Karl Rudolf Walden (December 1, 1878 - October 25, 1946) was a Finnish industrialist and soldier.
He received his military education in Hamina Cadet School 1892-1900. He was dismissed from service in 1902, in connection with a conscription strike. After leaving the army Walden seeked to find a career in business. He moved to Saint Petersburg,the capital of Tsarist Russia, and after few years managed to create a major sales agency for Finnish paper. As a stedfast patriot Walden also became a prominent figure in the large Finnish community of Saint Petersburg.
In the Finnish Civil War (1918) he served as the Chief of Vaasa military district from 20 February till March 5; Chief of Rear Area of the headquarters from 5 March till 6 May; Chief of Security of the occupied areas from 6 till 22 May. Minister of War from 28 November, 1918 till 15 August, 1919; Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army and of the Suojeluskunta from 27 November till 30 December, 1918.
Walden was in the management of paper industry during 1918-1946. He acted as a consolidator of the Finnish paper industry, founded United Paper Mills Ltd and was the first president of Finpap , a Finnish paper sales association.
During the Winter War, he was a representative of the headquarters in the Cabinet from 3 December, 1939 till 27 March, 1940. Minister of Defence from 27 March, 1940 till 27 November, 1944. Greatly influential during the war, member of the so-called inner circle, he maintained politically important relationships with Sweden and the United States.
Walden was a close friend and co-operator of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim since the Civil War.
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Last updated: 05-18-2005 19:22:57
