Säkkijärven polkka
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Säkkijärven polkka ("the Säkkijärvi polka") is a well-known folk tune from Finland, popular with Finnish accordionists to the extent that it can be called their national anthem. It was especially popularized by Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen (1907-1961). The tune was first recorded in Säkkijärvi (now Kondratyevo in the Leningrad Oblast, Russia), and the words sometimes sung to the tune point out that Säkkijärvi itself might have been lost, but that Finns could at least keep the polka.
[edit] Military use
During the Continuation War, the Finnish Army discovered that the retreating Soviets had scattered radio-controlled mines throughout the city of Viipuri. The mines were jammed by playing Vesterinen's polka on the same frequency ceaselessly for three days, draining the batteries of the mines and averting catastrophe.
[edit] Other
Säkkijärven polkka is also the title of the eponymous film directed by Viljo Salminen (1908-1992) in 1955.
An electronic version of the song, titled Hardcore of the North, appears in the music video game In The Groove.
