Nils Mesterton
Encyclopedia
Carl Fredrik Nils Mesterton (16 September 1888 – 10 November 1962) was a Swedish
military captain
who became known as the military commander on the scene at the Ådalen shootings
in Sweden on 14 May 1931.
as the third son and fourth child of lieutenant Carl Daniel Mesterton and Ebba von Redlich, daughter of the German
consul-general in Stockholm. His grandfather was the famous doctor Carl Benedict Mesterton. Mesterton's father died in 1889, and in 1899 his mother married the poet Oscar Levertin
, who became Mesterton's stepfather.
Following his upper-secondary final examination, Mesterton was trained as a reserve officer
in the Swedish Army
. He also finished a government administration examination and studied economics
at the university. Thereafter, he worked some time at a bank office. He later became an officer at the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) in Sollefteå, Ångermanland.
, Västernorrland County
, a demonstration was taking place between striking workers and strikebreakers when rioting broke out, and military troops from the Västernorrland Regiment were called in to maintain order. Captain Mesterton was the leader of the military unit. Protesters started to throw stones at the troops, and tried to enter the area where the strikebreaker
s were located. The troops opened fire, and five people, of them four protesters and one bystander, were killed.
in Sollefteå
which sentenced him to eight days in custody without surveillance. Several of the protesters were tried in a civilian court and received harsh prison sentences.
After the Ådalen riots, Mesterton became the target of much of the protestors' anger. He was commonly referred to in the Swedish socialist press as the "murderer from Lunde". Mesterton himself is said to have taken the incident very hard and became a broken man. In 1934 he married a widow.
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....
military captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
who became known as the military commander on the scene at the Ådalen shootings
Ådalen shootings
The Ådalen shootings , was a series of events in and around the sawmill district of Ådalen, Kramfors Municipality, Ångermanland, Sweden, in May 1931...
in Sweden on 14 May 1931.
Personal background
Nils Mesterton was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
as the third son and fourth child of lieutenant Carl Daniel Mesterton and Ebba von Redlich, daughter of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
consul-general in Stockholm. His grandfather was the famous doctor Carl Benedict Mesterton. Mesterton's father died in 1889, and in 1899 his mother married the poet Oscar Levertin
Oscar Levertin
Oscar Ivar Levertin was a Swedish poet, critic and literary historian. Levertin was a dominant voice of the Swedish cultural scene from 1897, when he started writing influential high-profile essays and reviews in the daily paper Svenska Dagbladet...
, who became Mesterton's stepfather.
Following his upper-secondary final examination, Mesterton was trained as a reserve officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
. He also finished a government administration examination and studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the university. Thereafter, he worked some time at a bank office. He later became an officer at the Västernorrland Regiment (I 21) in Sollefteå, Ångermanland.
Ådalen shootings
On 14 May 1931 in LundeLunde
Lunde is a common Norwegian and Danish surname. Lunde appears as a place name in Norway, Sweden and in a number of Danish locations in Jutland and on the island of Funen. The word Lunde can be translated from Norwegian to mean grove. Lunde is also the Norwegian name of the Atlantic Puffin...
, Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
, a demonstration was taking place between striking workers and strikebreakers when rioting broke out, and military troops from the Västernorrland Regiment were called in to maintain order. Captain Mesterton was the leader of the military unit. Protesters started to throw stones at the troops, and tried to enter the area where the strikebreaker
Strikebreaker
A strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep the organisation running...
s were located. The troops opened fire, and five people, of them four protesters and one bystander, were killed.
Aftermath
For his role in the shootings, Mesterton was tried by a court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
in Sollefteå
Sollefteå
Sollefteå is a locality and the seat of Sollefteå Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 8,530 inhabitants in 2005.The earliest written account on Sollefteå is found in a script dating back to 1270. During this time the name of the village was given as De Solatum - a name that can be...
which sentenced him to eight days in custody without surveillance. Several of the protesters were tried in a civilian court and received harsh prison sentences.
After the Ådalen riots, Mesterton became the target of much of the protestors' anger. He was commonly referred to in the Swedish socialist press as the "murderer from Lunde". Mesterton himself is said to have taken the incident very hard and became a broken man. In 1934 he married a widow.