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Vanajanlinna remained in Rosenlew´s possession up to 1941. When the Rosenlews were selling the house, there were two interested buyers. Risto Ryti, the President of Finland, wanted Vanajanlinna as the President´s summer residence instead of the present official summer residence Kultaranta in Naantali. The other interested was an immensely rich German munitions industrialist Willy Daugs. Despite Risto Ryti´s strong opposition, Vanajanlinna was sold to Daugs, who then moved to the house. |
After Germany was defeated in the war, all German property in Finland was transferred to the Soviet Union as war reparations, including Vanajanlinna. Soviet Union´s administrative committee of foreign property in Finland began to maintain the manor by taking care of the fields and cattle. The main building was not used and began to decay.
In 1947 the Yrjö Sirola Foundation leased the Vanajanlinna area to the newly founded Sirola Institute. In the beginning Vanajanlinna was used as a holiday home, banqueting and dancing place in the summertime, but already in the 1950´s the activities were focused on social issues within the folk high school. The institute acquired the buildings and lands of Vanajanlinna in 1956. After the acquisition over a half of the land was conveyed to veterans to build small farms and dwelling houses. A part of the land was sold to the Vanaja municipality. 34 hectares remained in the institute´s possession