1.3 The Second World War in Europe

We knew the war was coming closer to our home. My mother threw some clothes into a bag. My father took his army bicycle. We also had a grey blanket with us. We left in such a hurry that this was all we managed to take. Many people had to leave in the middle of baking, others had to leave their cattle behind in the barn. We had no idea where we were going. No idea at all … That’s what I remember.

We travelled the whole day. We had nothing to eat and it was cold sitting at the back of the truck. People, even adults, were crying. None of us children could understand what was going on, why we had to leave. Everyone was talking about ‘evacuation’. I didn’t understand the word. I was six years old.

For many years we didn’t have enough to eat. We were malnourished because of scarce and unvarying food. We always felt hungry. I have often wondered how we survived through those years.

UNICEF - Friend of Finnish Children

An official came to our house and told us about an organisation that was helping people. We were told that my brother and I would get shoes.

During and after the war Finnish children haven’t had enough food and clothes. UNICEF has distributed food supplements to our children in hospitals, children’s homes, nurseries and summer camps. In schools, children have received milk powder and lard in addition to school meals. UNICEF has also provided clothes and shoes to our children. In the spring of 1949, over 60,000 children received three metres of flannel fabric for underwear.

Someone drove into our yard and gave packages to my brother and me. In my package there was a pair of beautiful brown shoes. For a while I was just caressing them and finally put them on. They were a bit too big, but mother said I shouldn’t worry because we could put on extra socks. I could wear them for many years to come. She said that now that I had shows I could go to school in the autumn. The first nights I kept the shoes next to my bed. They were so precious to me. My own shoes. Beautiful brown shoes. I understand refugees and it’s easy for me to relate to them. They are living through exactly the same experiences as we were back then. There’s a war in their home country. Nobody leaves their home unless it’s absolutely necessary. There’s no place like home.