Karl Lennart Oesch (8 August 1892 – 28 March 1978) was one of
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
's leading generals during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He held a string of high staff assignments and front commands, and at the end of the
Continuation War commanded three Finnish army corps on the
Karelian Isthmus
The Karelian Isthmus (russian: Карельский перешеек, Karelsky peresheyek; fi, Karjalankannas; sv, Karelska näset) is the approximately stretch of land, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern ...
. He received numerous awards, including the Finnish
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross ( fi, Mannerheim-risti, sv, Mannerheimkorset), officially Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty ( fi, Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti, link=no, sv, Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors, link=no) is the most distinguished Finnish ...
during his service. Following the end of the Continuation War, he was tried and convicted for war crimes relating to the treatment of Soviet prisoners-of-war.
Early life
Karl Lennart Oesch was born on 8 August 1892 in
Pyhäjärvi to Christian Oesch and Anna Barbara Stegman. His parents were of
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
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* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
origin and had moved to
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
before his birth. He attended school in
Sortavala
Sortavala (russian: Сортавала; Finnish and krl, Sortavala; sv, Sordavala); till 1918 Serdobol (russian: Сердоболь) is a town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga near the Finnish bord ...
and studied in the Department of Mathematics and Physics at the
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the ...
from 1911 to 1915.
Jaeger Movement and Civil War
Oesch joined the Finnish
Jäger Movement, traveling to Germany in 1915. As a member of the
Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion
Royal may refer to:
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* A member of a royal family
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, he fought on the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
side of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
on the
Eastern Front, participating in combat in the region of
Misa. He briefly returned to Finland to recruit more volunteers, before returning to Germany. In 1917, he was promoted ''Oberzugführer'' ( en, Senior
platoon leader, link=no).
He returned to Finland in February 1918 with the main forces of the Finnish Jägers to take part in the
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War; . Other designations: Brethren War, Citizen War, Class War, Freedom War, Red Rebellion and Revolution, . According to 1,005 interviews done by the newspaper ''Aamulehti'', the most popular names were as follows: Civil W ...
on the side of the
Finnish Whites. During the civil war, Oesch commanded the 8th Jaeger Battalion in the regions of
Raasuli and
Rautu.
Oesch's battalion saw action especially in the area of the Rautu railway station, which was held by the
Finnish Reds who were supported by an armored train. The reds withdrew from the station following multiple White attacks which captured the armored train but failed to capture the station area. Oesch reported that the withdrawal resulted in significant casualties, with 1200 Reds killed and 600–800 captured. The 8th Jaeger Battalion lost 199 men with 160 wounded while the total White losses were 670 men.
1918 also saw Oesch commissioned as a
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in the
Finnish Army, followed by a promotion to
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
. He briefly acted as the
chief of staff
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...
of the Mountain Brigade ( fi, Vuoristoprikaati, link=no) before taking the position of the chief of intelligence in the
Finnish General Headquarters. Later that year, he took command of the Guards Jaeger Battalion ( fi, Kaartin jääkäripataljoona, link=no), a position he would hold until 1920.
Interwar years
![Militaryexercise-estonia-1938-oesch-reek](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Militaryexercise-estonia-1938-oesch-reek.png)
Oesch married Anna Aitanga Niskanen in 1919. The couple had two children: son Karl Christian (born 1921) and daughter Ann-Mari (born 1922).
In the 1920s and 1930s Oesch advanced rapidly in the
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces ( fi, Puolustusvoimat, sv, Försvarsmakten) are the military of Finland. The Finnish Defence Forces consist of the Finnish Army, the Finnish Navy and the Finnish Air Force. In wartime the Finnish Border Guard (which i ...
. He briefly acted as an aide to the chief-of-staff of the Army High Command, before being given command of the Vyborg Regiment ( fi, Viipurin Rykmentti, link=no). While holding that command, he was promoted
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
in 1921.
From 1924 to 1926, Oesch studied in the French military academy. During this time, he was also promoted
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
. Once he had returned to
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, Oesch commanded the newly created general staff academy ''
Sotakorkeakoulu''. He briefly held command of the 1st Division from 1929 to 1930, after which he was promoted to
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
and appointed Chief of the General Staff. During the following years, he oversaw significant reforms in the Finnish armed forces, which, according to Mikko Uola, "made possible the successes of the Finnish army in the
Winter War
The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...
". Oesch also served briefly as Deputy Minister of the Interior Affairs from 3 to 14 March 1932, during the crisis caused by the
Mäntsälä rebellion
The Mäntsälä rebellion ( fi, Mäntsälän kapina, ) was a failed coup attempt by the Lapua Movement to overthrow the Finnish government.
On 27 February 1932 some 400 armed members of the ''Suojeluskunta'' militia interrupted a meeting of ...
. He was promoted to
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
in 1936.
Winter War and the Interim Peace
When the
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
invasion of Finland started the Winter War on 30 November 1939, Oesch continued as Chief of the General Staff at Finnish Supreme headquarters under the Finnish Commander-in-Chief,
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (, ; 4 June 1867 – 27 January 1951) was a Finnish military leader and statesman. He served as the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918, as Regent of Finland (1918–1919), as comma ...
.
In early March 1940, just prior to the end of the Winter War, Oesch was given command of the Coast Group, whose sector along the
Bay of Viipuri
Vyborg Bay (, , ) is a deep inlet running northeastward near the eastern end of Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The city of Vyborg is located near the head of the gulf.
The Monrepos Park is considered a jewel of the bay and a major draw for ...
had become critical. Oesch replaced
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Kurt Martti Wallenius, who had taken command only three days prior. According to Robert Edwards, Wallenius had "retreated to his command post and became very drunk" after losing his nerve from the intensity of the combat. The
Battle of Vyborg Bay saw both sides suffer significant losses, but by the evening of March 5 the Soviet
173rd Motor Rifle Division had established a bridgehead over the bay. Further Soviet forces arrived at the bridgehead by 10 March, but the signing of the
Moscow Peace Treaty
The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on 12 March 1940, and the ratifications were exchanged on 21 March. It marked the end of the 105-day Winter War, upon which Finland ceded border areas to the Soviet Union. The ...
on 12 March saw the hostilities end at 11 a.m. on 13 March.
Following the end of the war, Oesch first returned to his previous post as the Chief of the General Staff for a few weeks, before taking the command of
II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to:
France
* 2nd Army Corps (France)
* II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...
.
Continuation War
![Lennart oesch and vladimir kirpitsnikov in 1941](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Lennart_oesch_and_vladimir_kirpitsnikov_in_1941.jpg)
Following Finno-German negotiations that had been ongoing from at least May 1941, the Finns
mobilized
Mobilization is the act of assembling and readying military troops and supplies for war. The word ''mobilization'' was first used in a military context in the 1850s to describe the preparation of the Prussian Army. Mobilization theories and ...
on 10 June 1941 in preparation for the
Continuation War, the Finnish component of the
German invasion of the Soviet Union. As part of these preparations, Oesch's II Corps was renamed
IV Corps. Consisting of the
4th
Fourth or the fourth may refer to:
* the ordinal form of the number 4
* ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971
* Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision
* Fourth (music), a musical interval
* ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
,
8th
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
,
10th
10 (ten) is the even natural number following 9 and preceding 11. Ten is the base of the decimal numeral system, by far the most common system of denoting numbers in both spoken and written language. It is the first double-digit number. The rea ...
and
12th
12 (twelve) is the natural number following 11 and preceding 13. Twelve is a superior highly composite number, divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.
It is the number of years required for an orbital period of Jupiter. It is central to many systems ...
divisions, it was initially tasked with the defense of the southernmost sector of the Finno-Soviet border on the shore of the
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland ( fi, Suomenlahti; et, Soome laht; rus, Фи́нский зали́в, r=Finskiy zaliv, p=ˈfʲinskʲɪj zɐˈlʲif; sv, Finska viken) is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland to the north and E ...
.
Following the Soviet
23rd Army's withdrawal from
Vyborg
Vyborg (; rus, Вы́борг, links=1, r=Výborg, p=ˈvɨbərk; fi, Viipuri ; sv, Viborg ; german: Wiborg ) is a town in, and the administrative center of, Vyborgsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It lies on the Karelian Isthmus ne ...
, parts of IV Corps followed in pursuit. A Finnish amphibious landing to
Lokhaniemi
Lokhaniemi (Lihaniemi before 1948, russian: полуостров Лоханиеми, fi, Lihaniemi) is a peninsula along the eastern shore of Vyborg Bay (in the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean t ...
, south of Vyborg, together with a by-land envelopment conducted by the 4th and 12th divisions, resulted in the
pocketing of the Soviet
43rd,
115th and
123rd divisions following the
Battle of Porlampi
The Battle of Porlampi, also known as the Battle of Porlammi, was a military engagement fought between the Finnish Army and Red Army from 30 August to 1 September 1941 on the Karelian Isthmus. The battle was fought near the town of Porlampi duri ...
. While most of the 115th and 123rd divisions eventually escaped the encirclement, the operation resulted in the capture of some 3000
prisoners of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold priso ...
, including the commander of the Soviet 43rd Division,
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Kirpichnikov, and large amounts of materiel.
In 1942, Oesch was given command of
Olonets Group in the Olonets Isthmus between Lakes
Onega and
Ladoga. While the front had stabilized into trench warfare, Oesch's forces soon came under attack by six soviet divisions and four brigades. The attack was eventually repulsed, but caused significant casualties for both sides.
The trench warfare period ended on 9 June 1944 with the Soviet
Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive, which soon broke the Finnish lines. On the morning of 14 June 1944, Oesch received a call from Lieutenant General
Aksel Airo
Aksel Fredrik Airo (14 February 1898 – 9 May 1985) was a Finnish lieutenant general and main strategic planner during the Winter War and the Continuation War. He was the virtual second-in-command of the Finnish army under Field Marshal C.G.E. ...
with the following message:
Oesch was given the title Commander of the Isthmus Forces, with the forces under his command soon including the
III
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* Information International, Inc., a computer technology company
* Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a library-software company
* 3i, formerly Investors in Industry, a British investment company
Other uses
* Ins ...
,
IV and
V Corps. The Soviet offensive pushed the Finnish forces first to the
VT-line
The Vammelsuu–Taipale line ( fi, VT-linja; sv, VT-linjen; russian: Карельский вал) was a Finnish defensive line on the Karelian Isthmus built in 1942–1944 during the Continuation War and running from Vammelsuu on the northern ...
, and eventually to the
VKT-line
The VKT-line or Viipuri–Kuparsaari–Taipale line ( fi, VKT-linja, sv, VKT-linjen) was a Finnish defensive line on Karelian Isthmus during the Continuation War, spanning from Viipuri (Vyborg) through Tali and Kuparsaari along the northern sh ...
, where the situation eventually stabilized around 17 July, following the fall of Vyborg and the battles of
Tali-Ihantala and
Vyborg Bay
Vyborg Bay (, , ) is a deep inlet running northeastward near the eastern end of Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The city of Vyborg is located near the head of the gulf.
The Monrepos Park is considered a jewel of the bay and a major draw f ...
. Oesch was awarded the
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross ( fi, Mannerheim-risti, sv, Mannerheimkorset), officially Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty ( fi, Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti, link=no, sv, Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors, link=no) is the most distinguished Finnish ...
on 26 June 1944.
Following the stabilization of the situation, Soviet forces from the Finnish front were redirected to other fronts, and on 27 July the Soviets indicated they would be open to a negotiated peace that allowed for an independent Finland. The Finnish parliament accepted the Soviet demands on 2 September. As agreed during the negotiations, Finnish forces began to observe a cease-fire at 07:00a.m. on 4 September. Soviet forces followed suite some 25 hours later, at 08:00a.m. on 5 September.
After the end of the war, Oesch briefly commanded the General Staff of the Finnish General Headquarters before taking command of an army corps later that year.
Trial for war crimes
Oech was arrested for war crimes in 1945 and, in 1946, was sentences to a 12 year prison term for having encouraged the killings of 17 Soviet prisoners of war. The sentence was later reduced to three years by the
Supreme Court of Finland
The Supreme Court of Finland ( fi, korkein oikeus, abbreviated as ''KKO''; sv, högsta domstolen, abbreviated as ''HD''), located in Helsinki, is the court of last resort for cases within the private law of Finland (that is, civil and criminal ...
.
The trial and sentence stemmed from events in November 1941, when Oesch had given an order to shoot
political commissars and other prisoners-of-war who refused to work or follow orders. Any paperwork related to such executions would not be properly filled, listing the executed as "removed" ( fi, poistettu, link=no) In addition, in the fall of 1944, Oesch had ordered the destruction of documents relating to shot prisoners-of-war.
Later life
After Oesch was released from prison in 1948, he devoted himself to military history, researching and writing extensively on Finnish experiences in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He founded the ''
Kansa Taisteli'' magazine and wrote a book on the 1944 events on the Karelian Isthmus. According to Mikko Uola, Oesch was embittered by what he perceived as a lack of recognition for his actions.
Oesch died in Helsinki on 28 March 1978 and is buried in the
Hietaniemi cemetery
The Hietaniemi cemetery ( fi, Hietaniemen hautausmaa, sv, Sandudds begravningsplats) is located mainly in the Lapinlahti quarter and partly in the Etu-Töölö district of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. It is the location for Finnish state ...
.
Awards
During his life, Oesch received several notable military awards. The most notable of these are the Finnish
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross ( fi, Mannerheim-risti, sv, Mannerheimkorset), officially Mannerheim Cross of the Cross of Liberty ( fi, Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti, link=no, sv, Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors, link=no) is the most distinguished Finnish ...
and the
Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty. In addition, he received the Finnish
Order of the White Rose of Finland; the Latvian
Order of the Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra", meaning "Thr ...
; the Norvegian
Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav ( no, Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II ...
; the Polish
Order of Polonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta ( pl, Order Odrodzenia Polski, en, Order of Restored Poland) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on al ...
and
Golden Cross of Merit
The Cross of Merit () is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923, to recognize services to the state.
History
At the time of its establishment in 1923, the Cross of Merit was the highest civilian award in Poland. It was aw ...
; the French
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
; the Swedish
Order of the Sword and
Order of the Polar Star; several German and Prussian
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...
es; the Danish
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known a ...
; and the Estonian
Order of the Cross of the Eagle
The Order of the Cross of the Eagle ( et, Kotkaristi teenetemärk; french: Ordre de la Croix de l'Aigle) was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a sta ...
.
In 1960, he was given an honorary doctorate by the
University of Turku
sv, Åbo universitet
, latin_name = Universitas Aboensis
, image_name = University of Turku.svg
, motto = ''Vapaan kansan lahja vapaalle tieteelle''
, established = 1920
, type ...
.
Notes
References
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Further reading
* Seppälä, Helge (1998): ''Karl Lennart Oesch: Suomen pelastaja''
* Tapola, Päivi (2007): ''Kenraalien kirjeet''
* Lipponen, Rauno (ed.) (1997): ''Itsenäisen Suomen kenraalikunta''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oesch, Karl Lennart
1892 births
1978 deaths
People from Priozersky District
People from Viipuri Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)
Finnish people of Swiss descent
Ministers of the Interior of Finland
Finnish lieutenant generals
German Army personnel of World War I
People of the Finnish Civil War (White side)
Finnish military personnel of World War II
Chiefs of Staff (Finnish Defence Forces)
Knights of the Mannerheim Cross
Continuation War
Finnish anti-communists
Finnish nationalists
Jägers of the Jäger Movement