The name “tear radio” is used to refer to the tears of the fir (moonshine), when the distant patrol men sent their messages in the shield of the fir in the wilderness. According to another ver ...
The name “tear radio” is used to refer to the tears of the fir (moonshine), when the distant patrol men sent their messages in the shield of the fir in the wilderness. According to another version the name stems from the typical whining telegraphing sound of the radio. The “tear radio” was on display in the special exhibition of the Vaasa War Veteran Museum in 2013.
In the exhibition you can familiarize yourself with Finland’s war history all the way from the time of the Russian rule to the end of the Lapland war.
The Vaasa War Veteran Museum is located next to the basement premises of the Vaasa office of former Finland’s Bank in the address Kirkkopuistikko 22 A. Harry Schaumans foundation ceded the property, which was repaired for museum purposes.
The material needed in the construction work has been obtained as donations, the work has been done by volunteers including war veterans and later former soldiers. Former members of the Lotta Svärd Organization and women of the home front have participated in the restoration and maintenance of the artefacts. After the Harry Schauman Stiftelsen abjured most of the property, the museum has been a tenant in the house. The rental is, however, covered by HSS.
In addition to the basic exhibition the Vaasa War Veteran Museum annually organizes one or two special exhibitions. The museum’s permanent exhibition displays with numerous items soldier and war history from the last two centuries.
The exhibition begins with the declaration of emperor Alexander in 1808. It then proceeds from the time of the autonomy to the stages of the Jäger movement and war of liberation. There is plenty of material associated with the Finnish White Guards and the Lotta Svärd Organization. The emphasis of the exhibition is on the Winter and Continuation War.
In 2008 on display in the museum were flags from the turn of the 19th and 20th century, which originated from Ostrobothnia. The exhibition was set up by the Ostrobothnian National Defence Guild and it was assembled by Helmer Wikström and Fjalar Rosenlöf. In 2013 a special exhibition was organized, where the distant patrol activity led from the Headquarters during the last wars, especially during the Continuation War, was displayed with pictures, maps, artefacts and with texts connected to these. The exhibition material mainly came from the collections of the War Museum and the war archive. The item to draw most attention was the “tear radio” borrowed for the exhibition from the War Museum. The “tear radio” is a light telegraphing radio developed in Finland for the distant patrol operation.
During the 30th anniversary of the Ostrobothnian National Defence Guild on Tammisunnuntai 30.1.2011 (originally the day when the Finnish civil war broke out, i.e. Sunday 27th January 1918) a special exhibition displaying Finnish insignias was opened in the Vaasa War Veteran Museum. On view in the exhibition were both official national insignias of different knighthoods and badges of other organizations with a patriotic and national character. The exhibition material included in addition to the insignias presentation folders on the knighthoods and the mutual order of the insignias as well as their usage and wearing.
There is also an extensive library in the museum associated with the target domain. The items have been received as donations or for preservation from private citizens, associations and museums. The museum premises are a basement space, which has been renovated for museum purposes.
