Evald Mikson
Encyclopedia
Evald Mikson ' onMouseout='HidePop("89610")' href="/topics/Tartu">Tartu
, Livonia, Russian Empire
– 27 December 1993, Reykjavík
, Iceland
) was a goalkeeper in the Estonian national football team
, winning 7 caps between 1934 and 1938. He has been accused of playing an active role in the murder of Jews in Estonia during his service as Deputy Chief of the Estonian Sicherheitspolizei
in the Tallinn-Harju district during World War II.
of committing serious war crime
s against Jews during the Second World War, when he was working as Deputy Head of Police in Tallinn
/Harjumaa
. At the end of the war, he escaped to Sweden
, where he was considered an undesired person and war criminal after being questioned by a Stockholm court. There was never any question of extradition to the Soviet Union
. In 1946 he was transported to the Norwegian border where a boat to Venezuela
waited in Halden
. However, the boat stranded in Iceland where he remained until his death. An application for a visa to the United States
was denied in 1947, after information on his background as war criminal had been distributed via FBI.
In 1993, the Icelandic government set up a war crime investigation against Mikson, but he died before coming before court.
Estonian Historical Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity confirmed that Mikson was guilty of war crimes.
Mikson was the father of Jóhannes Eðvaldsson
, who played for Celtic F.C.
in the seventies, and Atli Eðvaldsson
, former player for Borussia Dortmund
and player and coach of the Icelandic national football team
.
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
, Livonia, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
– 27 December 1993, Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
) was a goalkeeper in the Estonian national football team
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
, winning 7 caps between 1934 and 1938. He has been accused of playing an active role in the murder of Jews in Estonia during his service as Deputy Chief of the Estonian Sicherheitspolizei
Sicherheitspolizei
The Sicherheitspolizei , often abbreviated as SiPo, was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the state political and criminal investigation security agencies. It was made up by the combined forces of the Gestapo and the Kripo between 1936 and 1939...
in the Tallinn-Harju district during World War II.
Overview
Mikson has been accused by the Simon Wiesenthal CenterSimon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
of committing serious war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s against Jews during the Second World War, when he was working as Deputy Head of Police in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
/Harjumaa
Harjumaa
Harjumaa, , was an ancient Estonian county. It corresponded roughly to the present territory of Rapla County.- See also :*Danish Estonia*Harju County*Rapla County*History of Estonia*Livonian Crusade*Rulers of Estonia...
. At the end of the war, he escaped to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he was considered an undesired person and war criminal after being questioned by a Stockholm court. There was never any question of extradition to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In 1946 he was transported to the Norwegian border where a boat to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
waited in Halden
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
. However, the boat stranded in Iceland where he remained until his death. An application for a visa to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was denied in 1947, after information on his background as war criminal had been distributed via FBI.
In 1993, the Icelandic government set up a war crime investigation against Mikson, but he died before coming before court.
Estonian Historical Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity confirmed that Mikson was guilty of war crimes.
Mikson was the father of Jóhannes Eðvaldsson
Jóhannes Eðvaldsson
Jóhannes Eðvaldsson is an Icelandic former international football player of Estonian descent.-Playing career:...
, who played for Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the seventies, and Atli Eðvaldsson
Atli Eðvaldsson
Atli Eðvaldsson is a former Icelandic footballer who played as a midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential players to come from Iceland. After retiring he became a well-known manager....
, former player for Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
and player and coach of the Icelandic national football team
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
.