Page "Karl Lennart Oesch" Paragraph 19

After the Continuation War Oesch ’ s career took a turn for worse.

After serving again as the Chief of the General Staff for almost a year, Oesch retired on his own will in September 1945.

He was aware that the Soviets demanded his arrest as a war criminal.

For a moment Oesch thought of escaping to Sweden, but in the end decided to stay and face the charges.

He was arrested in the same month and later tried.

Four years earlier, in September 1941, Oesch had given an order that permitted the guards to use their arms if POWs refused to follow orders.

The details of the affair are not clear, but apparently some trigger-happy men took liberties with the orders, and a number of Soviet POWs were killed.

Oesch stood accused for ordering the execution of 17 POWs.