The Veikkolainen-Julin branch of the family are the grandparents of my mother on the side of her father Kaarlo Ilmari Veikkolainen. My mother Leena Marjatta Veikkolainen was born in August 1937 and passed away in December, 1987, at the age of 50 years old.
The earliest Veikkolainen family pictures I have, I received from Harri Koskela, who is the grandson of my grandfather's brother Eero Veikkolainen. I am thrilled to have met Harri, albeit by email only. He has shared a lot of family history with me. These stories are priceless family history and I cannot thank Harri enough for all of them!
Below are the pictures of Mikko Veikkolainen, my great great grandfather and his wife Regina Veikkolainen (née Paganus). Mikko was born on 19.09.1834 and died of a stroke on 21.09.1905. He worked as a senior customs inspector at the time of his death. His wife Regina was born on 05.05.1839 and died of stomach cancer on 23.01.1898. Mikko and Regina had a son: Alfred Edvart Veikkolainen who became a salesman by profession and married Hulda Maria Julin.
Mikko Veikkolainen, my great great grandfather
Regina Veikkolainen (née Paganus), my great great grandmother
Alfred Edvart Veikkolainen, my great grandfather
Great grandfather Alfred posing on a bike
Hulda, Alfred and their son, Eero, the brother of my grandfather Kaarlo
A young Hulda with those unmistakable eyes
Hulda
Hulda Maria Julin was born in Viipuri on 05.11.1876. Her parents were Johan Julin and Fredrika Sofia Julin (née Nousiainen). Johan Julin was born in Porvoo and moved to Viipuri in 1861 as a 16 years old kid. His wife Sofia (as she was called, not Fredrika) was born in Kerimäki near Savonlinna and moved to Viipuri in 1857. She was 16 years too at the time she left her family. They got married in 1866. The Julin family lived in Neitsytniemi area which is a little outside the city. They were rather poor. Hulda had sisters and brothers but only her brother Werner Fritioff Julin (born 31.01.1868) survived to adulthood. The names of her other brothers and sisters were: Nikolai Constantin (born 21.5.1870), Ida Wilhelmina (born 15.12.1871), Anna Fredrika (born 15.9.1873), Karl Johan (born 19.4.1879) and Aina Alina (born 10.4.1885).
The wedding of Johan and Fredrika Sofia took place on 21.01.1866. He is a baker's apprentice and she is a housemaid
Hulda was “a girl from Neitsytniemi” as she used to say herself. Her maternal aunt Edla Väisänen (née Nousiainen) lived in Neitsytniemi too. Edla started a family with a common labourer called Heikki Väisänen. Their daughter “Aunt-Aino” (Aino-täti) sometimes visited Hulda in Joensuu after the war and was the only relative - with the exception of Hulda’s nearest family members - who attended her funeral in 1959. This picture is one of the very last pictures taken of Hulda. Note how much weight she lost in her final years.
A frail looking Hulda and her younger cousin Aino Lindfors, née Väisänen
In the picture below you can see how small Hulda was in her later years. It shows Hulda with her daughter-in-law Irja (the wife of Kaarlo's brother, Eero). She never was very tall, but Irja was around 1,68 m. tall so you can imagine how tiny Hulda was as an old woman.
Hulda and Irja
Hulda died of weakness and old age. Harri's mother Ilona told him the story that one day the ambulance came to carry Hulda to hospital. She had probably suffered a slight case of cerebral haemorrhage as she apparently was mentally confused. She stayed in hospital for some weeks before she died on 14.02.1959. She had already been quite weak before but up to the very end she wilfully tried to carry out her household duties. She had always been a very good cook and after Eero’s death it was she who did most of the cooking. Harri's uncle Jorma Veikkolainen (Eero's son) remembers how she kept working in the kitchen shortly before she was carried to the hospital and how hard it was for her to stay standing and that she kept hold of the table while standing. Harri asked his uncle Jorma what he thought was the cause of death and he simply answered: she didn't have any strength left! She had given all and had lost everything. She was tired and wanted to out. Jorma also said that after Hulda lost her baby Lauri, both her adult sons Kaarlo and Eero and her eldest grandson Pertti, she became extremely close to Jorma. Hulda is buried next to Eero at Joensuu cemetery.
Not much is known about Hulda’s paternal grandfather Johan Julin senior (1815-1865). Johan Julin senior was said to be a troubled man. It is said he was an alcoholic. His oldest son Johan Julin junior, Hulda’s father, left home at 16 and apparently some years later his father, Johan senior, committed suicide by jumping into the Porvoo River. This information was discovered by Harri at a later date and he's quite sure that Hulda didn't know anything about her father’s tragic family history. She only knew that Johan senior was Swedish.
Hulda walking on the street in Viipuri during 1930s. On the background you can see the market tower
Hulda seems to have been more attached to her father than mother. At least she never had any stories to tell about her mother. Her father Johan was a baker by occupation before which he held a restaurant and was born in Porvoo on 25.03.1845. He died of inflammation of the peritoneum (peritonitis) on 04.05.1901 in Viipuri. Hulda had told family members that her father was Swedish. He was not a “Swedish” national but his native tongue was indeed Swedish. It is said he didn't speak Finnish that well. He nicknamed Hulda "Tytti" (“tyttö” is the finnish word for girl). An interesting story is that an older childless and very wealthy Russian couple (a retired colonel and his wife) lived in the same neighborhood as the Julin family and little Hulda spent a lot of time with them. They became so charmed with sweet little Hulda that they decided to ask her parents if they would agree to them adopting Hulda. Johan and Sofia refused. Hulda had good memories of this Russian couple but later in life she disliked all the Russians for the obvious reasons.
Johan Julin, Hulda's father, my great great grandfather. How much he looks like my mother!
Hulda was married to my great grandfather Alfred Edvart Veikkolainen. Alfred was born in Jaakkima (the countryside around what is now the city Lahdenpohja at the shore of the Lake Ladoga). As a young man Alfred lived for some years in Savonlinna. He probably learned his trade there as a shop assistant. He moved to Viipuri as a bachelor in 1896. Alfred regularly visited Hulda’s father's bakery where she worked and their story began from there. Alfred and Hulda married on 15.08.1897 in Viipuri. Exactly three years later their second son Lauri died. He sadly died only a few months old on 15.08.1900 due to intestinal problems. Both Eero and Lauri were born in Viipuri and Lauri also died there so the family lived together in Viipuri some years before they all moved to Lappee, more precisely Rutola in 1903. This is where their third son, my grandfather Kaarlo was born. Alfred also set up his shop in Rutola. Later the family left Rutola and moved to Muolaa (Perkjärvi). Perkjärvi was a small but thriving and industrious village and was part of Muolaa. After Alfred died in Muolaa (Perkjärvi), Hulda and the two boys moved back to Viipuri. Hulda’s mother was still alive and Werner Julin (her brother) and his family also lived in Viipuri at the time so it was natural that widowed Hulda moved back there with her sons.
Alfred died at the early age of 33 in Perkjärvi where he held his shop. He died unexpectedly in front of his shop. It was 5 o'clock in the morning and he collapsed - had a pulmonary haemorrhage and died immediately. I’m not sure, but it seems he never even knew he was severely ill with miliary tuberculosis. These are the words from the obituary written by Hulda following her husband's death, taken from the Karjala newspaper dated 03.07.1906. It basically says that it is with bitter sorrow the Hulda informs you that her beloved husband and father, merchant by trade, Alfred Edvart Veikkolainen died on July 1st at 5 o'clock in the morning, at the age of 33. He leaves behind him a wife and two little boys, including the 2-year old Kaarlo, and a host of relatives. It goes on to say that the funeral will take place in Viipuri on July 4th, 1906 and that the procession will leave Viipuri train station at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and continue to the Ristimäki cemetery. He was buried next to his baby son Lauri.
Katkeralla surulla ilmoitan että rakastettu puolisoni ja isä Kauppias Alfred Edvart Veikkolainen kuoli Perkjärvellä heinäkuun 1 p:nä klo 5 a. p. 33 ikävuodellaan syväksi suruksi ja kaipaukseksi minulle ja kahdelle pienelle pojalle sekä lukuisille omaisille. Hulda Veikkolainen. Jo harja majastani murtui. Hautaus tapahtuu Viipurinsa keskiviikkona 4 p:nä heinäk. 1906. Surusaatto lähtee Viipurin rautatieasemalta klo 1 päivällä Ristimäen hautausmaalle, josta ainoastaan täten ilmoitetaan Hulda Veikkolainen.
In 1915, some years after the death of Alfred, the Veikkolainen family (Hulda, Eero and Kaarlo) lived on Katariinankatu 13 in Viipuri. The street that was called Katariinankatu later became Linnankatu. The Starckjohann store, where my grandfather Kaarlo worked, was located just two houses further at number 9.
Hulda, Eero and Kaarlo lived here in 1915. This is the house I believe in 1911.
Below, Linnankatu 9, where Starkjohann was, today is an empty space where kids play. The mural paintings are on the "Domus" building which seperated the Starckjohann store from the family house.
An empty space is all that's left of Starckjohann's presence in Viipuri
Starckjohann, on Linnankatu 9, where my grandfather Kaarlo worked, just a house away (Domus building) from the family home.
The Domus building, making headlines today, about its decay and risk of collapse. To the left of the Domus is the family house, number 13 (yellow), to the right, but not visible on this picture would have stood the Starckjohann store.
Linnankatu 13 today, with a run down building to its left. Note the extra floor built much later on top.
Linnankatu 13 today.
Linnankatu 13 today from another angle.
Linnankatu 13, originally a two story building, now three.
The rear of the building.
Eero, Kaarlo's older brother, a doctor by profession
Eero as a medication officer (Major) and wife Irja with children Leila, Jorma and Ilona in 1943. Ilona is Harri's mother.
Leena's cousins Leila, Ilona and Jorma. Both Leila and Jorma are still alive today! I send them all my love :-)
My grandfather Kaarlo Ilmari Veikkolainen was born in Lappee (Lappeenranta), more precisely in Rutola, on 8.1.1904. His online military record shows he was born in Jaakkima, like his father, but the information that he was born in Rutola comes from direct family members, so I prefer to believe this is the accurate information. Kaarlo married my grandmother Aili on 30.06.1928. His war book mentions the Viipuri address Vahtitorninkatu 16. Without certainty I guess this may be the address where Aili and Kaarlo, together with their two children, my uncle Pertti and my mother Leena, lived prior to the war.
Vahtitorninkatu 16 as it looked when my family lived there prior to fleeing Viipuri..
A military war museum picture showing Vahtitorninkatu 16 on the 3rd of July 1940.
Vahtitorninkatu 14, next to where number 16 once stood.
This derelict space is where my grandparents house once stood (Vahtitorninkatu 16). Note, Kaarlo's mother Hulda's house still stands opposite in middle of picture (Linnankatu 13).
Eero's wedding on 03.07.1930. To the left family of the bride, to the right Eero, Kaarlo and Aili
Irja, Pertti, Aili and Hulda
Kaarlo and Pertti Veikkolainen
Leena Marjatta Veikkolainen together with grandmother
My mother Leena with what looks to be Kaarlo
1933 picture of Aili and Kaarlo with unknown
Kaarlo in working clothes: painting the house?
Aili and Pertti in front of what probably is their house in Viipuri
Unknown location, probably in Viipuri
I am told this street is Vesiportinkatu which means the watergate street. It was one of the prettiest streets in Viipuri. If you look to the distance you'll see the railway bridge. To the left is the medieval church, the Church of Hyacinthus. I found this picture in my collection.
Baby Leena in front of house
Viipuri train station before the war
Vacation lakeside shot of Pertti and Aili fishing
Smart looking Kaarlo with son Pertti
Aili posing near vacation home in 1934
Aili and Pertti
Early picture of my mother Leena with unknown looking over
Pertti keeping himself busy on sunny day
Father and son
Pertti on porch with ball in 1937
Aili and baby Leena in 1937
Pertti Veikkolainen
Brother and sister in around 1937
Vacation at lake: Kaarlo Veikkolainen
Father and son fishing at lake
Summer vacation: Kaarlo fishing
Rare picture of Kaarlo with both children
Sharp looking Kaarlo in front of Viipuri home in 1937 with shadow of picture-taker Aili in front?
Parents Aili and Kaarlo with son Pertti and unknown
Leena Marjatta Veikkolainen
Family snapshot: Pertti, Leena and mother Aili
Kaarlo with Eero’s dog Rex (died in 1933) in front of Eero’s and Irja’s home in Kurkijoki
On Lake Ladoga during vacation: Eero and Kaarlo with Aili. The other woman is Aili Ingraeus, a family friend of Eero and Irja's
House in ruins
Aili looking sad in front of house in ruins
Lost picture of Kaarlo. Funny how I had the one with Aili above and Harri had this one, obviously taken at the same time. Reunited over 70 years later!!
Kaarlo worked for the Viipuri hardware store Starckjohann better known nowadays as Starkki. The Veikkolainen family had very close ties to the Starckjohann family going back to the days of Alfred Veikkolainen. Indeed, not only did Kaarlo work there, starting as an errand-boy in the 1920s, quickly moving up the ranks later on in his career, his brother Eeros's studies were sponsored by the Starkjohann family and Eeros's son Jorma was the godson of Walter Starckjohann,. War forced the store to evacuate Viipuri and move to Pietarsaari however they quickly noticed that Pietarsaari was too small for their operations and subsequently decided to relocate to Lahti. It is most-likely that Kaarlo made the decision to relocate his family to Lahti after a short stint in Pori as he was counting on returning to work for Starckjohann in Lahti after the war.
Starckjohann hardware store in Viipuri in 1923.
Starckjohann picture from 1929 taken from this book. Kaarlo proudly stands to the far right next to his coworkers
Here's a war record excerpt in Finnish for Kaarlo Veikkolainen with the date of his death 25.10. Kaarlo was a Sergeant Major (Vääpeli) and belonged to the Ivak.165, i.e. the "Ilmavalvonta-aluekeskus 165" which was the "air defense surveillance regional center". This later became the 13th Air Defense Company. The log books mention he died of a heart attack on 25.10.1942 while serving as a sergeant first class of his unit (the person who basically is responsible for the everyday operations, supplies, etc for the whole unit). His soldier's book (kantakortti) states he died of heart failure while making a "motti". I was told a "motti" is a cubic meter of firewood. There was a huge shortage of firewood during the war years 1942-1944 and just about everyone, man or a woman, young or old, made these "motti". Finnish people made about 34,000,000 square cubes of firewood during these years! However, in military terms making a motti also means something quite different. A motti is Finnish military slang for a totally encircled enemy unit. This tactic was extensively used during the winter war and continuation war against Soviet tank units. As he died in Nastola Seesta, this means he did not die on the front line and indeed died while making firewood. He was with his son Pertti and some other men at the time making a so-called “motti” when suddenly he said to Pertti: “väsyttää” (I’m tired). These were his last words. He tried to sit down and suddenly lost consciousness. He was already dead by the time the doctor came. Before his body was carried away all the men joined together in song to sing a spiritual hymn. Kaarlo had written a letter to Eero written on 19.05.1942 a couple of months before his passing in which he told his brother that he had had a medical test and that he was in quite good health but that his thyroid gland was bigger than normal and his heartbeat was “perhaps a little too quick”. He said that he was out of breath running uphill and that the doctor told him the reason being his thyroid. Kaarlo writes that it would be nice if Eero one day would examine him better. They never met again.
It is not known if his thyroid problem had something to do with his heart attack but it surely didn't help. Harri's grandmother told him that Kaarlo died of goitre but his “kantakortti” clearly states he died of a heart failure.
Hulda later wrote that Aili was in shock and could not sleep but that she did however manage to eat a little bit. Hulda seemed to be content with the funeral arrangements in Lahti. There were a lot of people attending. The whole Starckjohann company workforce attended. The Starckjohann family laid their wreath. Both old widow Mrs Starckjohann and her son the director Peter Starckjohann (called “Pekko”) held a moving speech. Hulda writes that Pekko spoke very warmly of Kaarlo and that he had come to Lahti from Helsinki only for the funeral. A military band played the funeral march. After the service his coffin was carried by horse and cart to the train station. Hulda and Aili looked at Kaarlo for one final goodbye before his final journey home, to his “his beloved” Viipuri.
In a later letter from Hulda to Eero dated 13.12.1942, Hulda writes about Aili and her new life after Kaarlo's death. Aili apparently has a job as a billing clerk The job gets Hulda's approval as Aili is earning 3500 or 4000 marks monthly pay. Herman Starckjohann, brother of director Peter, had promised to Aili that their family would take care off Pertti’s education. It was understood that Eero would take care of Leena's.
Video showing pre- and post-war Vippuri
War cemetery in front of the cathedral which is unfortunately long gone. Whatever happened to the remains of Kaarlo?
Burial ground where my grandfather was laid to rest.
Viipuri war cemetery in 1944 with bombed cathedral as backdrop. My grandfather Kaarlo Veikkolainen was supposedly buried here in 1942.
Aerial picture taken from the roof of the Viipuri cathedral of the war memorial back in 1936
During war time all Finnish people had to use food ration cards and especially in the cities it was hard to find extra food. In the countryside it was slightly easier to get your hands on something extra like hand-picked mushrooms or berries, fish from the lake or homegrown food from your garden, etc. So it was therefore quite natural Leena lived with her grandmother Hulda, her uncle and aunt, Eero and Ilja, together with her cousins Ilona, Leila and Jorma in Kurkijoki in the countryside . Eero's family had fled Kurkijoki at the start of the war but had returned, as many people did at the time, however never imagining they would have to leave their home a second time. It seems Aili may have moved back to her home in Viipuri too however cities remained dangerous places. Therefore Leena stayed in Kurkijoki for some parts of 1943 and 1944 but most-likely stayed with her mother in Viipuri during winter of 1943.
Leena with Eeros's family in Kurkijoki in 1943
Another snapshot from summer of 1943
On 10.06.1944 the Russians started their 2nd offensive and Kurkijoki was no longer a protected place to live so Irja wanted Aili to take Leena away. Irja writes about her concerns in a letter to Eero on 06.07.1944. She wanted Aili to take Leena away before they all had to flee Kurkijoki as they didn’t know where to go. But Aili did not want to take Leena and even offered money to Irja if she kept Leena there. Irja was offended. Aili then thought to give Leena to the care of Meri Poutiainen who lived near Kuopio where her Aili's mother Aina lived. Meri was the first wife of Ail's youngest brother Vaino. Ilja writes something very interesting about Pertti too saying that Aili didn't even have any information about Pertti whatsoever and had even lost his military postal address. It seems to be a mystery why Aili was looking to place Leena, and had "lost" her son's contact. We can only imagine she was having problems in life or maybe she had met someone? A mystery it shall remain.
Eero to the left with the kids playing ambulance whilst the driver poses with a smile
Cousins Leila, Ilona and Leena in Kurkijoki in the spring 1944 in front of their family house on the left in Kurkijoki
422,000 Karelians, 12% of the Finnish population, lost their homes and were forced to flee Karelia. I have found out that after living in Pori and Lahti, after the death of Kaarlo, and moving around a lot the family later settled in Kangasala, near Tampere around 1949. I have a church record of my mother Leena's confirmation in Kangasala dating from 17.5.1953 and this is how I discovered the fate of my uncle Pertii, by getting in touch with the Kangasala parish.
My uncle was called Pertti Antero Veikkolainen. He was born a few years before my mother on 11.3.1929 in Viipuri. I always knew he died at a young age but never knew how. I discovered that he died on 6.6.1953 of a malign gland tumor. He was a bricklayer by profession and was married in Kuopio on the 28th of March 1948 to Kaija Inkeri Soininen. They later divorced on February 29, 1952 just three months before his death. Tragic. There is no mention about children. He was buried at the eastern cemetery of Kangasala, but the grave was reclaimed in 1971 by the parish due to unpaid bills, so it doesn't exist anymore. This information surprises me as I cannot understand why neither my grandmother nor my mother took care of ensuring that the grave was maintained and the bills paid for. The only explanation I can think of is that the parish had no contact information for either, hence couldn't get in touch. The discovery that he too died of cancer is also hard to bear: both children and mother died of cancer. I have been told by my second cousin Harri Koskela that Pertti left school and ran away from home at a very early age. Indeed, both Jorma Veikkolainen and Leila Veikkolainen, who are Eero's son and daughter, claim that Pertti went to fight the front line as a volunteer during the war.
However, his "kantakorti" reveals much more information than was known by the family. It appears that he served as a volunteer in 1944, but not as a foot soldier on the front line like Jorma had claimed but rather serving the air defense just like his father had done in the past. There is mention in his war records that he took part in the air battles around Viipuri in 1944 (serving as a volunteer from 25.2.1944 to 30.9.1944). Viipuri was the most bombed city in Finland so he must have seen quite a lot of action in this period. Later on, in 1949, he served his regular military service for air defense, this time drafted and no longer as a volunteer. It seems Pertti also had a dark secret which later made him lose his civil rights and military rank (as sergeant)... Indeed, he was sentenced to prison and hard labor for acts of burglary and stealing. It seems he had become involved in criminal acts of burglary.
Pertti Antero Veikkolainen in 1950
Pertti in Kurkijoki in the early 1930s
Pieksämäki in the summer of 1941 with Pertti on the left, Hulda, Jorma, Leila, Irja and Eero
Pieksämäki in the summer of 1941
The Veikkolainen family left Viipuri around 1939. Fleeing a city on the brink of war they initially moved to the town of Pori and lived on Armfeltinkatu 15, now called Säveltäjänkatu (see below for before and after pictures). After a short while in Pori they moved to Lahti and lived at Kymintie 7.
Armfeltinkatu 15 in Pori.
Kymintie in Lahti in 2013.
Mama in 1945
Mama
Leena and Aili: happy faces in 1948
My mother Leena worked in a handful of places in Tampere which is very close to Kangasala. One of these places was the Ensimmäinen Apteekki, a pharmacy on the beautiful main square in Tampere where she worked in 1956 as a young 19 year old for a 18 month period.
Letter of recommendation
Remarkably this pharmacy still exists however they have moved a few blocks down the city's main commercial artery. Interesting fact is that the building which housed this pharmacy is now a McDonald's Apparently it was the first McDonald's in Finland.
Shortly after leaving her job at Ensimmäinen Apteekki in 1957 she and her mother left their beloved Finnish homeland and emigrated to the United States to finally settle in California. In November 1957 they traveled on the freighter SS Venezuela and after a long journey arrived in the port of San Pedro, California. Aili's younger brother Veikko Poutiainen was a navy commander and later in the shipping business. I am told that he probably helped get Aili and Leena to the USA.
I can imagine how hard times must have been for Leena and her mother Aili, having lost a father/husband during the war and later a brother/son. Just the two of them remained and emigration was a way to get away from it all. A new start, a fresh beginning.
photo 41 seems to be Freesinkatu, Viipuri...
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