Sauna creates the problem, the solution and the reward

During the Winter War of 1939-40, a story is told about Finnish troops near the front lines (in the province of eastern Karelia), who believed that Russian troops were still reasonably distant. So a group of Finns took a long turn in a field sauna. While these men were relaxing and steaming up, Soviet troops overran the Finnish positions and the front line of battle changed. Though the soldiers didn’t realize it, the rest of their units had (wisely and hastily) retreated.

When they came outside to cool off, they discovered they had been left behind. The dugout in which they’d left their equipment had been destroyed — they were without weapons or equipment. And worse, their clothing was gone.

Then they heard the unmistakeable sound of Soviet tanks — and realized they were behind the Soviet front line. They dashed back into the sauna for a last dose of löyly and creative problem-solving.

Late that night, they sneaked out of the sauna in small groups and fled into the forest. For two days they struggled through peat bogs and thickets until they located another Finnish line — and their unit.

Their commanding officer promptly ordered a reward for the exhausted and very scratched soldiers — off to the sauna for another dose of its revitalizing properties. What got them “in trouble” helped them get out of of it and helped them recover from the ordeal as well.

(This story came from Businessman’s Guide to the Finnish Sauna, written by Arto and Terho Ovaska Paasilinna.)

Nikki 

Stories like this and more in Some Like It Hot: The Sauna, Its Lore and Stories, a book that delights in the breadth of information and stories about saunas. Buy a copy of Some Like It Hot: The Sauna, Its Lore and Stories from the publisher, North Star Press of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Inc., or from local booksellers. 
 

For a signed copy, send $20 (which includes tax and shipping costs) to: Nikki Rajala, P.O. Box 372, Rockville, Minnesota 56369.

 

Firing up saunas during the Winter War

The Soviet Union invaded Finland during the winter of 1939-1940, which is known as the Winter War. Though the Soviets had far greater numbers, Finland used its resources, even the cold, to its advantage. One of those resources was the sauna.

Service regulations prescribed saunas once a week.

Field Marshall Carl Mannerheim ordered saunas to be built in bunkers, dugouts, deserted buildings and even tents. Here camouflage was important, so those saunas looked rustic.
Soldiers marching past a sauna in the morning would light a fire in its stove so those who would camp there late that day would find it hot and ready to use. Those saunas warmed the frozen soldiers, cleaned them, rejuvenated them.

Besides that, the Finnish Army created a portable “sauna” to de-louse their soldiers’ uniforms while the men were relaxing in the sauna.

A neat solution for two distinct problems! 
 

Nikki