Edvard Hjelt

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Edvard Hjelt
Born(1855-06-28)28 June 1855
Vihti, Finland
Died2 July 1921(1921-07-02) (aged 66)
Bad Mergentheim, Germany
NationalityFinnish
Alma materUniversity of Helsinki
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry

Edvard Immanuel Hjelt (28 June 1855 – 2 July 1921) was a

Finnish Jäger troops
in Germany.

Early life and education

Hjelt was born in Vihti, Finland. He was the elder brother of

Rudolph Fittig he prepared that second thesis and became professor for organic chemistry at the University of Helsinki.[1]

University rector

Hjelt served as vice rector of the University of Helsinki from 1896 till 1899 and as rector from 1899 till 1917. The political turmoil after the announcement of the

Finnish Minister Secretary of State Vyacheslav von Plehve and the Governor-General of Finland Nikolay Bobrikov, had to deal with the reactions of the people. Hjelt was able to reduce the pressure on the students and the university and also to stop aggressive reaction of the students to the oppression. With a short relieve after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War the oppression continued.[1][2]

Political career

With the start of the First World War Hjeld saw a chance to gain independence from Russia after a defeat of Russia by Germany. Germany on the other hand would benefit from troop withdrawal from the frontline to deal with a Finnish uprising. His good relations with Germany allowed Hjelt to get in contact with leading military personnel to negotiate a German support for Finland. A small group of Finnish volunteers reached Germany via Sweden in 1915. Their training started in autumn 1915; at the end, the group of 2,000 men formed the

Finnish Civil War (January to May 1918). On November 26, 1917 Hjelt, together with Adolf von Bonsdorff, met with General Erich Ludendorff and Marshal Paul von Hindenburg at the German army headquarters at Kreuznach to get more help for the coming civil war. Six German battalions landed in Hanko and helped the Finnish army to drive the Red Guards from most of their strongholds.[2]

Hjelt signed a

Adolf Friedrich, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, but after Prussian opposition Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse was chosen to become the King of Finland. After the victory of the Allied powers the idea of a monarchy was dropped and Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg became first president of Finland.[2]

Laying out of the State Council in the chapel of the in Lübeck.

Hjelt's strong connections to Germany and his animosity against France, made him no longer suitable as diplomat after the First World War, in which Germany lost most of its influence to France, the United States and Great Britain.[2]

Works


Educational offices
Preceded by Rector of
Imperial Alexander University

1899–1905 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Rector of
Imperial Alexander University

1905–1907 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 92294055
    .
  2. ^
    S2CID 97163876
    .
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