Yrjö Ruutu

== Jäger activism (1914–1918) ==

== Jäger activism (1914–1918) ==

Ruutu was member of the governing body of the [[Student Union of the University of Helsinki]] 1912–1915 and its chairman 1913–1915. He was member of a circle of student activists opposing the [[Russification of Finland]]. This group was responsible for starting the [[Jäger movement]], and Ruutu was one of the people who organised the founding meeting of the central committee in 1914. According to Pehr Norrmén, Ruutu was the one to suggest funneling volunteers to Germany and organising these veterans to form the revolutionary vanguard in Finland.Soikkanen 1991, p. 24, 36–47.

Ruutu was member of the governing body of the [[Student Union of the University of Helsinki]] 1912–1915 and its chairman 1913–1915. He was member of a circle of student activists opposing the [[Russification of Finland]]. This group was responsible for starting the [[Jäger movement]], and Ruutu was one of the people who organised the founding meeting of the central committee in 1914. According to [[Pehr Norrmén]], Ruutu was the one to suggest funneling volunteers to Germany and organising these veterans to form the revolutionary vanguard in Finland.Soikkanen 1991, p. 24, 36–47.

Ruutu was an active Jäger recruiter and wrote propaganda leaflets to aid in recruitment. He was arrested by Russian authorities in 1916 and was sent to Shpalernaya Pretrial Detention Prison in St. Petersburg. He was likely to be executed, but like the rest of the Finnish activist imprisoned there, the authorities never had time to carry out the sentences as the prisoners were released by a mob in 1917. Ruutu took part in the civil war in Finland in the white guard as the adjutant of the commander of the regiment of [[North Savo]]. He was awarded the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty]] first and second class and the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty]] third class with swords.Soikkanen 1991, p. 53–81.

Ruutu was an active Jäger recruiter and wrote propaganda leaflets to aid in recruitment. He was arrested by Russian authorities in 1916 and was sent to Shpalernaya Pretrial Detention Prison in St. Petersburg. He was likely to be executed, but like the rest of the Finnish activist imprisoned there, the authorities never had time to carry out the sentences as the prisoners were released by a mob in 1917. Ruutu took part in the civil war in Finland in the white guard as the adjutant of the commander of the regiment of [[North Savo]]. He was awarded the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty]] first and second class and the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty]] third class with swords.Soikkanen 1991, p. 53–81.