54 Facts About Risto Ryti

Risto Ryti started his career as a politician in the field of economics and as a political background figure during the interwar period.

Risto Ryti made a wide range of international contacts in the world of banking and within the framework of the League of Nations.

Risto Ryti served as prime minister during the Winter War and the Interim Peace, and as president during the Continuation War.

Risto Ryti was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment but was pardoned by decision of President Juho Kusti Paasikivi in 1949.

Risto Ryti's reputation was largely unscathed, but his health had suffered and he never returned to public life.

Risto Ryti was born in Huittinen, Satakunta, one of seven sons, among 10 siblings.

Risto Ryti's parents were Kaarle Evert Ryti, a farmer, and Ida Vivika Junttila.

Risto Ryti was educated briefly at Pori Grammar School, and was then tutored at home, before enrolling in the University of Helsinki in 1906 to study law.

Risto Ryti was the only one among his brothers to pass the university entrance examination; however his three sisters matriculated.

Risto Ryti graduated in autumn 1909 as Finland was moving into the second period of Russification.

Risto Ryti became Kordelin's lawyer, and eventually the two men became close friends.

Risto Ryti was saved by a malfunction in the enemy's firearm.

Risto Ryti served as a member of Parliament from 1919 to 1924 and from 1927 to 1929.

Risto Ryti served as a member of Helsinki City Council from 1924 to 1927.

In 1921, the thirty-two-year-old Risto Ryti was appointed finance minister in the government of Juho Vennola.

Risto Ryti only began to exercise his duties as chairman of the Bank of Finland after he resigned as finance minister in January 1924.

Risto Ryti refused to see the social background of the Finnish Civil War.

In 1925 Risto Ryti was nominated as a presidential candidate at the age of 36.

However, in the third round the Swedish People's Party, which held the balance, moved their votes to Lauri Kristian Relander, and Risto Ryti lost to Relander by 109 votes to 172.

Risto Ryti's support increased over the years but was never enough in elections.

Risto Ryti made his goal to tie the value of Finnish markka to the gold standard.

Risto Ryti had excellent relations with the leaders of the Bank of England, due to his similar economic policies, such as the belief in the gold standard until the Great Depression, and due to his excellent command of English.

Risto Ryti participated in the activities of the League of Nations as a member of many committees dealing with economic questions and monetary policy.

Risto Ryti opposed work programmes for the unemployed and spending on assistance for poor.

Risto Ryti played an important part in creating the social welfare of the late 1930s.

In general, Risto Ryti was opposed to state intervention in business and industry.

Risto Ryti opposed Socialist economics and especially its Soviet forms.

Furthermore, Risto Ryti had experienced the Russification period and the Civil War, making him anti-Soviet.

Risto Ryti approved of neither German national socialism nor right-wing extremism, and he opposed the Lapua movement.

Risto Ryti was an admirer of British civilisation and culture and of American free enterprise.

Risto Ryti had built up relations of trust with leading Social Democratic Party politician Vaino Tanner and President Kyosti Kallio.

In late autumn 1939, Risto Ryti was offered the post of prime minister, but he tried to turn down the offer.

Risto Ryti concentrated on a realistic analysis of the situation, instead of pessimism or over-optimism.

Risto Ryti persuaded the rest of the cabinet to settle for peace and signed the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940.

Risto Ryti had proved to be a strong prime minister, in contrast to his predecessor Aimo Cajander.

Risto Ryti had no illusions about the true nature of Germany.

Risto Ryti apparently turned, step by step, to being in favour of seizing the opportunity to secure Finnish claims to areas he saw to be in the country's interests, in case the great realignment of ownership of East European territory by force were to materialize.

Risto Ryti made his famous radio speech after the outbreak of the Continuation War where he announced that Germany would win the war against the Soviet Union:.

Risto Ryti was willing to continue as president because he was among those who led Finland into the war, even though during the winter of 1942, both Risto Ryti and Mannerheim had their doubts about German victory.

Risto Ryti wanted the government of Jukka Rangell to continue in office.

Risto Ryti started preparations aimed at achieving peace with the Soviet Union in spring 1943.

Risto Ryti called the Finnish government to commit itself to continue to fight against the Soviet Union.

Risto Ryti signed a letter of resignation in which, against his will, he referred among other things to health reasons.

Probably none of them thought that Risto Ryti would resign soon, and thus give his successor a free hand to break ties with Germany and to start peace negotiations with the Soviet Union.

Risto Ryti was pardoned by President Juho Kusti Paasikivi that year.

Risto Ryti concentrated on writing his memoirs but was not successful due to ill health.

Risto Ryti died in October 1956 and was buried with full presidential honors.

In 1994, a statue of Risto Ryti was unveiled near the Parliament House.

In 2004, in the YLE TV-series Suuret suomalaiset Risto Ryti got the second highest number of votes.

Risto Ryti was a Freemason, but after his prison sentence, was required to give up membership in his lodge, as convicts were barred from membership.

Risto Ryti had become a Freemason in 1924, but according to the Finnish Grand Lodge's assistant grand scribe Reijo Ahtokari, he did not very actively participate in Masonic activities.

Risto Ryti did, according to some of his friends and acquaintances, strongly believe in fate.

Risto Ryti's wife Gerda was a much more active spiritualist and theosophist than Risto Ryti himself; she even claimed to have a spirit guide.

Risto Ryti was played by Pertti Sveholm in the 2001 television film Valtapelia elokuussa 1940, directed by Veli-Matti Saikkonen.