Finland Rewards WWII Foreign Volunteers

Finland Rewards WWII Foreign Volunteers

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http://ext.err.ee/imgen2.aspx?mode=5...e-056cff51d7e9
The monument in Luumäki, Finland, commemorating Finnish army's foreign volunteers
( Photo: Postimees/Scanpix )

Finnish government will make a 540-euro one-off donation to the foreign volunteers who during World War II fought against the Red Army in the ranks of the Finnish armed forces.

The volunteers, many of whom were Estonians, were called Soomepoisid (Finnish lads) and were part of the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200.

In total, 3,500 Estonians joined the Finnish armed forces in World War II in order to avoid mobilization by Nazi Germany.

According to the Finnish government, around 150 former volunteers are currently alive. Besides Estonians, the list includes Ingrian Finns and Karelians, YLE reported.

Finnish authorities will accept applications for the payout through the end of 2012.

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Finland has been paying pensions to for example Estonian veterans since the early 1990's.