Growing up in Ingria, amidst the harsh realities of Stalin's Russia, Toivo describes life under Communism, collectivization, food shortages and arbitrary arrests of family members who simply disappear. As a teen, he bravely escapes to Finland where he enjoys an interlude of a few years until war breaks out and he voluntarily enlists. As one war ends and another soon begins, Toivo takes part in secret missions with the specialized battalion, ErP4, created to send small reconnaissance patrols deep into Russian territory. At war's end, he is forced to flee to Sweden from the Communist-controlled Finnish National Police, Valpo, who are pressured by the Soviets to arrest and send members of ErP4 to Russia to face trial. Eventually, due to housing shortages in Sweden, Toivo and his wife decide to immigrate to Canada where he is faced with the challenge of finding employment for himself and housing for his family, all without knowing the language. A compelling life story of steadfast determination, humbleness and unwavering courage; in essence, one that embodies the attributes of that unique Finnish characteristic known as Sisu.
✔ Author(s): Toivo Waske,Lea Waske Springer
✔ Title: Crossing Borders: From Refugee to Freedom Fighter and Beyond My Life Story
✔ Rating : 4.6 out of 5 base on (22 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1548796336
✔ ISBN-13: 9781548796334
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Crossing Borders by Toivo Waske
Thea Bell
The plot twists were executed masterfully. I was left gasping at every unexpected turn, and the suspense kept me on edge throughout. Bravo to the author for keeping me guessing.
Virginia Savage
The plot was incredibly well-crafted, with twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very last page. It was impossible to predict what would happen next.
Aileen Menzie
The characters in this book felt like old friends, and I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. It's a testament to the author's talent for creating memorable and relatable personas.
