest in rebuilding of Europe

While the present situation is fluid and the information on Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy is limited, there are certain facts that should be appreciated:

1.) Our economy will simply collapse due to lack of global market for our goods. International trade will be limited to barter of most important goods for a long time. Taking areas under our protection will create jobs and markets.

2.) Our cultural situation is bleak. There has to be some kind of national project which will put faith in the future in minds of our citizens.

3.) Our nation is probably the least damaged in Europe. Only Switzerland might be comparable but it suffers from various indirect effects of the war. Historically this is comparable to situation in Russia just after the Revolution, or the 30-Years war, when organized force, despite how small, could have disproportional effect.

4.) Despite all the destruction and environmental damage Germany has excellent infrastructure, excellent farmland, good forestry resources, survivors have excellent skill and training levels and above all there will be a large amount of goods which can be either salvaged or used as scrap. Pre-war FRG and GDR combined had a population of some 78 million inhabitants.

We expect the total population of Germany to be between 3 and 10 million by summer.

5.) At the same time the area under our protection should not be too large to be controlled in long term and not too large to be helped in short time. The initial influx of food and other help should not be diluted into such amounts it cannot be used.

6.) In Germany the area which should be taken under our protection should include Schleswig-Holstein and area of former Hamburg. While this seems quite large area the total land area is smaller than Municipality of Inari and with better infrastructure despite all the destruction. As largest centers of population in this area are completely obliterated, many with tactical airburst nuclear weapons, the amount of population to be initially supplied should not exceed few hundreds of thousands. It includes Hamburg which as a key natural location will be rebuilt at some point of the future.

7.) If we don't act on this opportunity, somebody else will. On coming negotiations about how to handle the situation in former Germany and Eastern Europe. At present it seems that French are mostly interested in area West of Rhine, as their own rebuilding will take most of their rebuilding efforts for a long time. Austria will direct her interests mostly to Bavaria while Switzerland will be more interested in Baden-Württenberg area.

8.) Areas east of Inter-German border are of less interest due to less well developed infrastructure, less educated workforce and possibility of encountering various former Soviet troops, at least for some time.

 

[Jukra]

26. Operation Röyttä

10 April 1984
Cruiseferry GTS Finnjet
Off Travemünde

The major landings were now finally underway. While General Siilasvuo himself would come onshore with the "first LCP", together with YLE television crew, in reality the invasion had been long underway. Two weeks before landing leaflets and small packages of food had been dropped from Air Force and Finnair Fokker Friendships. At the same time the Navy SIGINT vessel Kustaanmiekka started broadcasting German language programme with light music, information on Finnish cultural ties with Germany, weather forecasts and various othe information.

One week before reconnaissance patrols from ErP 4 - the reconnaissance unit formed by pre-war Parachute School - had been delivered to surrounding countryside. At the same time the shipping route had been secured. Fortunately there had been no mines. The war had been too quick for preplanned mining operations.

Finally, five days before landings a contact team had been flown in to local golf course. While Travemünde had been physically almost undamaged it's community had sorely suffered during last three months. Lübeck had been demolished by a nuclear strike and the community had been unable to either help or stop the influx of refugees. While Town Clerk together with local commander of Grenzschutzabteilung had held some kind of vision of continuity of governance they did have no idea how many people were still alive.

Siilasvuo would soon board the "first LCP" bound for Travemünde. On second one there would be the brass band. The official landing would have to be one with dignity and respect. After the official ceremonies the important status of forces agreements would be signed in respect of the Finnish military, adminstrative and support personnel.

For some time the GTS Finnjet would be anchored as floating HQ, field hospital and amusement center for resting troops. Siilasvuo had read on some book in his boy years about the specific room in the American White House designed to impress indigenous population before they would be signing treaties. GTS Finnjet would serve that purpose as well. For the poor folks of Germany just normal buffet lunch was more than enough for them to agree on anything possible.

 

[Archangel]

What will happen to the central areas of Germany?

 

[Jukra]

What will happen to the central areas of Germany?

That's actually something I have not decided yet. The problem is that while these areas, as well as those areas of former USSR, have some resources which might be useful in the future the burden of adminstering them would be quite large for those nations still having some expeditionary capacity. On the other hand, in the long term the division of those lands might create problems among the new Great Powers.

 

[mattep74]

Nevermind, next post by you changed my post

 

[mattep74]

9. The Day After



Reports indicate heavy damage to Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Tröllhattan, Linköping, Lysekil, Nynäshamn and Karlskoga after enemy nuclear attack. Rescue efforts in progress, we request assistance in any form Finland can provide.

Stockholm i can understand as its the seat of the goverment, Göteborg i can understand since it is an important harbor, Malmö viped out alongside Kopenhagen, but whats in trollhättan, Lysekil and Nynäshamn? Linköping is the home of SAAB and Karlskoga have Bofors. Why didnt Soviet nuke Karlskrona since there is were the navy is based. Why are Norrköping, Uppsala and Västerås not targeted?

Its intresting to say the least

 

[Jukra]

Stockholm i can understand as its the seat of the goverment, Göteborg i can understand since it is an important harbor, Malmö viped out alongside Kopenhagen, but whats in trollhättan, Lysekil and Nynäshamn? Linköping is the home of SAAB and Karlskoga have Bofors. Why didnt Soviet nuke Karlskrona since there is were the navy is based. Why are Norrköping, Uppsala and Västerås not targeted?

Its intresting to say the least

Tröllhattan houses SAAB automotive industries, Nynäshamn and Lysekil are refinery sites. As for Karlskrona, Norrköping, Uppsala and Västerås I just randomly took them out of the target list for the reason that this conflict did not feature full target lists.

As far as Sweden goes, IMHO it's much more realistic to expect Sweden to be hit much more heavily than Finland in a nuclear conflict. In this TL, for the reason I want to explore a surviving nation in post-nuclear war situation, Finland got off without virtually any damage. An exact opposite of DrakonFin's excellent Land of Sad Songs.

I'll put some updates in this TL tonight.

 

[Historyman 14]

Is Reagan alive? If so, what is his view on Finland and the rest of Europe?

 

[Jukra]

27. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet!

Bundesautobahn 1, Hammoor, Schleswig-Holstein
1 June 1984

With his light blue baseball cap, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Lahti L-35 pistol, Model 62 camouflage suit and black Nokia rubber boots, Raimo looked like typical Finnish peacekeeper of 1970's and 1980's in the Middle East. However, this was not Golan, Sinai or Lebanon but Northern Germany.

While Raimo had spent his conscript service in Rovaniemi in Rovaniemi Air Defence Battalion the War had rendered his service with 35mm Oerlikons defending the military air field quite irrelevant. What mattered more was that he had finished his military service two years ago, he was a young reservist with good grades in his military passport with rank of Corporal and above all had few years of experience as construction worker. Being a construction worker in Post-Nuclear Spring 1984 Finland meant two things as far as bureucrats in both Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Labor knew. First, he was classified as superfluous worker as construction work was virtually grinding to a halt as almost all public and private construction was brought into standstill. Second, he had skills useful for German expedition. Thus in February 1984 Raimo was called in at Hiukkavaara Barracks in Oulu and incorporated in an engineering outfit being trained for Germany. As an added benefit he had studied German during his years in elementary school.

And now here he was, as a part of YKSAKSH troops, "Ykskaks", or "One-Two", Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien Suomalainen Armeijakunta Schleswig-Holsteinissa, UNFACSH, United Nations Finnish Army Corps in Schleswig-Holstein known as VNFAKSH after the German acronym. Each morning he would take his four man patrol in light blue baseball caps into white painted Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen of the former Bundeswehr and drive to a specific daily site fulfilling the mission of YKSAKSH supporting good folks Schleswig-Holstein in rebuilding their lives.

The actual job in the spot was to direct clearing action on Route 404 towards Schwartzenbek. This did not merely include just sweeping remains of cars, fallen trees and other paraphenalia aside but also checking their condition. Every vehicle would be classified for further use or recycling. The best ones had actually been taken away already. Of course Raimo or members of his patrol did not perform the tasks by themselves, but were engaged in directing the activities and providing security for the workers. In early days of the mission he had shot one young kid dead and the vision haunted him. Now, as things were stabilizing the mere presence of the white G-Wagen, especially if sirens were used, was enough to calm things down.

After the daily shift was completed the local workers would be paid in food, the most prized commodity now here. Going home after work was the riskiest part of the day for local workers as the promise of food was far too tempting for some roving bands which had surfaced during Winter of Horror. Each day the Jaeger units of the YKSAKSH were mounting raids to eliminate them in co-operation with the Landespolizei units.

Anyway, this would be his last shift before leave. He had drawn a lucky ticket for the first leave shift, although this would mean that next leave would not probably come before October. At 6 PM he and his patrol would drive for the company base in Bargteheide, and head for the Sauna. This would be followed by a bus ride to Strandhotel Travemünde and a good disco night with local beer, schnaps and women. Liisa and Heli, his wife and daughter, would not know about it and what one did not know would not hurt. Besides, with paying the local women in food and luxuries would probably help their families as well.

Waiting for Raimo, parked near Skandinavienkaj was also his new car, and not any normal car but model 1983 BMW M635 CSi, 3.5 liters, 286 PS. Liberated from an owner who did not need it any more, checked many times with a docimeter. Filled with computers, LP's and home appliances. Getting a private car from overseas mission was one benefit similar to UN missions of normal times.

 

[Jukra]

Is Reagan alive? If so, what is his view on Finland and the rest of Europe?

Reagan is dead and George Bush is the President of the United States. While US presents itself not only as the sole surviving superpower but also as the winner of the war it has so many domestic issues that it cannot really project influence abroad. Almost the sole, but very important, exception is the US Navy which really controls the sea lanes of the world and extracts tolls for this.