Touko Laaksonen (1920−1991), known by his artist name Tom of Finland, is an internationally renowned and acclaimed artist, particularly famous for his homoerotic drawings. During the Continuation War, Laaksonen served as an officer in Helsinki’s air defense and was awarded the Cross of Liberty, 4th Class, for his merits as a fire control officer in May 1944. Afterward, he participated in the battles at Viipuri Bay as a lieutenant until the end of the war. Laaksonen later mentioned that his wartime experiences influenced his art: his fascination with uniforms was sparked specifically during his time in the military, particularly by the attire of German soldiers.

Laaksonen has recounted that wartime Helsinki was a lively setting for homosexual relationships. He had the opportunity to go out on evening leave in the city almost every other night. Due to the bombing threat, the city was blacked out, which created opportunities for engaging in homosexual encounters:

”Every night the city went dark — I used to go out night after night, cruising the pitch-black streets in search of sex. — I got as much sex as I wanted. There were plenty of other soldiers and sailors lurking in the darkness too. — It was sex that drew men to the streets, looking for a hookup. No one knew if they would live to see tomorrow, or if there would be a tomorrow at all. So we lived as if it were our last day. We made the most of it. It was a time of uninhibited behavior.”