Travels in Finland and abroad

December 11, 2009

Comparing war memorials I / Comparando monumentos a los caídos I / Comparant monuments aux morts I

Part I/II. Parte I/II.

In English:

When photographing churches, it is quite natural to visit on local cemeteries. What is eye striking, are war memorials or as we call them: “Pro Patria” in English “For the Fatherland” statues. Some of them are great, some less great, because some villages are poor. This is quite understandable because total number of deaths was 90 000 and wounded nearly 200 000. This means that in many small villages there were after war nearly young children and old men. Women had to do same work than their decedent husbands and also their own work. But the war is not the only one thing were people died. In 1866–1868 we had great famine. During those years eight percent of total number of our population died. In numbers that is 115707 persons. Also in 1695—1697 we had bigger famine and then 150000 died. That number was about one third about the whole population.

En español:

Al fotografiar iglesias, es bastante natural visitar en cementerios locales. Lo que salta a la vista son monumentos a los caídos o como nosotros los llamamos: “Pro Patria” o en español “Por la Patria” estatuas. Algunos de ellos son espectaculares algunos no lo estan, porque algunos pueblos son pobres. Esto es bastante entendible porque el número de total de muertes fue 90 000 e hirió casi 200 000. Esto significa que en muchas pequeñas aldeas allí habían después de guerrea solamente niños y a ancianos casi jóvenes. Las mujeres tuvieron que hacer mismo trabajo que sus maridos difuntos y además sus propio trabajo. Pero la guerra no es el cosa único dónde fue personas muertas. En 1866–1868 tuvimos el gran hambre. Durante esos años ocho por ciento del número total de nuestra población moría. En los números eso hace 115707 personas. También en 1695—1697 tuvimos más gran hambre y entonces 150000 morían. Ese número estuvo acerca de la tercera parte acerca de la población entera.

En francais:

En photographiant des églises, c’est tout à fait naturel pour visiter les cimetières locaux. Ce qui frappe l’oeil sont des monuments aux morts ou comme nous les appelons : “Pro Patria” ou en français “Pour la patrie” statues. Certains d’elles sont grandes, quelques-unes moins grandes, parce que certains villages sont pauvres. Ceci est tout à fait compréhensible parce que le nombre total de morts était 90 000 et a blessé presque 200 000. Ceci signifie que dans beaucoup de villages petits il y avait après la guerre presque jeunes enfants et les vieil hommes. Les femmes ont dû faire le même travail que leurs défunts maris et de plus leur propre travail. Mais la guerre n’est pas le seul chose quand des gens mouraient. Dans 1866–1868 nous avons eu la grande famine. Pendant ces ans huit pourcent de nombre total de notre population mourait. Dans les nombres c’est 115707 personnes. Aussi dans 1695—1697 nous avons eu la plus grande famine et alors 150000 mouraient. Ce nombre était d’un tiers de la population entière.

Em Português:

Ao fotografar igrejas, é bastante natural para visitar em cemitérios locais. O que é surpreendente olho, são memoriais de guerra ou como lhes chamamos: “Pro Patria” e em portugues “pela pátria” estátuas. Alguns deles são espetaculares alguns não são, porque algumas pessoas são pobres também igrejas. Isto é bastante compreensível, porque o número total de mortes foi de 90 000 e feriu cerca de 200 000. Isto significa que, em muitas pequenas aldeias houve depois da guerra quase crianças jovens e velhos. As mulheres tinham que fazer mesmo trabalho do que seus maridos falecido e também o seu próprio trabalho. Mas a guerra não é a única coisa que eram pessoas morreram. Em 1866-1868, tivemos grande fome. Durante esses anos, oito por cento do número total de nossa população morreu. Em números que é 115.707 pessoas. Também em 1695-1697 tivemos fome maior e, em seguida, 150 mil morreram. Esse número foi de cerca de um terço sobre toda a população.

Alahärmä

Alahärmä

Alajärvi

Alajärvi

Haapajärvi

Haapajärvi

Halikko

Halikko

Heinola (rural municipality)

Heinola (rural municipality)

Huittinen

Huittinen

Hyrynsalmi

Hyrynsalmi

Ilmajoki

Ilmajoki

Isokyrö (new church)

Isokyrö (new church)

Kalanti

Kalanti

Kangasala

Kangasala

Kangasniemi

Kangasniemi

Kankaanpää

Kankaanpää

Kannonkoski

Kannonkoski

Karttula

Karttula

Kauhava

Kauhava

Kauvitsa

Kauvitsa

Kemi

Kemi

Kemijärvi

Kemijärvi

Kokkola

Kokkola

Kortesjärvi

Kortesjärvi

Kuortane

Kuortane

Kuortane (again))

Kuortane (again))

Kuru

Kuru

Kyyjärvi

Kyyjärvi

Lapua

Lapua

Lemi

Lemi

Comparing war memorials II / Comparando monumentos a los caídos II / Comparant monuments aux morts II

16 Comments »

  1. Great series of monument shots. I think it is a great subject to photograph and I’m excited to see that you choose it.

    Comment by Maggie — December 11, 2009 @ 20:08 | Reply

    • Oh, how nice to read Your message Maggie. Personally I like them very much. When staring the subject one could easily think that they all are same looking. After a while one notice that there are some masterpieces of art among them. My personal favorite is that one from Kuortane. To me it so heartbreaking monument. Also the monument from Kankaanpää is heartbreaking. There young child is asking from his mother, when father is coming to home and the answer is: never. Happy weekend to You.

      BTW, I got some kind of inspiration to photograph statues on the cemetary of Père-Lachaise in Paris when I visited it for the first time, hmm maybe ten years ago.

      Comment by sartenada — December 12, 2009 @ 12:21 | Reply

  2. Toujours très émouvants, ces monuments aux morts.
    Et comme toi, celui de Kankaanpää, représentant l’épouse et l’enfant me touche particulièrement.
    Le nombre de victimes des guerres est bien supérieur aux nombre de noms gravés dans le marbre…
    Bonne fin de journée.

    Comment by Marion B. — December 12, 2009 @ 15:04 | Reply

    • Merci beaucoup Marion. Ta opinion est precieuce pour moi!!!

      Comment by sartenada — December 13, 2009 @ 09:55 | Reply

  3. This is a wonderful collection of Memorial images. You are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful environment! The Korean War Veterans Memorial is a photograph I took over a year ago when I visited the Texas State Capitol. I came across it and, tried to find more information on the internet concerning it’s history, I did discover a bit of information, but could not discover any photograph, which convinced me to go ahead and post the image for anyone else who might be interested. Thanks for visiting my Friend! God Bless you and your family!

    Comment by myvelleities — January 18, 2011 @ 20:00 | Reply

    • Hi Scott.

      Thank You leaving a comment. Normally, when I make a visit to some churches and photographing them, I also make a visit to cemeteries also. Cemeteries are full of interesting thing.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Comment by sartenada — January 19, 2011 @ 08:47 | Reply

  4. Oh, the grieving woman! One can easily imagine her loss.

    And the angel… posed as if to plead to the heavens for those down below on earth.

    Very moving, Matti.

    War is ugly, and I hate it. It destroys all it touches. But, according to Kahlil Gibran, if we had only good, then we wouldn’t know to appreciate it. It must be the same with life, I suppose. We must know both good and evil, life and death to know the difference and seek to make this world a better place.

    Comment by Deli Lanoux, Ed.D. — February 20, 2012 @ 00:23 | Reply

    • Hi Deli.

      You are so right when saying that “if we had only good, then we wouldn’t know to appreciate it”. I am sure that You now appreciate my desire to photograph these memorials. Some of them are really heart breaking and stop a man to think…

      Thank You.

      Comment by Sartenada — February 20, 2012 @ 08:26 | Reply

  5. I cannot believe how many memorial statues there are here. Beautifully photographed. I enjoyed the tour very much. Thank you.

    Comment by George Weaver — March 21, 2012 @ 08:45 | Reply

    • Hi George.

      Thank You very much for Your nice words. I am really glad that You liked them.

      Happy blogging!

      Comment by Sartenada — March 21, 2012 @ 08:52 | Reply

  6. Very dramatic and beautiful! Thanks for sharing this with me!

    Comment by deeramirez2003 — April 25, 2013 @ 02:06 | Reply

    • Hello Deeramirez2003.

      I am glad that You did find them great. WWII was hard experience to us and its consequences are yet today visible. What is the best is that graves of war heroes are well kept every where.

      Have a great day!

      Comment by Sartenada — April 25, 2013 @ 07:21 | Reply

  7. Merci Matti de m’avoir signalé ce blog que je n’avais jamais vu. Quelle émotion dans ces statuts qui rappellent les dures années de guerre et d’après-guerre. Tellement touchant de voir ces femmes en pleurs, les soldats à la fois fiers mais en souffrance aussi. Je savais que ton pays avait beaucoup souffert durant la guerre et c’est réconfortant de savoir que ceux qui y ont laissé leur vie sont honorés partout en Finlande.

    Comment by isathreadsoflife — September 9, 2014 @ 14:04 | Reply

    • Bonjour Isa.

      Ça c’est le commentaire extraordinaire. Merci beaucoup.

      Bonne journée à toi.

      Comment by Sartenada — September 10, 2014 @ 07:12 | Reply

  8. Esta entrada me la había perdido….
    Todo muy solemne y conmovedor!
    Me gusta ver la diferencia entre las estatuas e imaginar la interpretación !
    Gracias , Matti!

    Comment by 76sanfermo — September 9, 2014 @ 16:44 | Reply

    • Buongiorno Anna!

      Estas estatuas tienen gran significado para mí. Por ejemplo el hermano de mi madre murió en la guerra. Un pariente de mi esposa murió en el otro lado de la frontera y nunca fue encontrado. Mi país es lleno de muchas e historias tristes. Así, estos monumentos de guerra son importantes para los finlandeses!

      Passa una splendida giornata!

      Comment by Sartenada — September 10, 2014 @ 07:22 | Reply


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