Unknown soldiers
(Book)

Originally published in Finnish as Tuntematon sotilas by Werner Söderström Corporation (WSOY), Helsinki, Finland, 1954.

Includes bibliographical references.

'There they stood, bumbling into lines with a bit of difficulty: Mother Finland's chosen sacrifice to world history'. Unknown Soldiers follows the fates of a ramshackle troupe of machine-gunners in the Second World War, as they argue, joke, swear, cadge a loaf of bread or a cigarette, combat both boredom and horror in the swamps and pine forests - and discover that war will make or break them. One of Finland's best-loved books, this gritty and unromantic depiction of battle honours the dogged determination of a country and the bonds of brotherhood forged between men at war, as they fight for their lives.

Translated from the Finnish.