Kaarlo Edvard Kivekäs: Leader of Three Armies

Known as the “General of Three Armies,” Kaarlo Edvard Kivekäs carved out a remarkable military career that spanned the Russian Imperial Army, the Ukrainian People’s Army, and the Finnish Defense Forces. His journey from a small town in Finland to the ranks of general reflects a captivating chapter in military history.

Early Years and Service in the Russian Army

Kaarlo Kivekäs was born on December 6, 1866, in Valkeala, a serene town in Southern Finland. His military journey began at the Hamina Cadet School, where he graduated in 1890. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in a Turkestan Mountain Horse-Artillery Battery, Kivekäs quickly distinguished himself as a capable officer. His leadership skills came to the forefront when he was tasked with forming an independent Cossack mountain artillery battery. It was during this assignment that he first tasted combat in 1893, supporting General M.E. Ionov’s efforts to expel Afghan soldiers from the Pamir Mountains. For his gallant service, Kivekäs received a promotion to Lieutenant and returned to lead the training school of his original unit.

His tenure in the Turkestan Military District continued until 1909, marked by several confrontations with Afghan troops and local tribes. He rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming the Commander of the Pamir detachment, a critical position given the ongoing skirmishes with regional warlords.

In January 1909, Kivekäs elevated his military education by attending the Artillery Officers’ Staff School, completing the rigorous nine-month course with honors. Following this achievement, he was promoted to Colonel and took command of the 2nd Horse Artillery Regiment in Lithuania’s Vilna Military District. Just before the outbreak of World War I, he ascended to the role of Commander of the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment.

The First World War and Revolution

In August 1914, as Russia mobilized for war, Colonel Kivekäs and his regiment joined the offensive into East Prussia. By November, they had been reassigned to the Carpathian Mountains with the goal of advancing into Austrian territory. Kivekäs’s bravery during this crucial time earned him the esteemed Saint George Sword. In December 1915, he was instrumental in forming the 113th Field Artillery Brigade within the Odessa Military District’s Artillery Command. By March 1916, he had ascended to the position of Commander of the Artillery Command and was made Major General by September of that year. His forces faced fierce battles against Austrian troops in Galicia and contributed to the critical Retreat Battles of Brezhnai.

In September 1917, Kivekäs took command of the 113th Infantry Division. Following the October Revolution, the division fell under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian government, where they engaged in confrontations against both Bolsheviks and German forces in the Volynian region. When the division was demobilized in April 1918, Kivekäs resigned from both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries and set his sights on returning to Finland.

Return to Finland

Initially, Kivekäs faced obstacles in returning to Finland due to German intervention. However, with the assistance of Edvard Hjelt, the Finnish Ambassador to Germany, he secured passage back home for himself and 16 fellow Finns, arriving in Helsinki on July 26, shortly after the Finnish Civil War came to a close. Eager to contribute to his newly independent nation, Kivekäs enlisted as a Major General in the Finnish Army on August 5, 1918. His first role was as Commander of the Guard Battalions, followed by a transfer to Commander of the Coastal Artillery in October, and subsequently becoming Inspector of Artillery in February 1919. From June to September of that year, he served as Acting Chief of Staff.

During the tumultuous presidential election of 1919, Kivekäs played a pivotal role in maintaining the Army’s neutrality amid rising political tensions. Major General Johannes Ignatius, a staunch ally of Mannerheim, pressured Kivekäs to persuade Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg to withdraw his candidacy. However, Kivekäs, unwavering in his stance, thwarted attempts of a military coup orchestrated by dissenting factions. Eventually, he was reassigned from Chief of Staff to Commander of the Finnish Coast Guard, where he spearheaded modernization efforts that fortified aging Tsarist fortifications—an essential undertaking ahead of the Winter War.

As the mid-1920s progressed, Kivekäs witnessed many experienced officers from the former Tsarist regime being pushed aside by newer, German-trained Jaeger officers. In response to these changes, he became Commandant of the Suomenlinna Garrison in 1925, followed by the Helsinki Garrison in 1926. He ultimately retired from active service in 1928 with the rank of Lieutenant General but remained engaged with the Ministry of Defence.

Upon retiring, Kivekäs was appointed as a munitions inspector in the Defence Department’s Military Equipment Division, collaborating with Artillery General Vilho Nenonen to enhance Finland’s artillery capabilities. Together, they pioneered several tactics that proved effective during the Winter War and implemented a comprehensive artillery training regimen. Kivekäs retired in the mid-1930s to the border village of Terijoki. As tensions between Finland and the Soviet Union escalated in late 1939, he, like many others, was evacuated. When the Winter War erupted on November 30, 1939, General Kivekäs offered his services to Mannerheim’s Headquarters but received only an acknowledgment that he would be contacted if needed. He passed away on February 19, 1940, without ever being called back into service. It is often speculated that Mannerheim’s decision stemmed from unresolved tensions during the election crisis of 1919.

Kivekäs is laid to rest in Hämeenlinna. While he may not echo in the annals of Finnish military history as prominently as others, he is honored in Tajikistan, where the Kivekäs Foundation was established to celebrate his legacy. A street in Khorugh bears his name, and plans are underway for a museum dedicated to this multifaceted military figure.

Sources

Kivekäs, Karl Edvard. *Finnish Generals and Admirals in the Russian Military Forces 1809–1917*. Biography Centre, Finnish Literature Society.
Lieutenant General Kaarlo Kivekäs is not well known in Finland, but to the Tajiks, he is a Finnish hero. *Kouvola Sanomat*, 18 July 2017.
Loikkanen, Jarmo – Harjula, Mirko: *Kaarlo Kivekäs: General of Three Armies*. Docendo, 2017. ISBN 978-952-291-410-1
The Finnish Defence Forces: Chiefs of Defence (in Finnish)
Kaarlo Kivekäs – General of the Three Armies