Study: USSR did not threaten Finland in summer of 1968

Occupation of Czechoslovakia caused Finland to upgrade defence

print this

A fresh Finnish study indicates that the Soviet Union did not consider attacking Finland, or putting military pressure on the country when Soviet-led forces of the Warsaw Pact occupied Czechoslovakia on August 21st, 1968.
      The study, by political scientist, Dr. Pekka Visuri concerns Finnish defence policy during the presidency of Urho Kekkonen, and was published on Tuesday.
      The possible intentions of the Soviet Union at the time have been a topic of debate for the past 42 years, although on the official level, the threat of an occupation has always been denied.
     
At the time, there was much Soviet naval activity in the Gulf of Finland, and Soviet warships were seen near Finnish coastal fortresses. Movements were also seen close to the land border.
      “The exaggerated stories about those events could also have been based on technical misunderstandings”, Visuri says.
      Dr. Visuri has gone through monitoring reports and documents of the Defence Forces of the summer and autumn of 1968. No observations of a threat against Finland or any territorial violations were observed.
     
After the occupation of Prague, Finland began quietly to strengthen defences of seaports and airports.
      “The Defence Staff drew up several plans and issued several orders in 1968-1969 to upgrade defence readiness. The most important of these were orders and plans for improving the defence of Helsinki in case of a surprise attack”, Visuri says.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Fears of Soviet invasion in August and September 1968 (24.8.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat