Arndt Pekurinen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arndt Pekurinen
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| Born |
Arndt Juho Pekurinen
29 August 1905 Juva, Finland
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| Died | 5 November 1941 (aged 36) Karelia
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| Cause of death | Executed |
| Resting place | Malmi cemetery, Helsinki |
Arndt Juho Pekurinen (born August 29, 1905 – died November 5, 1941) was a Finnish man who believed in peace. He was known as a pacifist, meaning he was against all war and violence. He was also a conscientious objector, which means he refused to join the military or fight because of his strong beliefs.
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Who Was Arndt Pekurinen?
Arndt Pekurinen was born in Juva, Finland. He grew up to have very strong beliefs about peace. Even though he was a religious person, his reasons for not wanting to fight were not based on his faith. Some people thought he was interested in politics, but he wasn't. Because of his peaceful views, especially during the difficult 1930s, some people saw him as a serious threat to the country.
Standing Up for Peace
In 1926, Arndt Pekurinen refused to join the military, which was required by law. Because of this, he was put in prison between 1929 and 1931. He bravely refused to wear a uniform or carry any weapons.
Many people around the world heard about his situation. In 1930, a special letter was sent to the Finnish defense minister. This letter asked for Arndt's release and was signed by many important people. These included sixty members of the British Parliament and famous thinkers like Albert Einstein and H. G. Wells.
A Law for Conscientious Objectors
Because of the attention Arndt Pekurinen's case received, a new law was created in Finland. On April 14, 1931, the Lex Pekurinen was passed. This was Finland's first law that allowed people to choose an alternative to military service. However, this law only applied during peacetime, not during war.
War and a Tragic End
When the Winter War started in 1939, Arndt Pekurinen was again put in prison. Later, during the Continuation War in 1941, he was sent to the front lines. He was told he had to wear a uniform and use a weapon. But Arndt still refused.
Because he would not fight, a captain ordered him to be killed without a proper trial. The first two soldiers told to carry out the order refused. But a third soldier, corporal Asikainen, followed the direct order. Arndt Pekurinen was killed on November 5, 1941.
Remembering Arndt Pekurinen
After the war, there was an investigation into Arndt Pekurinen's death, but it was never finished. For more than fifty years, he was mostly forgotten. Then, in 1998, a book called Courage: The life and execution of Arndt Pekurinen was published. This book, written by Erno Paasilinna, helped people remember his story.
To honor him, the city of Helsinki named a park Arndt Pekurisen puisto (Arndt Pekurinen Park) in his memory. Arndt Pekurinen's motto, inspired by Jonathan Swift, was: "As people are not eaten, butchering them is of no use." This means there's no point in killing people if you don't even eat them.
See also
- Taavetti Lukkarinen
