Taavetti Lukkarinen (8 November 1884 inNilsiä – 2 October 1916 inOulu) was a former Kemi Oy'sforeman fromKeminmaa,Finland, who wassentenced to death fortreason after helpingGerman prisoners of war who had fled theKirov Railway construction site viaFinnish Lapland toSweden. He was not an actual recruiter of theJäger Movement.
Lukkarinen was caught helping German prisoners of war on 26 December 1915 at Koivu railway station. He had hidden three of his German sledges that had been lifted on a train inRovaniemi.[1] Lukkarinen and three Germans were arrested. Lukkarinen managed to escape to Sweden, but returned to Finland with a forged passport due to being homesick. Fearing a train inspection atOulu railway station, he fell off the train around Kiviniemi station. This was discovered and Lukkarinen was arrested by theRussiangendarmeries in June 1916.[2]
Lukkarinen was kept in vicious conditions inOulu County Prison. The death sentence was handed down by a secret VI Army Military Court. The ruling has been accused of the Finnish Governor of theProvince of Oulu, Axel Fabian af Enehjelm, who allegedly, under pressure from the Russians, contributed to the fact that a rather insignificantactivist was made a warning example by sentencing him to death. According to another view, af Enehjelm, known for hispro-Russianism, sought to act in such a way that Lukkarinen was not pardoned. In prison, Lukkarinen was prevented from meeting his wife, who had traveled to Oulu specifically fromKemi.[3][4]
Lukkarinen washanged on 2 October 1916 in Oulu'sKontinkangas.[5] The body was covered in a pit dug at the base of thepine tree. After Finlandbecame independent, Lukkarinen's reputation was restored, his grave was opened and his earthly remains officially buried inOulu Cemetery in 1917.[6]
Today, Lukkarinen'sgallow tree is located next to the currentOulu University of Applied Sciences' Department of Social and Health Care. The place is marked on the terrain. There is a fence around the supposed hanging tree with text describing the event. However, according to some estimates, the tree is not the same, but another tree would have been chosen instead.
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