Briefly in ENGLISH

The first Board of the AKS 1922. Chairman Mr K. H. Hallikorpi in center and from him to the right gentlemen. E. E. Kaila and to the left gentlemen E. Simojoki, R. Vähäkallio. Copyright: AKS

The Beginning

The 22 February, 1922 is considered the founding date of the Academic Carelian Society. On this day, three high school students returned disappointed from the crusade-like, unfortunate war behind Finland's Eastern border. Their aim had been the liberation of local peoples from Soviet pressure, in order to bring them independence. The three young idealists were deeply moved by the unfortunate fate of the indigenous Finnish people left behind the closed border between Finland  and the newly created Soviet-Russia.

The Background

However, for the birth of the most socially significant student organization of its time, favorable conditions were already in place. Finnish national romanticism found its greatest sources of inspiration in Eastern Carelia. The subjects of poetry collectors, visual artists and composers sprung from there. This Carelianism, as promoted by other great men of the 19th century such as poets and lyrics Sakari Topelius, Johan Ludvig Runeberg and above all, the "father of the Finnish currency the Markka" Johan Wilhelm Snellman, raised Finnish national consciousness in our country.

The Activities 1922-1944

The field of activity of the newly established AKS was threefold from the beginning: tribal work, true Finnishness and the support of national defense. The spirit of the era in the young nation was reflected in the fact that AKS membership was strictly limited to men with a high school diploma. However, shortly thereafter, the Carelian Women's Society (NYKS), later called Akateemisten Naisten Karjala-Seura (ANKS), was founded. For the younger age groups, there were separate Carelia Clubs schools (OKS). Tribal work started immediately after the establishment of the association with training and guidance provided by the thousands of people who fled from behind the Soviet border.

 

On the iniative of the AKS and the Volunteer Civil Army (Suojeluskunta) tens of thousands of citizens travelled to the Carelian isthmus to participate to the voluntary fortification works. Copyright: SA-Picture (FDF)

From the start, AKS activities were characterized by the strong desire to defend the homeland. AKS. members were required to have completed military conscription, and to participate in the activities of the of local home guard forces. Education services were targeted at schools and garrisons, and finally, as the threat of war continued to grow, voluntary fortification work on the Carelian Isthmus was initiated by the society in the summer of 1939.

The national integration promoted by the AKS wer certainly one of the driving forces during the difficult years of the last wars 1939-1944. When greeting AKS at the celebration of its 20th anniversary, the president of the republic Risto Ryti said that the society  had instilled Roman civic virtues in the Finnish people.

 

The Finnish Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim salutes the AKS flag. Copyright: Finna.

Statistics 1922-1944

During the society’s first 22 years of operation, the number of members increased to around four thousand. In WWII 413 of them fell, and among the 191 soldiers knighted with the Mannerheim Cross - the most distinguished military honour in Finland - 23 were AKS members.

AKS was abolished in September 1944, as part of demands in the peace agreement between Finland and the Soviet Union.

The Cold War Years 1944-

Many of the young people who were AKS members during their studies and at the time of the wars,  rose to high social positions after their graduation. They belonged to the generation that rebuilt a prosperous Finland for us. Their brotherhood continues throughout life.

In light of the fact that,  for instance, the president of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Chief of Defence, the President of the Supreme Court and the bishops of several dioceses were AKS brothers, there can be no doubt as to the the similarity of the ideas that they embraced, from their young years onwards.

Even though some of them may have been reluctant to reveal their past, and despite some denials and changing opinions, the life values adopted by these men during their student years carried them through their time. It can rightly be said that AKS trained and educated the decision-makers who, during the dangerous years of the Cold War, were responsible for the preservation of Finnish society as Finnish.

The purpose and the activities of the AKS in their original form ended, but the spirit of the society remained intact among the sworn brothers.
 

By the grave of late AKS chairman PhD Vilho Helanen at the Hietaniemi cemetery in Helsinki 2023. Copyright: AKS

The New Era 1958-

The idea of ​​getting former AKS brothers together to create a social network had already been born in 1952 at the funeral of PhD Vilho Helanen, one of the most important AKS influencers. Based on the positive experiences of the initial and random meetings, the decision was made to organize the community into an association, which was named Club 22. The founding document and rules were submitted to the registry on May  12, 1958, and in keeping with tradition, complete with 22 signatures. Later (in the year 2002), the name of the club was changed to its current form..

Todays’ Tradition Association 2002-

The purpose clause of the club and the tradition association's rules read as follows: "The purpose of the club is to nurture and promote the Finnish national spirit and culture." Thus, the decision was made to preserve those Roman civic virtues. However, holding an academic degree was no longer a prerequisite for membership.

In the statute update of 2015, the purpose of the AKS is defined as follows: "The purpose of the association is to nurture the traditions of the Academic Carelian Society, to strengthen the Finnish national spirit and culture, as well as national unity, and to promote national defense work and support veteran charities. To fulfill its purpose, the association organizes lectures and discussion events, participates in social debate, and arranges membership trips to places of interest."

Today, the  AKS organizes monthly presentations for both members and the public. The subjects range from history to current issues. According to our participants, the presentations are of an exceptionally high standard.

 

Mr PhD, professor Kari Alenius of the University of Oulu sharing his study of the totalitarian regimes in the World 2024. Copyright: AKS
The Snellman Event on the 13th May 2024 at the Ostrobotnia House in Helsinki. Appointees of the annual rewards. Copyright: AKS

The AKS Tradition Association's main achievement has been the cross-border and yearslong assistance of war veterans, their spouses and widows living in the Aunus Carelia and Ingermanland areas, nowadays both Russian territory. These veterans once fought in the Finnish Army against the Soviet Union but were forced to return behind the Iron Curtain.

During several years in the late 1990's and early 2000's, AKS volunteers carried out large-scale repair work on homes, delivered medicine and clothing assistance, and organized rehabilitation and hospital treatment on Finnish soil for those in need. All of this was possible thanks to the financial support from private foundations. The national airline Finnair was a major donor thanks to the fundraising they carried out in connection with their long-haul flights in the late 1990's. After the demise of the last veterans known to the Tradition Association, the remaining aid funds were donated to the Official War Veterans' Circle in Helsinki for further distribution in December 2023.

The activities of the AKS Tradition Association are open to every Finnish man and woman who embraces its values, and we welcome everyone interested in our tradition work to participate in our events. Presently the Association is chaired by Mr Pekka Lehtiö.

TO BE NOTED:

The Association is strictly non-political and takes no stance with regard to current World affairs.

 

Contact info: Yhteystiedot  aksperinne(at)gmail.com

Copyright: AKS