Arnold Majewski
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11 December [O.S. 29 November] 1892,
Arnold Majewski | |
|---|---|
 Majewski in uniform in the early 1920s | |
| Other name | Arnold Majewski |
| Nickname | Mäski |
| Born | Karl Arnold Woldemar Majewski 11 December [O.S. 29 November] 1892, Tallinn, Russian Empire (present-day Estonia) |
| Died | 10 October 1942 (aged 49) Rukajärvi, Soviet Union (present-day Russia) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Finland |
| Branch |  Finnish Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | I/JR 10 |
| Conflicts | |
| Spouse | |
Karl Arnold Woldemar Majewski (11 December [O.S. 29 November] 1892 – 10 October 1942[1]) was a legendary Finnish cavalry officer of Polish origin.
Majewski was born in Tallinn. His family can be traced back to his grandfather Wladislaus Majewski (1828 - 1873) who originated from the Warsaw Governorate, had a long military career in the army of the Russian Empire and then settled in Finland through marriage.[1]
Arnold Majewski's father Alexander Majewski, who originated from an old Polish family of soldiers, served in Imperial Russian Army and finally settled to live in Helsinki. Arnold Majewski's mother was the Finnish Irene Hellman.
Majewski studied in 1912 in Turku. After matriculation, Majewski had had enough of school and travelled to Siberia in search for gold, and then travelled across the Far East and North America until finally settling in St. Petersburg in Russia.[2]
Finnish Civil War
When the Finnish Civil War started, Majewski moved back to Finland.[2] He fought in the civil war as a volunteer in the White Army cavalry under Georg Elfvengren of Karelian Forces. He took part in fights at Vyborg, Terijoki and Rautu.
After the war he continued his military career, completed officer training in Joensuu and became a cavalry captain. In the 1920s and 1930s, Majewski served in Häme Regiment in Lappeenranta. He became head of squadron in 1926, and completed the commander course in 1929. By that time, Majewski, nicknamed "Mäski" among his comrades, was already famous for his bohemian lifestyle and extravagant partying during his free time.
Marriage
In 1941, Majewski married pharmacist Helga Sonck-Majewski (née Sonck, born 26 December 1916 in Tallinn - died 12 March 2015 in Porvoo).[3][2] The marriage did not result in children.[1]
Majewski is said to have contemplated between Helga Sonck and another woman who worked as bank clerk. He is said to have pondered: "I have two girlfriends, of which one is a pharmacist and the other is a bank clerk at Yhdyspankki. If I choose the pharmacist, I will never run out of alcohol, but if I choose the bank clerk, I will never run out of credit." In the end, the pharmacist won.[2]
