Captured Lotta -- missing sources

[FinnFuFighting]

Help please with finding supporting documents and further details about my future aunt Kirsti Ruotsalainen from Iisalmi.

I: The following oral history supported by reputable sources.

Lotta Kirsti Ruotsalainen, a second Lotta Anni Tekkala and three soldiers were delivering Christmas gifts to the front-lines. Partisans ambushed them on the frozen Lake Ontajärvi. Kirsti was shot in the right foot and two Finnish soldiers were killed. The other soldier escaped on horseback. She and the other Lotta were taken captive. Young Kirsti was pregnant but did not know it at the time. The date: December 24, 1943.

Five days after her capture, the two Lottas were interrogated by Major Stoljarv. The interrogation was long and hard, but neither beaten nor beaten. Kirsti was then sent to the Tserepovets POW camp. Life there was brutal and violent. Rats and vermin abounded. Starvation, disease, extreme cold and unsanitary conditions led to many deaths. Diphtheria raged, and prisoners died daily. The only disinfectant was water. There she gave birth to son Kari on August 26, 1944. She was the only prisoner to receive milk. The baby aroused sympathy in the guards. The wartime Soviet propaganda newspaper "Sotilaan Ääni" contained articles about Kirsti including text from a letter sent to family.

After this war concluded in October 1944, during the repatriation process, Kirsti returned to Finland. Baby Kari was, of course, a great surprise to all the relatives. Kirsti soon learned Kari's father fell in combat with the Russians during her captivity. She and Kari immigrated to Clatskanie Oregon USA post-war. There she married my great-uncle Japhet (Jeff) Jolma. Japhet adopted Kari as his son. Kirsti died of cancer in 1969, way too soon.

http://www.rukajarvensuunnanhistoriayhd ... ajarvella/

II: Oral History NOT supported by other sources--- looking for confirming documentation

As told by Kirsti to my mother and her future husband... oral history.

During the repatriation to Finland, Kirsti, Kari and many other Finnish captives were detrained near the Finnish border. These defenseless captives were lined up and then machine-gunned by their Soviet guards. Most died. Kirsti played dead while covering her baby son Kari. When dark, out of the piles of dead she with son crawled through the forest to freedom in Finland.

Other questions for interest: Who is Kari's father? Were they married?

Kiitos, Matti

[Seppo Koivisto]

Maybe you should try to contact the author of the article you linked, Tenho Tikkanen. His contact information is on the web page of Rukajärven suunnan historiayhdistys (Rukajärvi direction historical society).
http://www.rukajarvensuunnanhistoriayhd ... eystiedot/
https://www.lieksanlehti.fi/uutiset/ite ... eenjohtaja

[FinnFuFighting]

Maybe you should try to contact the author of the article you linked, Tenho Tikkanen. His contact information is on the web page of Rukajärven suunnan historiayhdistys (Rukajärvi direction historical society).
http://www.rukajarvensuunnanhistoriayhd ... eystiedot/
https://www.lieksanlehti.fi/uutiset/ite ... eenjohtaja

I tired but the e-mail address bounced. Kiitos

[Seppo Koivisto]

If you know the parish where she was registered, you may be able to get her report on family relationships (sukuselvitys/virkatodistus), but the author seems already have it.
https://www.suomi.fi/services/report-on ... 10303ee35b

If the person was a member of an Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox parish before 1 October 1999, you must always order the report on family relationships from the parish in question for a time period preceding that date.

https://evl.fi/tietoa-kirkosta/kirkko-j ... kututkimus

There is also a Rukajärvi war history Facebook group, that you could join and place your question there.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1004508732941810

[FinnFuFighting]

If you know the parish where she was registered, you may be able to get her report on family relationships (sukuselvitys/virkatodistus), but the author seems already have it.
https://www.suomi.fi/services/report-on ... 10303ee35b

If the person was a member of an Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox parish before 1 October 1999, you must always order the report on family relationships from the parish in question for a time period preceding that date.

https://evl.fi/tietoa-kirkosta/kirkko-j ... kututkimus

There is also a Rukajärvi war history Facebook group, that you could join and place your question there.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1004508732941810

Sorry, for not being clear. What is desired are a (1) 3rd party verification of the machine-gunning; (2) Name of father/husband of son Kari. Of course other details would be great. Her son Kari is my cousin, he still lives, I have access to him and his records. BTW Kari was and is the youngest Finnish POW. The Rukajarvi FB reference group is much appreciated. I speak Finnish so language is no barrier.

[Mangrove]

II: Oral History NOT supported by other sources--- looking for confirming documentation

Do you have a copy of her interrogation report made after she was repatriated? There should be one at the National Archives of Finland under "Valtiollisen poliisin internoimisarkisto". You may order a copy by contacting the National Archives of Finland.

[FinnFuFighting]

II: Oral History NOT supported by other sources--- looking for confirming documentation

Do you have a copy of her interrogation report made after she was repatriated? There should be one at the National Archives of Finland under "Valtiollisen poliisin internoimisarkisto". You may order a copy by contacting the National Archives of Finland.

Yes, I do have a copy of the interrogation report. Lots of good stuff in it, the Reds were good at interrogation. Also the Finnish military post-war analysis of Kirsti's response is solid.... she did well.

[Seppo Koivisto]

(2) Name of father/husband of son Kari.

The name of father is most probably in church records.

[FinnFuFighting]

(2) Name of father/husband of son Kari.

The name of father is most probably in church records.

No problem... the complete family record is captured.