15. WARTIME YEARS

The operations of the Nordström company continued without a break during the Winter War and the Continuation War. The freighters were subjected to state control and transported goods important to the wartime economy. The steam trawlers AUNUS and VIENA participated in the wartime actions as naval auxiliary gunboats.

At the outbreak of war in the autumn of 1939, the Nordström company had been operating for 13 years. By then it consisted of 12 freighters, four steam trawlers and one steamboat in coastal traffic.

The shipowner Ragnar Nordström was himself in the service of the Defense Forces for some time, serving as deputy commander of the military administration of East Karelia.

During, and because of, the war the Nordström shipping company lost 13 freighters and two steam trawlers. On the other hand, the company also bought 12 ships, of which only 5 were left at the end of the war.

Wartime acquisitions and war losses:

Acquisitions in 1939:        S/S JÄÄMERI, S/S MARGARETA (I), S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR (II)

Losses in 1939:                 S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR (I), S/S SYVÄRI

Acquisitions in 1940:       S/S OSCAR MIDLING, S/S RAGUNDA, S/S RAINER

Losses in 1940:                 S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR (II), S/S MARGARETA (I), S/S PETSAMO, S/S INGA (I), S/S OSCAR MIDLING

Acquisitions in 1941:       S/S INGA (II), S/S INHA, S/S KASTELHOLM, S/S MYLLYKOSKI, S/S KARHULA, S/S INGEROIS

Losses in 1941:                 S/S RAINER, S/S KASTELHOLM, S/S INHA

Losses in 1943:                 S/S RAIMO-RAGNAR (II)

Losses in 1944:                 S/S JÄÄMERI, S/S BRITA, S/S RUIJA

Losses in 1945:                 S/S KARL-ERIK (I) surrendered as war reparations

In connection with the ship losses 35 seamen died during the war: 23 of which got killed at the sinking of S/S OSCAR MIDLINGS on 5th December 1940.

At the end of the war, the company had 9 freighters and two steam trawlers.

Photo: Navy gunners during training on the auxiliary gunboat AUNUS. A 130 mm cannon in front of the bridge and a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun on the foredeck.

15. S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR was the first victim of the WWII. A German submarine sunk the ship before the Winter War in Finland had even started. Above you can see a receipt written and signed by the master of the German submarine for the Finnish Captain of S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR:

“On 22nd of September in 1939. Certificate of the possession of S/S MARTTI-RAGNAR. 1) The shipping papers and national certificate confiscated. The ship must be destroyed as it is transporting contraband addressed to company Price & Pierce Ltd, London E.C, Clements Lane. The German submarine.”

Listen to the story of the sinking of S/S Martti-Ragnar by scanning the QR-code on the audio guide panel.