Vesienväl: Difference between revisions

 

These actions were enormously unpopular and led to riots in every major city in the country. Significant portions of Pohjoinen were destroyed by a fire started by protesters, and the King was evacuated from the capital by military plane. The King ordered the military to restore order and gave an explicit order to kill any rioters and "any and all persons, no matter station, sex, or age, seen to give the anarchists aid, comfort, succor, or support in any fashion." While in some areas the military acted as ordered, in most major cities the soldiers dispersed when attacked by local residents, as the rioters significantly outnumbered the soldiers. On March 20th, an armed rebel group that contained several elected members of the lower house besieged and eventually overtook the parliament building in Välillä. At the same time, the nobles who had remained in the city were attacked and killed in their homes. On March 22nd, in a reversal of the Treason Act, the lower house declared itself the only legitimate house of the maapäivät, as the members of the upper house were either dead or in hiding, and passed a resolution ordering the arrest of the King for crimes against the state.

Fighting occurred across the country for several weeks, but by-and-large, the socialists gained and held power over most of the country. Most of the military eventually began taking orders from the socialist maapäivät. On May 1st, the King was arrested by soldiers in Järvi. The King had donned a disguise and was attempting to purchase groceries at a local store, but was recognized and reported by the proprietor of the store. According to news reports at the time, the King had insisted on leaving to make the purchase himself because he felt humiliated and trapped while hiding in his safe house in Järvi, and the King was recognized when he appeared to have no idea how grocery shopping worked. He is said to have approached a cashier who had customers in line to pay already, and asked her to gather his requested items. (The grocery was self-service.) He is also said to have asked if he could pay in bearer bonds or gold bullion as he "[did] not carry petty cash." Communist soldiers quickly apprehended the King and removed his false mustache and wig there in the store with other customers observing. Several people threw tomatoes at the King as he was taken away, at least two of which did hit the King in the face.