Struggles & Triumphs

My economic discoveries about Finland have been surprising thus far and have demonstrated an elaborate developing modern economy. However, Finland wasn’t always such an industrialized powerhouse and struggled for many centuries before establishing itself as an independent nation. Finland was a province under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and then an autonomous grand territory of Russia after 1809. After centuries of being other nations’ property and relying on them for economic support and structure Finland became a completely independent nation 1917. During WWII, Finland successfully defended its territory from the invasion of the Soviet Union with only a minor loss of terrain. The Fins, since their original independence in 1917 have created a strong and resilient nation that has transcended hardships and attacks in the past such as during WWII (http://www.nationmaster.com/country/fi-finland/mil-military). Since then, Finland has made significant gains in their per capita income which is now among the highest in Western Europe. Finland has also been a member of the European Union since 1995 and the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. After acquiring some of this new information about Finland’s history I have a new found appreciation for the struggles and triumphs endured by this nation and admire how it has overcome its various adversities.
[ Picture of Finish Soldiers WWII]