Martin Ekström

Martin Eugen Ekström (6 December 1887 – 28 December 1954) was a Swedish military adventurer who became the leader of the National Socialist Bloc, an umbrella organization for various fascist and National Socialist groups. Ekström was born in By, Avesta Municipality. During the Finnish Civil War, he led the Vasa Regiment which was responsible for the Viipuri massacre. Lieutenant colonel Ekström led the 3rd Battlegroup of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in the Finnish Winter War. He died in Helsinki, aged 67.

Early life Ekström was born on 6 December 1887 in By, Kopparberg County, the son of Anders Gustav Ekström and his wife Johanna Mathilda (née Eriksson).

Career Ekström graduated from the Artillery School in 1916 and completed the German officers examination in Turkey in 1916. Ekström was military instructor of the Persian Gendarmerie from 1911 to 1915 and was chief of staff of Vaasa White Guard District. He participated in the Finnish Civil War, the Estonian War of Independence, and the Lithuanian Wars of Independence. He was known for the Viipuri massacre.

Personal life In 1920, Ekström married Gladys Kurtén (born 1896), the daughter of Karl Henrik Kurtén and Florence Emma Elliott.

Awards and decorations

Finnish awards and decorations Order of the Cross of Liberty 2nd Class with swords and oak leaves Order of the Cross of Liberty 2nd Class without swords Order of the Cross of Liberty 3rd Class 1918 with swords Order of the Cross of Liberty 4th Class 1918 with swords Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Medal of Liberty 1st Class 1918 Medal of Liberty 2nd Class 1918 War of Liberation Commemorative Medal with two clasps Commemorative Medal for the Battle of Tampere 1918 Heimosodat Cross Winter War Commemorative Medal with clasp Commemorative Cross of the 17th Division Commemorative Cross for the Coastal Artillery Continuation War Commemorative Medal (posthumous) Blue Cross

Foreign awards and decorations Gold Medal for Military Valour (Persia) Silver Medal for Military Valour (Persia) Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914 (Prussia) Gallipoli Star (Ottoman Empire) Cross of Liberty I Grade, 1st Class (Estonia) Cross of Liberty II Grade, 3rd Class (Estonia) Order of the Cross of the Eagle 2nd Class with swords (Estonia) Commemorative Medal of the Estonian War of Independence (Estonia)