Lotta Svard (or vernacularly just lotat) was an organization (1919-44) for Finnish women who voluntarily wanted to defend their nation. Its purpose was to arouse the national and moral attitude, to develop the civil guard cause and to assist the civil guard to protect the religion, the home and the fatherland. The organization was named by a soldier Svrds wife in J.L. Runebergs, Finnish national poets, poem.


From the start the women of Lotta Svard organized sewing gatherings, lotteries and rummage sales for the good of the civil guard. The founding of a national organization in 1921 made the activity more systematic and independent. The women of LS started to wear gray outfits and a badge decorated by a blue swastika, which also became the symbol of the organization.


The Lotta Svard activity was supervised by a central board. Its members were chosen in the annual meeting and its chairperson was named by the supreme commander of the civil guard. The education within the members of LS was improved and regularized. According to each ones field the women were divided into medication division, provisioning division and equipment division, or into fund-raising and office divisions.


During the World War II these women were a significant help for their country; they defended their fatherland by doing lotta-missions, which could last quite a while for women who had got special education. At homefront their work included for example fund-raising and helping of invalids and relatives of the war dead. Diseases / battles and bombings killed 64 LS-women in the Winter War and 228 LS-women in the Continuation War.


The moral ideals taught to these women were very high and the regulations were strictly controlled. Beside all other activity, the organization worked effectively in teaching rationality, order and punctuality. Many women are used to think that promises, schedules and specific information are not so important, as long as something gets done. In most womens organizations this habit does not usually pass away. However, as a woman joined Lotta Svard, she knew that she had certain responsibilities and principles that were required from her. The attaining of these standards was namely beneficial for all.


Lotta Svard was closed down on the basis of the truce pact in 1944 because it was considered to be a military organization. The ex-members were demobilized and the funds of the organization were given to the Ministry for Internal Affairs.


Without these women and their bravery my country would have been in a big trouble. If they had not of done their duty and stood by their people, their beliefs and their Fatherland, the Finland of today would look different.

The Women of Lotta Svard, we salute you.
WAU Finland