Karl Fredrik (Kaarlo Reetrikki) Kares (14 December 1873, in Nakkila – 23 March 1942; surname until 1876 ''Präski'') was a Finnish

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

Vicar of Lapua and politician. He was a member of the

Parliament of Finland The Parliament of Finland ( ; ) is the unicameral and supreme legislature of Finland, founded on 9 May 1906. In accordance with the Constitution of Finland, sovereignty belongs to the people, and that power is vested in the Parliament. The ...

, representing the Finnish Party from 1907 to 1910, the National Coalition Party from 1922 to 1927 and the

Patriotic People's Movement Patriotic People's Movement ( fi, Isänmaallinen kansanliike, IKL, sv, Fosterländska folkrörelsen) was a Finnish nationalist and anti-communist political party. IKL was the successor of the previously banned Lapua Movement. It existed from 1 ...

(IKL) from 1933 until his death in 1942.

Views

Kares welcomed Nazi Germany and openly supported the views of the German Christian movement, the Nazi ecclesiastical cover organization. According to him, with the Nazis, "new refreshing winds were blowing in the German church". Kares was also anti-Semitic, claiming that the persecution of the Jews was due to their own actions. Kares considered the Jews as whole rich and lacking in God’s blessing. According to him, the antichrist was also a Jew.Leinivaara, Juha: Antisemitismiä Suomessa 30-luvulla Paholaisen asianajaja. 12.1.2011.

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