Toivo Mikael Kivimäki

Toivo Mikael Kivimäki
Prime Minister of Finland
In office
December 14, 1932  October 7, 1936
President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Preceded by Juho Sunila
Succeeded by Kyösti Kallio
Personal details
Born 5 June 1886
Tarvasjoki, Finland
Died 6 May 1968(1968-05-06) (aged 81)
Political party National Progressive Party

Toivo Mikael Kivimäki (5 June 1886 6 May 1968), J.D., was head of the department of civil law at Helsinki University 19311956, Prime Minister of Finland 19321936, and Finland's ambassador to Berlin 19401944.[1]

In 1946, Kivimäki together with half-a-dozen other leading politicians were put on "war-responsibility trials" executed under pressure from the Allied victors in World War II. Kivimäki was sentenced to five years in prison after being found responsible for the Continuation War. After Finland signed the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947, and the FinnoSoviet Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, 1948, the international situation was deemed somewhat stabilized, and Kivimäki was pardoned. He returned to his career in academia.

As with all politicians connected with the Continuation War, Kivimäki was for decades seen in a somewhat critical light. During the era of finlandization, many prominent Finns expressed themselves cautiously on such subjects in order not to disturb sensitive Allied victors of the war; a cautiousness that without doubt influenced Finland's post-war generation's understanding and views.

Several individuals and factors were critical for the Winter War and the Continuation War. Kivimäki without any doubt occupies a prominent position among pro-Axis Finnish leaders.

References

  1. "Ministerikortisto". Valtioneuvosto.
Political offices
Preceded by
Juho Sunila
Prime Minister of Finland
19321936
Succeeded by
Kyösti Kallio
Preceded by
Karl Söderholm
Minister of Justice
19311932
Succeeded by
Hugo Malmberg
Preceded by
Matti Aura
Minister of the Interior
19281929
Succeeded by
Arvo Linturi
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