The early human settlement in Finland dates back to 9,000 BC. Between the 12th and 19th centuries, Finland was part of the Swedish Empire. In 1906, the Parliament of Finland (the “Eduskunta”) passed a law that established universal suffrage, including the right for women to stand for elected office, for the first time in Europe. During the Russian Revolution in 1917, Finland gained independence soon after its independent Civil War erupted, which led to over 30,000 casualties.
Throughout the Second World War, Finland fought against the Soviet Union, Initially Safeguarding its Liberty from the Winter War and then Threatening the Soviet Union in the Continuation War. From the peace settlement, Finland ended up ceding a vast portion of Karelia and various other regions into the Soviet Union. But Finland remained a different democracy in Northern Europe.
Here are some incredible colorized photographs of Finland from the early 20th century. These photographs show streets, landmarks, and everyday life of Finland from the 1900s to the 1930s.
