Edvard Gylling Finnish revolutionary Date of Birth: 30.11.1881 Country: Finland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Beginnings
3. Finnish Revolution and Civil War
4. Soviet Karelia
5. Autonomous Karelian SSR
6. Accusations and Downfall
7. Rehabilitation
8. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Edvard Gylling was born on November 30, 1881, in Kuopio, Finland, to a middle-class family. His father, Uno Alexander Gylling, was a district engineer, and his mother, Eugenia Victoria Klotilda Henriette Helsingius, was a homemaker. Edward spent his childhood and adolescence at his parents' estate, Kalmaa Manor, near Ikaalinen.

In 1900, after graduating from Jyväskylä Lyseon lukio, Gylling enrolled at the Imperial Alexander University in Helsinki. In 1903, he obtained his master's degree in economics and statistics. He continued his studies and in 1910 earned a doctorate in philosophy, specializing in economic statistics.

Political Beginnings

In 1905, Gylling joined the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), where he became a prominent member of its Marxist left wing. From 1906 to 1908, he served as editor of the party's journal, "Sosialistinen Aikakauslehti." In 1908, he was elected to the Finnish Parliament, serving until 1918. From 1913 to 1917, he was a member of the SDP's Executive Committee, and from 1917 to 1918, he became the party's chairman.

Finnish Revolution and Civil War

During the Finnish Revolution of 1918, Gylling held several positions in the revolutionary government, including Commissioner of Finance and Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Government. In April 1918, he became Chief of the General Staff of the Red Guard. He actively participated in the defense of Vyborg.

After the defeat of the revolution, Gylling worked in the underground for about six months before emigrating to Sweden in late 1918. There, he worked in Stockholm at the foreign bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Finland. In 1919, he became secretary of the Scandinavian Committee of the Third Communist International.

Soviet Karelia

In the fall of 1919, Gylling proposed the establishment of a Karelian Commune to Vladimir Lenin. The proposal aimed to resolve national issues, deprive Finland of claims on Eastern Karelia, and create a stronghold for revolutionary activity in Finland and Scandinavia.

In 1920, Gylling was invited to Moscow by Lenin to discuss the proposal. Gylling suggested granting Karelia economic and political autonomy, which Lenin approved. On June 8, 1920, by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK), the Karelian Labor Commune was established. Gylling became its first Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee.

Gylling played a key role in the development of the Karelian Labor Commune. He supervised the preparation of projects for industrial development and education and was elected Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee at the 1st All-Karelian Congress of Soviets.

Autonomous Karelian SSR

In July 1923, the Karelian Labor Commune was transformed into the Autonomous Karelian Soviet Socialist Republic (AKSSR). Gylling was elected Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the AKSSR, a position he held until 1935.

During his tenure, Gylling established the Karelian Research Institute, taught at the Karelian State Pedagogical Institute, and served as a member of the Editorial Board of the journal "Economics and Statistics of Karelia."

Accusations and Downfall

In the mid-1930s, Gylling faced criticism from Moscow for alleged "bourgeois nationalism." Despite attempts to defend himself, he was removed from his post as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars in October 1935.

Gylling was transferred to Moscow for research work at the International Economic Institute. In 1937, he was arrested in the fabricated case of the "Gulling-Rovio Counterrevolutionary Nationalist Organization." He was sentenced to death and executed on June 14, 1938, at the Kommunarka firing range.

Rehabilitation

Gylling was rehabilitated on July 16, 1955, by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR.

Legacy

Edward Gylling made significant contributions to the Finnish socialist movement and to the development of the Karelian Labor Commune and the Autonomous Karelian SSR. He is remembered as a visionary leader and a victim of Stalinist purges.