The autumn of 1944 was a time of uncertainty and concern in Finland. Despite the armistice with the Soviet Union, strange things were happening in the small coastal town of Närpes. What no one knew at the time was that one of the most secret operations of the entire war was taking place right before their eyes – an operation that would later be known as Stella Polaris.
As early as the summer of 1944, villagers began to notice mysterious events. A seaplane suddenly landed in Kaskö, and unknown individuals were seen heading toward Närpes, searching for accommodation in remote villages such as Yttermark and Nämpnäs. No explanations were given for the need for lodging – only an enigmatic silence.
When autumn arrived, the events became even more mysterious. One day, the steamship Maininki glided into the otherwise quiet Österfjärden, a place usually used only for unloading trade goods. Rumors quickly spread among the villagers – was a top-secret war archive being transported out of the country? Or perhaps a high-ranking official, such as General Wallden, was fleeing for his life? The tension in the air was palpable.
Soon, more ships arrived, including Osmo and Georg. Along with Maininki, they were loaded to the brim with large, unidentified wooden crates. What they contained remained a mystery, but local fishermen who helped with the transport sensed that something significant was underway. They were paid handsomely, but no one dared ask too many questions.
Meanwhile, villages filled with people from across the country. Trains, buses, and cars brought nearly 800 individuals – men, women, and children – carrying with them a great secret. They were signal intelligence officers and their families, who had intercepted and decoded the Soviet Union's most critical radio communications during the war. These operatives were invaluable to Finland, but now their lives were in danger if the Soviets found out. Under the codename Stella Polaris, they were ordered to leave the country immediately.
There was something unusual about these people. The men wore ill-fitting civilian clothes, while the women drew attention with expensive furs – a rare sight in a time of rationing. In Yttermark and Nämpnäs, villagers had prepared schools and homes for their temporary stay, and the new guests brought with them plenty of coffee, sugar, and canned goods – items the locals had barely seen in years.
Operation Stella Polaris had been planned in utmost secrecy for years. Finnish signal intelligence had uncovered Soviet military plans by cracking their codes during the war, and this material could not, under any circumstances, fall into enemy hands. It was now being loaded onto ships bound for Sweden. For the Finnish operatives, there was no turning back – those who stayed behind risked being captured by the Soviets and tried as war criminals.
Why Närpes? The small, isolated harbor in Österfjärden was deep and hard to detect, and the local population’s hard-to-understand dialect provided additional protection against intruders. It was the perfect place for an operation that had to remain unseen. The truth about Stella Polaris began to emerge only in the 1970s.
On September 22, 2001, a memorial stone was erected at the shore where Maininki and Osmo once set sail, honoring the heroes who, in utmost secrecy, risked everything for their country. For those who wish to explore this fascinating story further, the Stella Polaris Museum in Öjskogsparken now offers a glimpse into one of the most astonishing operations of the war.
