Nils Mesterton

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Carl Fredrik Nils Mesterton
16 September 1888 – 10 November 1962
Place of birth	Stockholm, Sweden
Allegiance	Sweden
Service/branch	Swedish Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Västernorrland Regiment (I 21)
Battles/wars	Ådalen riots (1931)

Carl Fredrik Nils Mesterton (16 September 1888 – 10 November 1962) was a Swedish military captain who became infamous for being the military commander on the scene at the Ådalen riots in Lunde, Ångermanland, on 14 May 1931.

Contents 1 The Incident 2 Aftermath 3 Background 4 References

[edit] The Incident

A demonstration was taking place between striking workers and strikebreakers when rioting broke out, and military troops were called in to maintain order. Captain Mesterton was the leader of the military unit. Protesters started to throw stones at the troops, and tried to enter the area where the strikebreakers were located. Mesterton ordered his troops to open fire. Five people, of them four protesters and one bystander, were killed.

[edit] Aftermath

Mesterton was tried by a military court in Sollefteå, and sentenced to eight days in custody without surveillance. Several of the protesters were also tried in court and received harsh prison sentences.

After the Ådalen riots, Mesterton became the target of much of the protestors' anger. He was commonly referred to in the Swedish socialist press as the "murderer from Lunde". Mesterton himself is said to have taken the incident very hard and became a broken man.

[edit] Background

Nils Mesterton was born in Stockholm as the third son and fourth child of Carl Daniel Mesterton (a former lieutenant) and his wife Ebba von Redlich (daughter of the German consul-general in Stockholm).^[1] His grandfather was the famous doctor Carl Benedict Mesterton. The Mesterton family is of Scottish origin, and had come to Sweden in the 17th century. Mesterton's father died in 1889, and in 1899, his mother married the poet Oscar Levertin, who became Mesterton's stepfather.^[1] Following his upper-secondary final examination, Mesterton were educated as a reserve officer in the Swedish Army.^[1] He also finished a government administration examination and studied economics at the university.^[1] Thereafter, he worked some time at a bank office.^[1] It is unclear whether he really intended for a civilian or military career, but he later signed up as an officer at the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) in Sollefteå, Ångermanland.^[1]

In 1934, Mesterton married a widow.

In the film Ådalen 31, directed by Bo Widerberg, Mesterton is portrayed by Martin Fahlén.

[edit] References

Persondata
NAME	Mesterton, Nils
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Mesterton, Carl Fredrik Nils (full name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Military officer
DATE OF BIRTH	16 September 1888
PLACE OF BIRTH	Stockholm, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH	10 November 1962
PLACE OF DEATH