Rumour about mass graves in Lappeenranta

[Mikko H.]

This procedure was then confirmed with the instructions that were given in the beginning of June about the simplified court martial process (no possibility to complain about the verdict).

You certainly mean July?

[JariL]

Hi Mikko,

Yes, July not June. Thanks for the correction.

Jari

[Janne]

It's a bit curious that the document is presented as a sensational new discovery by Juhani Tasihin, when in fact it has appeared at least in Kulomaa's book on desertion published way back in 1995. OTOH it's curious why Kulomaa left out the "juicy" bit - it's as if he'd just assumed that no one refused twice to return to the front - but the archive reference was there.

The legl aspect is questionable, but with a bit of stretching the law could cover it when the crime was not simple desertion - which would be the case if a soldier refused to obey orders twice.. What is missing is any instruction to make the whole thing secret or to limit it to the hands of any "secret field court".(Which doesn't of course mean that there wouldn't have been an effort to cover it all up later - I wonder what happened to the lists of names (and to copies of the lists) sent to Järjestelyosasto 2 as indicated in the order?)

Another point is that the use of this kind of extreme measure was not yet applied to multiple deserters. When the commander of III AK wanted to apply it at least as a warning to others, it was expressly denied. It was nnly in July when the law was hastily changed that this was allowed.


Last but not least, my memory of what was done with the budies of the officially executed men was a bit shaky: it wasn't until July that the procedure became to sent them to be buried like the others (albeit not in the soldiers' grave). Until then they were to be buried "in the vicinity of the place of execution and with a low profile".

[Harri]

Actually IIRC Etelä-Saimaa published it already in 1994 by Meuronen.

Etelä-Saimaa newspaper has during last days published information on the possible mass graves. In addition to the camping site area from the the found grave is, there might be another one next to local waterworks which is also at Huhtiniemi area. There could be 60 to 100 corpses.

The Vicar of Valkeala told that the claimed mass grave next to Valkeala church might be on the area reserved for soldiers' graves. In this case it is possible that the bodies have belonged to soldiers who have had so large scale injuries or had been dead for so long time that they could have not been recognized with the means available in 1944. I think that kind of unrecognizable (destroyed) bodies were buried to mass graves although probably with a priest present.

----

The problem with all current thories is timing. Where there executions already before the 4.7. (or 5.7.) or not? Could it be possible that all or most executions (including the claimed secret ones) took place after that date?

[Esa K]

Kulomaa, Jukka: Käpykaartin? 1941-1944 : Sotilaskarkuruus Suomen armeijassa jatkosodan aikana 1941-1944, Helsinki 1995 (titel translates to something like: To the coneguard 1941-1944 : Desertations in finnish army during the continuation war. ["käpykaarti" = "coneguard" : Finnish nick for the "unit" a deserter belonged to])

From the book above, the official number of how many deserters that was sentenced to death by the field courts after 4/7 1944 ( the first number), and how many actually then was executed (the second number):

1.D 2 - 2
2.D 7 - 6
3.D 2 -1
4.D 4 - 2
5.D 5 - 5
6.D 7 - 5
7.D 5 - 4
8.D 1 - 1
10D 0 - 0
11.D 5 - 4
14.D 0 - 0
15.D 1 - 0
17.D 5 - 5
18.D 5 - 3
Ps.D 1 - 0
3.Pr. 3 - 2
15.pr. 3 - 2
19.Pr. 2 - 0
20.pr. 2 - 1
21.pr. 9 - 1
Rv.Pr. 2 - 2
Aun.RE. 1 - 0
Civil Guard districts. 4 -0

Best regards

Esa K

[Suomäki]

According to todays Hufvustadsbladet newspaper; bodies are russian soldiers not finnish. There has been orthodox crosses and other religious objects found in the grave. So bodies might be over hundred years old. Finnish National Bureau of Investigation will held a press conference in next week

[Harri]

That was expected. I bet the true mass grave of executed soldiers would certainly look different. That will calm down the loudest ones who have expected this grave would be from the year 1944.

Actually some time ago an unknown grave of two buried Russian soldiers was found from Ruokolahti. That grave was also much older than from the WW II era.

[Tero]

I could hear that particular balloon deflate when the news was announced.

[Eisenfaust]

The police has published pictures of items found in the grave.










=E=

[Juha Tompuri]

Thanks =E=,

The pendants of silver and button of bone hardly are from year 1944.

Regards, Juha

[Tero T]

The circular icon pendant appears to have a hallmark embossed on the lower edge. Looks lik a cats face but cannot be sure. If it is silver it might give some clue to the era in which it was made. Bone buttons are still being made. I have looked at the Russian orthodox cross and have not come up with a similar one in my search. Tero T Toronto

[Harri]

The pendants of silver and button of bone hardly are from year 1944.

Nor 1918. These are probably older items from the 18th or 19th Century.

[Eisenfaust]

So what explains the fact ( ? ) that the corpses began to stink in the summer of 1945? After decades?

=E=

[Juha Tompuri]

These are probably older items from the 18th or 19th Century.

That's what I think too.
I wouldn't be that surprised, if they were from the 1741 Lappenranta battle.

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

So what explains the fact ( ? ) that the corpses began to stink in the summer of 1945? After decades?

From the experiences I've had from burying large animals: if buryed to low, they might start to stink after couple of weeks.
Never had any kind of problems a year after.
I believe the "compost process" deteriorates the bodies to the level beyond any smell after a year.

Regards, Juha