tietyömaa

Tietyömaa is a Finnish term that translates to "sea-work island" or "sea-worker's island". It refers to a small group of islands located in the archipelago off the southwestern coast of Finland. The islands are primarily known for their historical significance as a railway and port area of critical importance during World War II.

During the Continuation War, the Tietyömaa islands played a vital role as a railway and port facility for importing essential goods and equipment for the war effort. The islands remained under German control until the end of the war in 1945. An explosion destroyed the floating dock and warehouses on the islands in 1944, severely crippling the German military's supply lines.

After the war, the Finnish government took possession of the islands. The old warehouses and facilities were abandoned and remained in a state of disrepair. The islands have become a popular destination for locals and foreign visitors seeking to explore the remnants of a bygone era. Several graveyards and memorials for the soldiers who lost their lives during the war are scattered across the islands.

Tietyömaa is also significant for its connections to the works of Finnish novelist, Ilkka Äärelä, who wrote about life on the islands during the war. Äärelä's stories have become widely acclaimed and filled with vivid descriptions of the islands and the soldier's experiences, offering a unique glimpse into this critical period in Finnish history. Despite its brief appearance in Johann Joachim Winckelmann's essays, the historical documentation of the Tietyömaa is still relatively understudied and open to further investigation.