Battle of Varkaus

Battle of Varkaus
Part of the Finnish Civil War

A. Ahlström Ltd. sawmill on fire
Date19–21 February 1918
(2 days)
Location
Result White victory
Belligerents
Finnish Whites Finnish Reds
Commanders and leaders
Ernst Löfström
C. W. Malm
Johan Sainio
Karl Müller
Matti Autio Executed
Adam Krogerus Executed
Emil Parkkinen Executed
Kaarlo Lähteenmäki Executed
Strength
c. 1,000 c. 1,200 (150 armed)
Casualties and losses
12 KIA c. 20 KIA
180+ executed

Battle of Varkaus was a battle of the 1918 Finnish Civil War, fought 19–21 February between the Finnish Whites and the Finnish Reds in Varkaus, Leppävirta. The victory was important for the Whites, giving them control of all of Northern Finland. The battle is best known for the bloody Lottery of Huruslahti held afterwards, where the Whites executed up to 180 Reds who had surrendered.[1]

  1. ^ Roselius, Aapo (2014). The Finnish Civil War 1918: History, Memory, Legacy. Leiden: Brill Publishers. p. 100. ISBN 978-900-42436-6-8.