Ernst Tandefelt facts for kids
Knut Ernst Robert Tandefelt (born in 1876, died in 1948) was a Finnish nobleman. He spoke Swedish, which is one of Finland's official languages. Tandefelt is remembered for a significant event in Finland's history.
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A Key Moment in Finnish History
On February 14, 1922, Ernst Tandefelt was involved in a serious event in Helsinki. He shot Heikki Ritavuori, who was Finland's Minister of Internal Affairs at the time. This happened at Ritavuori's home. Tandefelt stated he did this to influence Finland's politics, especially concerning events happening in Eastern Karelia. This event was the only time a government minister was killed in independent Finland's history. It was a major political event.
Was There a Conspiracy?
Many people have wondered if Tandefelt acted alone or if he was part of a larger plan. Some suspected he was involved with extreme right-wing groups. However, there has never been any clear proof of a conspiracy. Tandefelt himself always said that he acted by himself.
What Happened Next?
After the event, Tandefelt was sentenced to a long period of hard labor. Later, Finland's highest court, the Supreme Court, ordered that he be checked by mental health experts. The experts found that Tandefelt was partly mentally unwell. Because of this, his sentence was changed to 12 years of hard labor. Ernst Tandefelt passed away in a mental hospital in 1948.
A Family Connection
Interestingly, Ernst Tandefelt had a family connection to another historical event. His grandfather was a distant cousin of Otto Johan Tandefelt. Otto Johan Tandefelt was involved in a group that killed Axel von Fersen in Sweden back in 1810.
