Antero "Antti" Rokka is a fictional character in Väinö Linna's 1954 war novel The Unknown Soldier. Antero Rokka is a well-known figure in the story, and he has taken on an almost archetypal role in Finnish culture. According to Väinö Linna's own testimony, Rokka's character is based on Linna's comrade-in-arms, Viljam Pylkäs, as the two fought in the Continuation War (1941–44).[1] It is also said that Linna borrowed the character's name from a real-life Ingrian soldier, Antti Rokka, whom Linna would have gotten to know after the war, and that the Rokka in the book would also have the character traits of the real Rokka.[2]
- ^ Petri Sarjanen (2000). Tuntematon Rokka [The Unknown Rokka] (in Finnish). Tampere: Revontuli. ISBN 952-5170-17-9.
- ^ Risto Husa (2009). Nyt puhuu alikersantti Antti Rokka (in Finnish). ISBN 978-952-464-745-8.