Karl Lennart Oesch

Lennart Oesch
Lennart Oesch in 1918
Born	(1892-08-08)8 August 1892 Pyhäjärvi, Grand Duchy of Finland
Died	28 March 1978(1978-03-28) (aged 85) Helsinki, Finland
Buried	Hietaniemi Cemetery
Allegiance	German Empire (1915–1918)  Finland (1918–1945)
Service / branch	Imperial German Army Finnish Jäger troops Finnish Army
Years of service	1915–1945
Rank	Oberzugführer (Germany) Lieutenant general (Finland)
Commands	II Corps IV Corps Olonets Group III, IV, and V Corps as Commander of the Isthmus Forces
Battles / wars	World War I Finnish Civil War Battle of Rautu World War II Winter War Battle of Vyborg Bay Continuation War Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive
Awards	Mannerheim Cross Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Order of the White Rose of Finland Order of the Three Stars Order of St. Olav Order of Polonia Restituta Golden Cross of Merit Legion of Honour Order of the Sword Order of the Polar Star Several German and Prussian Iron Crosses Order of the Dannebrog Order of the Cross of the Eagle
Other work	Writings of Military History

Karl Lennart Oesch (8 August 1892 – 28 March 1978) was one of Finland's leading generals during World War II. He held a string of high staff assignments and front commands, and at the end of the Continuation War commanded three Finnish army corps on the Karelian Isthmus. He received numerous awards, including the Finnish Mannerheim Cross during his service. Following the end of the Continuation War, he was tried and convicted for war crimes relating to the treatment of Soviet prisoners-of-war.