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| 1928 |
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| The secretary of the Federation of Labor Unions was convicted of treason and jailed for five years. The labor movement was split between Social Democrats and Communists throughout the 1920s. The federation collapsed in 1929 when the Communists called for a general strike that failed without Social Democrat support. Communism was later outlawed in 1930, and a new non-Communist Confederation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) was founded. | 1 |
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| 1930, Oct. 14 |
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| Attempted coup of Gen. Kurt Wallenius and his Fascist Lapua organization. | 2 |
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| 1931, Feb. 16 |
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| PEHR SVINHUFVUD became president. During his term of office he threw his influence in the direction of conservatism, encouraging the Fascist elements. | 3 |
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| 1932, Feb. 27–March 7 |
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| Another Lapua uprising. Once again the movement failed. Wallenius was arrested, and on Nov. 21 more than 50 leaders were convicted. The organization was disbanded, but in 1933 there emerged the Patriotic National Movement, similar to the Lapua. | 4 |
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| 1933, May 4 |
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| The government forbade the military organization of political parties and groups. | 5 |
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| 1934, April |
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| The wearing of uniforms and political emblems was prohibited. | 6 |
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| 1935, Aug. 28 |
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| The Finnish foreign minister for the first time joined in the meeting of ministers of the other Scandinavian states. Thereafter Finland regularly participated in these meetings. In view of the changed conditions in the Baltic after Hitler's rise to power, Finland attempted to form a bloc of Scandinavian and Baltic states to hold a balance between Germany and Russia. In close collaboration with these states Finland proceeded to refortification of the Aaland Islands, despite the opposition of the inhabitants. | 7 |
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| 1937, Feb. 15 |
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| KYOSTI KALLIO, premier and leader of the Agrarian Party, was elected president, with support of the Social Democrats. | 8 |
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| 1938, Nov. 22 |
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| The government dissolved the Patriotic National Movement, which was the spearhead of fascism. | 9 |
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| 1939 |
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| Novelist Frans Eemil Sillanpää (1888–1964) won the Nobel Prize. | 10 |
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| Jan |
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| The interwar development of social legislation culminated in the implementation of old-age and invalidity insurance, covering all persons 18 years and over. | 11 |
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| Sept. 1 |
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| Finland announced its neutrality. | 12 |
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