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In 1926, Pekurinen repeatedly refused mandatory [[conscription]], leading to his imprisonment between 1929 and 1931. He refused to either wear a uniform or take arms. While Pekurinen was deeply [[religious]], his motives were not based on his [[faith]]. While his contemporaries suggested he was a [[communist]], he was not interested in politics. Because of his pacifist conviction, in the atmosphere of the [[militarism|militaristic]] 1930s, he was deemed as guilty of [[high treason]], and the [[Lapua Movement]] harassed him relentlessly. In 1930, an international petition on his behalf was sent to the Finnish defense minister [[Juho Niukkanen]], which included the signatures of sixty [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s and notables such as [[Albert Einstein]], [[Henri Barbusse]] and [[H. G. Wells]]. On 14 April 1931, the ''Lex Pekurinen'', Finland's first alternative to [[military service]], was passed. However, its provisions extended only as far as peacetime.
In 1926, Pekurinen repeatedly refused mandatory [[conscription]], leading to his imprisonment between 1929 and 1931. He refused to either wear a uniform or take arms. While Pekurinen was deeply [[religious]], his motives were not based on his [[faith]]. While his contemporaries suggested he was a [[communist]], he was not interested in politics. Because of his pacifist conviction, in the atmosphere of the [[militarism|militaristic]] 1930s, he was deemed as guilty of [[high treason]], and the [[Lapua Movement]] harassed him relentlessly. In 1930, an international petition on his behalf was sent to the Finnish defense minister [[Juho Niukkanen]], which included the signatures of sixty [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s and notables such as [[Albert Einstein]], [[Henri Barbusse]] and [[H. G. Wells]]. On 14 April 1931, the ''Lex Pekurinen'', Finland's first alternative to [[military service]], was passed. However, its provisions extended only as far as peacetime.


When the [[Winter War]] broke out in 1939, Pekurinen once again found himself imprisoned. At the onset of the [[Continuation War]] in autumn 1941, he was sent to the front, with orders to make sure he did wear the uniform, and bear and use a weapon. At the front he still refused to wear a uniform or bear arms. Following an order issued by captain Pentti Valkonen, he was [[Summary execution|executed without trial]]. The first two soldiers (sergeant Kivelä and private Kinnunen) ordered to execute him refused; only the third, corporal Asikainen, obeyed Valkonen's direct order.
When the [[Winter War]] broke out in 1939, Pekurinen once again found himself imprisoned. At the onset of the [[Continuation War]] in autumn 1941, he was sent to the front, with orders to make sure he did wear the uniform, and bear and use a weapon. At the front he still refused to wear a uniform or bear arms. Following an order issued by captain Pentti Valkonen, he was [[Summary execution|executed without trial]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Sari Näre & Jenni Kirves|title=Ruma sota: Talvi- ja jatkosodan vaiettu historia|page=256–257|location=Helsinki|publisher=Johnny Kniga|year=2008|isbn=978-951-0-32917-7|language=fi}}</ref> The first two soldiers (sergeant Kivelä and private Kinnunen) ordered to execute him refused; only the third, corporal Asikainen, obeyed Valkonen's direct order.


After the war, an investigation of Pekurinen's death was launched but never completed. He remained effectively forgotten for over fifty years, until the publication in 1998 of the book ''Courage: The life and execution of Arndt Pekurinen'' by [[Erno Paasilinna]]. The city of [[Helsinki]] named a park ''Arndt Pekurisen puisto'' (''Arndt Pekurinen Park'') in East [[Pasila]] in his memory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000004397861.html|title=Aseistakieltäytyjä sai puiston Itä-Pasilaan|date=20 May 2006|access-date=29 June 2021|first=Santtu|last=Perkkonen|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|language=Finnish}}</ref>
After the war, an investigation of Pekurinen's death was launched but never completed. He remained effectively forgotten for over fifty years, until the publication in 1998 of the book ''Courage: The life and execution of Arndt Pekurinen'' by [[Erno Paasilinna]]. The city of [[Helsinki]] named a park ''Arndt Pekurisen puisto'' (''Arndt Pekurinen Park'') in East [[Pasila]] in his memory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000004397861.html|title=Aseistakieltäytyjä sai puiston Itä-Pasilaan|date=20 May 2006|access-date=29 June 2021|first=Santtu|last=Perkkonen|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|language=Finnish}}</ref>

Revision as of 02:56, 5 November 2022

Arndt Pekurinen
Born
Arndt Juho Pekurinen

(1905-08-29)29 August 1905
Juva, Finland
Died5 November 1941(1941-11-05) (aged 36)
Karelia
Cause of deathExecuted
Resting placeMalmi cemetery, Helsinki
60°14′09″N 25°01′38″E / 60.2359°N 25.0273°E / 60.2359; 25.0273

Arndt Juho Pekurinen (29 August 1905 – 5 November 1941) was a Finnish pacifist and conscientious objector.

In 1926, Pekurinen repeatedly refused mandatory conscription, leading to his imprisonment between 1929 and 1931. He refused to either wear a uniform or take arms. While Pekurinen was deeply religious, his motives were not based on his faith. While his contemporaries suggested he was a communist, he was not interested in politics. Because of his pacifist conviction, in the atmosphere of the militaristic 1930s, he was deemed as guilty of high treason, and the Lapua Movement harassed him relentlessly. In 1930, an international petition on his behalf was sent to the Finnish defense minister Juho Niukkanen, which included the signatures of sixty British MPs and notables such as Albert Einstein, Henri Barbusse and H. G. Wells. On 14 April 1931, the Lex Pekurinen, Finland's first alternative to military service, was passed. However, its provisions extended only as far as peacetime.

When the Winter War broke out in 1939, Pekurinen once again found himself imprisoned. At the onset of the Continuation War in autumn 1941, he was sent to the front, with orders to make sure he did wear the uniform, and bear and use a weapon. At the front he still refused to wear a uniform or bear arms. Following an order issued by captain Pentti Valkonen, he was executed without trial.[1] The first two soldiers (sergeant Kivelä and private Kinnunen) ordered to execute him refused; only the third, corporal Asikainen, obeyed Valkonen's direct order.

After the war, an investigation of Pekurinen's death was launched but never completed. He remained effectively forgotten for over fifty years, until the publication in 1998 of the book Courage: The life and execution of Arndt Pekurinen by Erno Paasilinna. The city of Helsinki named a park Arndt Pekurisen puisto (Arndt Pekurinen Park) in East Pasila in his memory.[2]

According to the book by Erno Paasilinna, Pekurinen's motto was inspired by Jonathan Swift: "As people are not eaten, butchering them is of no use." ("Kun ihmisiä ei syödä, on niitä turha teurastaa.")

See also

References

Wikiquote has quotations related to Arndt Pekurinen.
  • Brock, Peter (1999). Challenge to Mars: Essays on Pacifism from 1918 to 1945. University of Toronto Press. p. ix.
  • Silvonen, Katri (2004). Conscientious objection in Finland. Peace Review, 16 (2), pp. 207–209.

Citations

  1. ^ Sari Näre & Jenni Kirves (2008). Ruma sota: Talvi- ja jatkosodan vaiettu historia (in Finnish). Helsinki: Johnny Kniga. p. 256–257. ISBN 978-951-0-32917-7.
  2. ^ Perkkonen, Santtu (20 May 2006). "Aseistakieltäytyjä sai puiston Itä-Pasilaan" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
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