Vilho Annala

Annala joined the Lapua Movement and became Helsinki District Chairman in February 1931.^[1] Ideologically Annala was heavily influenced by the corporatism of Italian fascism.^[2] He supported the co-opting of the working classes into the Lapua Movement and opposed the influence of wealthy industrialists.^[1]

In April 1932 Annala joined Herman Gummerus and Erkki Räikkönen in founding the Patriotic People's Movement (IKL) and he served as caucus chairman from 1936 to 1944.^[1] Between 1933 and 1945 he also represented the party in the Parliament of Finland.^[1] Whilst the official leader was Vihtori Kosola real control of the movement rested with Annala and his close lieutenant Bruno Salmiala.^[3] It was Annala who dictated the policy of the movement although his hard-line views led to condemnation by both the government and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland that damaged the group.^[1] Annala held the post of Minister of Transport in the unity government of Johan Wilhelm Rangell from 1941 to 1943.^[4] This however was a last throw for the IKL as the group faded soon afterwards and Annala left politics.^[1]

With his political career over Annala became an academic back at the University of Helsinki.^[1] He served there as the professor of political economy 1951–57.^[5] He died in Helsinki, aged 72.