Finnish Diplomats in WW2

[vahauser]

Did the Finnish Government maintain a diplomatic embassy in the USSR during WW2?

[sami heimola]

Hmm if I remember right no[8|]... Could it been even possible to have embassy in your enemy's country[&:]...

[vahauser]

sami,
 
How often did Finnish diplomats communicate with the Soviets during WW2?

[Kuokkanen]

What I know about it, communication between Finland's and SU's governments was relayed through Sweden. There might had been direct radio contacts too. Otherwise, I don't know how it was done during the war.

Before the war though, there were diplomats and emissaries negotiating about possibility of war. From one finn was asked how many troops they can get if war breaks out. Finn answered (I don't remember number), and other diplomat gave number twice as many troops. Finn: "I think I need send telegram to Helsinki so they know to share men second bullet" [:D]

[Korpraali V]

The diplomatic contacts between Finland and Soviet Union were handled via Sweden. Soviet diplomat (ambassador from 1943 on) in Stockholm was Alexandra Kollontai. In the beginning of Winter war Soviets refused to negotiate with anyone else but the regiment of Terijoki (puppet regime established by Soviet Union in the beginning of Winter war, consisting (mostly) Finnish born communists that had fled to Soviet after the civil war in 1918). In February 1940 Soviets contacted Finnish diplomats in Sweden via Kollontai and hinted that they could afterall have some negotiations with the Finnish regime. After that a commitee was sent to Moscow.

During the Continuation war there naturally wasn't any direct contacts between the countries either. First negotiations in February 1944 were between Kollontai and Paasikivi (later Finnish president) in Stockholm. Soviets decided to publish their demands in Swedish newspaper which damaged Finnish-German relations and ended the discussions between Finland and Soviet. Secret negotiations in Moscow ended in April without any result. In July Kollontai contacted Finnish diplomats via Swedish ones and new negotiations started. In September a commitee was sent to Moscow and hard negotiations finally led to armistice.

[vahauser]

Korpraali,
 
Thanks for the information.