Martta Koskinen

Martta Johanna Koskinen (1897 – 29 September 1943) was a Helsinki seamstress, who was sentenced to death for high treason and was executed by firing squad 29 September 1943 as the last woman to be executed in Finland.

Early life

Koskinen was born in Helsinki 1897. She was tall and lean, and spoke loudly as scarlet fever had damaged her hearing in her childhood. She was seamstress by her profession. She was introduced to Communism very early on, and she was member of the underground Finnish Communist Party. She participated in the Finnish Civil War on the Red side.

Koskinen was first imprisoned in Kotka 1933 from revolutionary activity with several other women who had sided the Reds, and sentenced to prison from participation to treason. She was also accused from "membership of a criminal organization" (Finnish Communist Party) and writing out "clandestine literature". Koskinen denied the charges, but she was sentenced to prison from treasonous activity for two years.

Koskinen was an acquaintance of two notable female Finnish Communists: Hertta Kuusinen (daughter of Otto Wille Kuusinen) and Hella Wuolijoki. Koskinen worked as a seamstress for Wuolijoki at the Marlebäck manor which Wuolijoki owned, and even when both were in prison. She was able to continue her activities for a long time, since the Finnish Police never suspected her; she appeared as too obvious for a spy. Koskinen was tall, very visible and spoke with loud voice, and she had been twice in prison, and she was a known Communist. The authorities were seeking a "petite person blending easily in the crowd". Her trade as a seamstress helped her to cover her activities.

Wartime Activities

During the Continuation War Koskinen worked as a messenger and spy for the underground Finnish Communist Party. Koskinen was in direct connections with Yrjö Leino. She also worked as helper for deserters and infiltrators.

In December 1942 her most important associate, a spy and deserter named Olavi Heiman, was caught. He revealed Koskinen for attempt to gain immunity from being shot. Koskinen was arrested at her apartment in Pihlajatie 21, Helsinki. She was caught red-handed: the police found secret information and confidential messages at her home, including information of military secrets. The police interrogated Koskinen, who admitted only what the police had found out but nothing else. She was accused from espionage and high treason in the military court, both punishable by death penalty. One of the witnesses of the prosecutor was infiltrator Kerttu Nuorteva, who saved her own life by witnessing against Koskinen.

Koskinen never admitted anything, and probably saved the life of the head of the Finnish Communist Party, Yrjö Leino, who was later to become Finnish Minister of Interior Affairs. She was sentenced to death on both charges, espionage and high treason, 15 June 1943. Koskinen declined from seeking commutation of the sentence.

Minister Väinö Tanner and his wife Linda attempted to have the sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment because of their conviction against death penalty. They usually succeeded, but Koskinen's case appeared too grave: she had been caught red-handed, she appeared as an unrepentant hard-boiled Communist, she showed no remorse whatsoever, and the President had decided to make her a warning example. President Ryti declined from granting any clemency 17 September 1943. According to the son of Yrjö Leino, Olle Leino, the example worked: the espionage ring broke up after her death.

Execution

Koskinen was transferred from prison by train to Malmi, Helsinki and executed 29 September 1943 by military police firing squad together with Olavi Heiman at Malmi shooting range. According to Olle Leino, she called as her last words death to Risto Ryti, Väinö Tanner and Mannerheim. They both were buried at a paupers' grave at the Malmi cemetery.

Koskinen was the last woman to be executed in Finland and the last Finnish civilian to be executed from a military crime.

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