Vilho Annala
Encyclopedia
Vilho Annala was a Finnish
civil servant, academic and far right
politician.
when edited the student union newspaper Ylioppilaslehti
from 1916 to 1919. He went on to work for the Bureau of Statistics
, whilst serving on the editorial staff of the conservative
daily Uusi Suomi
. He gained a doctorate in 1932 and became one of Finland's leading civil servants.
and became Helsinki District Chairman in February 1931. Ideologically Annala was heavily influenced by the corporatism
of Italian fascism
. He supported to co-opting of the working classes into the Lapua Movement and opposed the influence of wealthy industrialists.
In April 1932 Annala joined Herman Gummerus
and Erkki Räikkönen
in founding the Patriotic People's Movement
(IKL) and he served as caucus chairman from 1936 to 1944. Between 1933 and 1945 he also represented the party in the Parliament of Finland
. Whilst the official leader was Vihtori Kosola
real control of the movement rested with Annala and his close lieutenant Bruno Salmiala
. It was Annala who dictated the policy of the movement although his hard-line views led to condemnation by both the government and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
that damaged the group. Annala held the post of Minister of Transport in the unity government of Johan Wilhelm Rangell
from 1941 to 1943. This however was a last throw for the IKL as the group faded soon afterwards and Annala left politics.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
civil servant, academic and far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
politician.
Early years
He first came to prominence as a student at the University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
when edited the student union newspaper Ylioppilaslehti
Ylioppilaslehti
Ylioppilaslehti is a Finnish student newspaper founded in 1913. The paper is published by a private company Ylioppilaslehden kustannus Oy that is owned by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. The paper is the largest student paper in Finland with a circulation of 35,000 copies...
from 1916 to 1919. He went on to work for the Bureau of Statistics
Statistics Finland
Statistics Finland is the national statistical institution in Finland, established on 4 November 1865 to serve as an information service and to provide statistics and expertise in the statistical sciences. The institution employes over 1000 experts from varying fields....
, whilst serving on the editorial staff of the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
daily Uusi Suomi
Uusi Suomi
Uusi Suomi was a Finnish daily newspaper, which was published from 1919 to 1991.On May 25, 2007, it was announced that the Finnish company Nikotiimi had purchased the rights to the name "Uusi Suomi" from Alma Media and would start an online newspaper bearing that name in the fall of...
. He gained a doctorate in 1932 and became one of Finland's leading civil servants.
Politics
Annala joined the Lapua MovementLapua Movement
The Lapua Movement , was a Finnish radical nationalist and anti-communist political movement founded in and named after the town of Lapua. After radicalisation it turned towards far-right politics and was banned after a failed coup-d'état in 1932...
and became Helsinki District Chairman in February 1931. Ideologically Annala was heavily influenced by the corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
of Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
. He supported to co-opting of the working classes into the Lapua Movement and opposed the influence of wealthy industrialists.
In April 1932 Annala joined Herman Gummerus
Herman Gummerus
Herman Gregorius Gummerus was a leading Finnish classical scholar, diplomat, and one of the founders of the Patriotic People's Movement ....
and Erkki Räikkönen
Erkki Räikkönen
Erkki Aleksanteri Räikkönen was a Finnish nationalist leader.Born in St. Petersburg to a cantor, he attended the University of Helsinki before taking part in the ill-fated mission to secure independence for Karelia in 1921...
in founding the Patriotic People's Movement
Patriotic People's Movement (Finland)
Patriotic People's Movement, abbreviated to IKL), was a Finnish nationalist and anti-communist political party. IKL was the successor of the previously banned Lapuan liike...
(IKL) and he served as caucus chairman from 1936 to 1944. Between 1933 and 1945 he also represented the party in the Parliament of Finland
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
. Whilst the official leader was Vihtori Kosola
Vihtori Kosola
Iisakki Vihtori Kosola was the leader of the Finnish right-wing radical Lapua Movement.Kosola was born in Ylihärmä, Southern Ostrobothnia. His family's farmhouse burnt down the next year, and the family moved to Lapua...
real control of the movement rested with Annala and his close lieutenant Bruno Salmiala
Bruno Salmiala
Bruno Aleksander Salmiala was a Finnish legal theorist and a far-right politician.-Legal career:...
. It was Annala who dictated the policy of the movement although his hard-line views led to condemnation by both the government and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the national church of Finland. The church professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion....
that damaged the group. Annala held the post of Minister of Transport in the unity government of Johan Wilhelm Rangell
Johan Wilhelm Rangell
Johan Wilhelm Rangell was the Prime Minister of Finland from 1941 to 1943 . Educated as a lawyer, he was a close acquintance of President Risto Ryti before the war, and made his initial career as a banker in the Bank of Finland...
from 1941 to 1943. This however was a last throw for the IKL as the group faded soon afterwards and Annala left politics.