In June 1940, the weekly newspaper Vapaa Suomi began publication, declaring itself a supporter of the “national reform movement”.
In addition to Snellman, the events were hosted by Eino Tilus, Hans Kalm, Toivo Loikkanen, Lauri Leinonen and Arvi Nuorimo.
[3] In mid-September 1940, KUT founded the security department Stormers, led by SS man Edvard Karvonen.
The change was justified by the fact that the KUT's policies were fully in line with the basic ideas of Nazism.
At the same time, an organization logo was introduced: a shield with the Finnish flag, a red swastika circled in the middle of the cross on a white background.
SKT wanted to protect the Finnish race by removing foreign elements such as Jews.
SKT also called for strict censorship, land reform and improvement of the position of the Finnish language.
The early 1940s, according to Snellman, ushered in a new phase of “organic renewal,” which began with the experiences of the Winter War that created a new kind of civil society.
According to Hans Metzger, Snellman admired Alfred Rosenberg and kept in touch with the Nazi Party's Foreign Policy Department (APA), which he led.
Harry Donner [fi], the largest financier of Vapaa Suomi, donated about half a million marks to it.
[13] SKT's youth organization Young Realm Builders (Finnish: Nuoret Valtakunnan Rakentajat, NVR) was founded in the autumn of 1940.