Academic Karelia Society

The AKS controlled the student union of the University of Helsinki from the mid-1920s right up to 1944, when the Society was disbanded in the aftermath of the Continuation War.

The nationalistic ideology of the AKS also stemmed from the common European discussion of national rights based on the Fourteen Points of President Woodrow Wilson.

Despite holding views close to the Fascist movement of Italy, there was no influence from abroad - the AKS was founded in February 1922 before the March on Rome and its origins were purely domestic.

Domestically the AKS was an emphatic proponent for a strengthened army and for strict restrictions against Socialists, although it at the same time stressed the need of improving the lot of the working classes in the interest of the national community.

After the end of World War II, the organization was labeled "fascistic" and officially disbanded in September 1944 on the order of the Allied Control Commission.

The archives of AKS, which were originally located in the New Student House in the heart of Helsinki, were hidden or destroyed by its members because they were considered insignificant at the time.

[5] They contained current correspondence, publicized materials, handwritten essays, writings related to the early stage of AKS's activity.

[5] Prominent former members include quite a few academics, bishops, business leaders, generals and politicians (e.g. president Urho Kekkonen).