Svenska Lyceum - Helsinki, Finland
Posted by: Mikkozzz
N 60° 10.454 E 024° 57.391
35V E 386631 N 6672569
Svenska Lyceum (Sibelius Lyceum today) served as prison in Spring 1918 during the Finnish civil war. In Kjell Westö's novel 'Missä kuljimme kerran' some main characters are imprisoned there.
Waymark Code: WM8AQ2
Location: Finland
Date Posted: 03/02/2010
Views: 99
In February 1918 the Reds had taken over Helsinki and much of the Southern Finland. Sigurds manor in Kirkkonummi was one of the last strongholds of the Whites, but they had to surrender in the last days of February.
Life in captivity was difficult for young and active men, when Spring was arriving their home town and civil war was raging in the country. Tension between inmates and their guards grow, but since the surrender was mediated by foreign ambassadors they visit prison frequently and guards cannot get too brutal. Things are much worse in other prisons and camps outside capital.
Advancing Germans who have arrived to assist the Whites reach Helsinki in mid-April. Captives are freed and some of the guards end up to captivity in the same building.