Saunas help U.N. peacekeepers

Following World War II, Finland reorganized its military forces. Since the 1950s, some from Finland serve as peacekeepers for the United Nations and NATO in many crisis areas around the world. And, in those hot spots, they bring something even hotter with them — saunas.

Mobile sauna used in Bosnia in 1977.

In fact, the Finnish troops build saunas saunas at every base they occupy — Sinai in 1956, Lebanon since 1982, Bosnia since 1996, Kosovo in 1999, Congo in 2006, Uganda, Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan — in over 30 operations world-wide.

They bring building materials with them, in case they’re not available locally. In addition they have developed other ways for their soldiers to sauna — a dismountable timber-sauna and a prefab or mobile sauna on a truck (with a water tank for cooling plunges afterwards), according to Secretary-General Urpo Rannansuu, Finnish Ministry of Defence, Information Section.

The idea has many plusses, he said. Saunas provide a taste of home, a chance to rejuvenate, a way to relax, strengthen esprit de corps. They know a round in a sauna helps let off steam. So first they organize their saunas and then figure out how to appease the fighting parties.

Sauna built for battalion commander in Lebanon.

Mikkel Aaland, the author of Sweat, wrote of taking saunas with Finnish troops who were serving in Cyprus. Though the temperature during the day was about 110 degrees, the outdoor air felt refreshing in comparison to the sauna’s intense heat. The company commander told Aaland that the “Finn’s ambition was to build a single sauna for both Turks and Greeks.” When the two warring factions could find a way to relax together and sort out a peaceable solution, the Finns would be free to return home.

There were 16 Finnish peacekeeping troops left in Cyprus in 2012 — most had been reassigned to more troubled areas of the globe. I hope they were able to use the sauna as a peaceable solution.  

Both photos are courtesy of Secretary-General Urpo Rannansuu.

Nikki