Name Ali Aaltonen Died 1918, Lahti, Finland | Role Political leader | |
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Born 1 January 1884 Jamsa Occupation politician, journalist, military personnel, officer Similar People Eero Haapalainen, Eino Rahja, Kullervo Manner, Adolf Taimi, Ernst Linder | ||
Ali Aaltonen (1884 Jamsa – 1918 Lahti) was a Lieutenant in the Imperial Russian army, journalist, and Finnish socialist leader. He participated in the Russo-Japanese battles as a lieutenant and later in the Russian revolution of 1905. The revolution failed and this led to Aaltonen's loss of officer status within the Imperial Russian Army. He then served as a journalist and wrote under the pseudonym Ali Baba.
Aaltonen commanded the military forces of the Reds during the Finnish Civil War and tried to secure arms deals with Russia. He led the attack on Nasilinna during the Battle of Tampere. He was later relegated to other duties due to his alcoholism. He was arrested by the White Guards at the Villahde railway station and sent to the Hennala prison camp, where he later was shot by Hans Kalm, an Estonian officer, who had volunteered to fight for the Whites.