FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Missing in Karelia, USSR Trivia Quiz

Between the end of the Russian revolution and World War II over 10,000 North American Finns immigrated to the Soviet Union to help Soviet Union harvest timber in the Karelia Republic. Most mysteriously disappeared. What was happening?

A multiple-choice quiz by blakey. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
blakey

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
364,208

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
171

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What attracted the North American Finns to Karelia? Hint

Adventure

Near the Finnish border

The promise of a better life

To support the Russian revolution

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Did the North American Finns find life better once they settled in Karelia?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Why did the Soviet Union want the North American Finns in Karelia? Hint

To cut timber and teach the locals how to cut timber

To work at the local ports

To work in the factories

To spread the communist ideas to the people

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Did the Finns get along with the local populace in Karelia?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Did the North American Finns ever become Soviet citizens?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 1935 Stalin ordered something that was to have a big effect on the North American Finns. What was it? Hint

The first of many purges

A tax on their tools

A limit on timber being cut

Confiscation of their homes

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Did the Soviets allow the North American Finns to leave peacefully? Hint

No, they were forced into labor camps

Yes, everyone was given the opportunity

Yes, but only those who were not Soviet citizens

No, everyone was executed

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The North American Finns were totally in charge of their settlement until 1935 when their leaders were replaced with Russian appointments. What event caused this? Hint

The board was executed

Stalin's purges

A scandal involving cows

The board resigned

9. By 1938 it appears that the North American Finns had disappeared from Karelia. Talking about them was taboo. Which future Soviet leader loved scotch, had a penchant for American Jazz and just before World War II had a Canadian Finn for a driver and worked in Karelia from 1938-1952? Hint

Yuri Andropov

Constantine Chernenko

Leonid Brezhnev

Mikhail Gorbachev

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What was the total estimated population of North American Finns in 1937? Hint

6,000

50,000

12,100

25,000

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What attracted the North American Finns to Karelia?

Answer: The promise of a better life

The North American Finns were booted out of Finland for union activities. They came to North America but were recruited by the fledgling Soviet state promising them a better life. They were also members of the Communist Party or various factions of it while in North America. Thousands settled in the area over the years.

2. Did the North American Finns find life better once they settled in Karelia?

Answer: No

Some returned to North America while a good portion stayed. The housing was inadequate, food was scarce, and working conditions were sub par.

3. Why did the Soviet Union want the North American Finns in Karelia?

Answer: To cut timber and teach the locals how to cut timber

Even though Karelia was the last holding place of those opposed to Communism, the North American Finns were recruited under Lenin to cut timber and teach the locals how to do that . Stalin saw the vast forests of the region as a possible export to the west and needed a whole lot more experienced people to harvest it.

He recruited more North American Finns to the area in 1931 hoping to spur enormous economic growth.

4. Did the Finns get along with the local populace in Karelia?

Answer: No

The locals viewed them as foreign invaders. Friction between the two led to sabotage of the Finns' equipment and false accusations from both sides.

5. Did the North American Finns ever become Soviet citizens?

Answer: Yes

A great many did, which caused very serious problems later for those who wanted to return to North America.

6. In 1935 Stalin ordered something that was to have a big effect on the North American Finns. What was it?

Answer: The first of many purges

By this time Stalin's nationalistic approach made them untrustworthy because they were not born in Russia. The NKVD began coming at night and arresting certain individuals who were never heard from again.

7. Did the Soviets allow the North American Finns to leave peacefully?

Answer: Yes, but only those who were not Soviet citizens

Many returned to where they were originally from in North America(Thunder Bay Ontario or the Midwestern United States). Some former United States Finns made their way to Moscow to apply for a passport but the Embassy denied them. As they left the NKVD arrested them and they disappeared.
Those who had become Soviet citizens were no longer recognized by their former countries.

8. The North American Finns were totally in charge of their settlement until 1935 when their leaders were replaced with Russian appointments. What event caused this?

Answer: A scandal involving cows

Someone had fed arsenic to the cows killing 95 of them. Ensuing trials with no convictions led Stalin to jump on the opportunity and dismiss the board replacing it with Russians.

Answer: Yuri Andropov

He worked with North American Finns every day. Their existence was not acknowledged by the state but they were apparently still there.

10. What was the total estimated population of North American Finns in 1937?

Answer: 12,100

Because records are scarce there can be no reliable figures. Originally it was thought that the Soviets executed about 130 people but researchers claim it could be well over one thousand as a mass grave was discovered in Karelia during the nineties.

Source: Author blakey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.