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[[File:Minna-Craucher-salonki.jpg|thumb|right|Ms. Craucher at her salon.]]▼
{{short description|Finnish socialite and spy}}
'''Minna Craucher''' (23 August 1891 in [[Pirkkala]] – 8 March 1932 in [[Helsinki]]) was the false name of '''Maria Vilhelmiina Lindell''', a Finnish socialite and spy. Her home was a noted salon for various writers and artist. She also did espionage, originally for the [[Cheka]], and was arrested three times for fraud. She also had connections to the right-wing [[Lapua Movement]]. She became the subject of several books and stories. In 1932 she was murdered by being shot in the head.<ref>{{cite news▼
▲'''Minna Craucher''' (23 August 1891
==
===Early years===
{{reflist}}▼
Maria Vilhelmiina Lindell, originally from Aalto, was born in poor conditions in [[Pirkkala]] as the [[illegitimate child]] of a 16-year-old [[Nokia, Finland|Nokia]]-born [[maid]], Olga Aalto.<ref name="kb"/> Maria got a new surname from her stepfather Vilho Oskari Lindell. Maria's mother died on 29 August 1906, when Maria was only 15 years old. After living with relatives for some time, Maria, who became independent from an early age, moved to [[Tampere]], after which she severed relations with her family.<ref name="kb"/> Maria did not have a permanent address and was a habitual thief, as a result she ended up dealing with the authorities several times, even being jailed for unpaid fines.<ref name="kb"/>
In 1913, Maria Lindell moved to [[Helsinki]] for the first time.<ref name="kb"/> Her first child died in 1908 within two weeks of its birth. She left her second child in Tampere for care. Accused of several [[theft]]s, Maria Lindell was imprisoned for the second time on 24 October 1914,<ref name="kb"/> and gave birth to a boy while serving her sentence. After being released from prison, Maria Lindell was taken to the [[women's shelter]], Villa Elseboh, in [[Huopalahti]], maintained by the Finnish Prison Association. According to Kari Selén, who wrote her biography, Lindell took advantage of the shelter,<ref name="kb"/> although at the same time she worked as a [[babysitter]] there.<ref name="hs"/> Lindell served her third and final prison sentence due to being convicted of thefts from 1920 to 1923. This prison period led to further changes: afterwards Maria Lindell became known as "Madame Minna Craucher" in various phases of her life.<ref name="kb"/>
==="Madame Craucher"===
[[File:Wolkowski-Craucher.jpg|thumb|Madame Craucher (''right'') with her chauffeur Boris Wolkowski (''left'') in 1930s]]
Thanks to the "Madame Craucher" identity created with the help of her lively imagination and attraction, she probably appeared in the [[High society (social class)|high society]] of Helsinki in the early spring of 1925.<ref name="kb"/> According to her story, she was a [[Germans|German]] [[Nobility|noblewoman]], a millionaire and a generous art lover.<ref name="kb"/> Finnish descent explained her proficiency in the [[Finnish language]]. Props used to substantiate her claims included a [[Willys Knight]] [[convertible]] from [[Stockmann]] paid with a down payment and a driver with a purported "Russian prince" in the background.
In 1925, Craucher met the 12 years younger [[Olavi Paavolainen]], whose became his mistress for several years.<ref name="rajala">{{cite book|author=Panu Rajala |title= Tulisoihtu pimeään: Olavi Paavolaisen elämä| year =2014| publisher=WSOY|isbn=978-951-0-40254-2|language=fi}}</ref> Together with journalist Ensio Svanberg, Craucher co-founded the "Entertainment and Travel Directory", a magazine that later became known as ''[[Seura]]'' (meaning "The Society") which was published in 1926–1929. The authors of the magazine included [[Kersti Bergroth]], [[Pentti Haanpää]], Martti Merenmaa, Elina Vaara, Väinö Nuorteva, and [[Mika Waltari]], among others. The editors-in-chief were Yrjö Rauanheimo, [[Lauri Viljanen]] and Waltari. Craucher was the acquirer and marketer of the magazine's advertising space.<ref name="kb"/><ref name="hs"/> As the magazine itself was not very popular, Craucher even resorted to [[blackmail]] in obtaining advertising contracts.<ref>Selén (1991), p. 62.</ref>
Craucher's [[Salon (gathering)|salon]] was a popular gathering place for [[Tulenkantajat]] ("The Flame Bearers")<ref name="suomenhistoria"/> and other young writers of the time because of her generous service and her fascinating persona.<ref name="kb"/> Of the authors who visited Craucher's salon, at least [[Joel Lehtonen]], Martti Merenmaa and Mika Waltari have described the salon and its owner. The salon was located at Freesenkatu 4 A 3. The salon, or apartment Craucher, was bought by master builder K. E. Lund on 7 November 1924. The 47-square-meter apartment at that time was a modern type of apartment, a double apartment. The most striking part of it was the Turkish room. The colorful interior was softened by suitable lighting. The materials were stunning: [[oriental rug]]s all the way to the walls, brass [[tobacco table]]s and a large number of cushions to sit on.<ref>Selén (1991), p. 87.</ref> From Freesenkatu, Craucher later moved to Mechelininkatu 23 A 20.<ref name="nousiainen">{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/blogi/tassapaikassakauansitten/art-2000005082359.html|title=Tässä paikassa kauan sitten: Siivooja löysi ruumiin kirjoituspöydän luota Mechelininkadun kaksiosta|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=10 February 2017|access-date=25 July 2021|language=fi | last=Nousiainen |first= Anu}}</ref>
===In the Lapua Movement===
When the ''Seura'' magazine ceased to be published in 1929, the focus of Craucher's activities shifted to officers and [[far right-wing]] politicians.<ref name="suomenhistoria"/> According to Selén, young officers – like young writers – were exposed to Craucher's entertainment. Craucher herself, for her part, felt drawn to [[uniform]]s, according to the author of the biography.<ref name="kb"/> Craucher became involved in the right-wing [[Lapua Movement]] by first talking about herself as an advertiser for its ''Aktivisti'' magazine. Here she took advantage of fabricated recommendations from [[Marshal Mannerheim]], among others.<ref name="hs">[https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/helsinki/art-2000006463591.html Suomen eliitti hurahti mestarihuijarin pauloihin 1920-luvulla] – Sitten Minna Craucher lähti narauttamaan Lapuan liikettä, mikä koitui hänen kuolemakseen. Tuomo Väliaho, Helsingin Sanomat 4 April 2020. (in Finnish)</ref>
Among other things, Craucher arranged and partially donated armbands for the participants of the [[Peasant March]].<ref name="kb"/> Later, when Craucher had established close relations with the leaders of the movement, such as [[Vihtori Kosola]],<ref name="kb"/> and gained influence, she began to be nicknamed "Captain of [[Lapua]]" or "Captain of Lapua Movement".<ref name="kb"/><ref name="hs"/> Esko Riekki, the head of the [[Finnish Security Police]], defined Craucher's role in the Lapua Movement in September 1930 as follows:{{quote|“I have heard that the Lapua Movement dare to drive Craucher away because she already knows too much.”<Ref>Selén (1991), p. 149.</ref>}}
===Death===
[[File:MadameCrauchersStaircase.jpg|thumb|The stairwell of Minna Craucher's death place on Mechelininkatu in the summer 2006]]
Craucher became unpopular with the Lapua Movement and began to be suspected of being a [[Communism|communist]] [[Espionage#Agents_in_espionage|agent]]. This was influenced by her covert background, which was revealed by the Finnish Security Police to the leadership of the Lapua Movement.<ref name="kb"/> Unpopularity was particularly fueled by the deep contradiction between the movement's general secretary, [[Martti Wallenius]], and Craucher.<ref name="kb"/><ref name="hs"/> Craucher can be said to have partially fulfilled the suspicions against her. However, the target was not the Communists but the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]]. She told about the activities of the Lapua movement through Kalle Lehmus, the ''Suomen Sosialidemokraatti'' magazine.<ref name="kb"/> She also implied that she was in possession of a secret organization chart of the movement.<ref name="hs"/>
Possibly, Craucher's statement to Olavi Runolinna, [[economist]] and supporter of the Lapua Movement, about the threat of "changing sides" caused the unstable and [[drunk]] Runolinna to shoot Craucher to death in her apartment on 8 March 1932;<ref name="kb">Venla Sainio: ''[https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/8452 Craucher, Minna (1891–1932)]'' – Kansallisbiografia (in Finnish)</ref><ref name="nousiainen"/><ref>Heikura, Hannes: ''[http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000003382622.html Kauan sitten tässä asunnossa: Katja leikkii murhapaikalla]''. ''Helsingin Sanomat'', 13 November 1994. (in Finnish)</ref> initially, in a murder investigation conducted by the police, Martti Wallenius was considered the main suspect.<ref name="time"/><ref>{{cite book| author= Jari Harju & Satu Savia| title= Rikospaikka: Helsinki|year= 2007| chapter= Puhelintyttö numerossa 43021| page= 73 | location= Helsinki|publisher= Helsinki City Museum| isbn= 978-952-473-838-5 |language=fi}}</ref> Craucher's murder has been interpreted as part of the follow-up to the [[Mäntsälä rebellion]].<ref name="kb"/><ref>{{cite book| author= Heikki Eskelinen| title= Itsenäisyytemme vuosikymmenet|year= 1966|page= 100|location= Helsinki|work = Yhtyneet kuvalehdet |language=fi}}</ref> After her death, Esko Riekki wrote:{{quote|“She was just a ruthless ''blufferska'' and ''bonfångerska'' [bluffing woman and cheater] who enjoyed fiercely gaining fame: if the soul is immortal, C. now enjoys heavenly joy from this advertisement.”<ref name="hs"/>}}
==In popular culture==
===Fictional literature references related to Minna Craucher===
* [[Joel Lehtonen]]: ''Rakastunut rampa'' (1922); a character named Mimmi Byskata is based on Craucher.<ref>[https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/kirja-arvostelu/art-2000002586799.html HS: Suomalainen köpenickiadi Historiantutkija teki nautittavan elämäkerran ilotytöstä, huijarista ja kiristäjästä Minna Craucherista] (in Finnish)</ref>
* Martti Merenmaa: ''Nousuvesi'' (1926); a character named Mrs. Pomaré is based on Craucher.<ref name="rajala"/>
* [[Mika Waltari]]: ''[[Suuri illusioni]]'' (1928); a character named Mrs. Spindel is based on Craucher.<ref>[https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2020/03/01/suuri-illusioni-nayttaa-1920-luvun-paheellisen-dekadenssin-1980-luvun-silmin YLE: Suuri illusioni näyttää 1920-luvun paheellisen dekadenssin 1980-luvun silmin] (in Finnish)</ref>
* [[Kjell Westö]]: ''[[Hägring 38]]'' (2013)<ref>[http://gamla.hbl.fi/kultur/recension/2013-08-20/489061/bokrecension-skrammande-aktuell-epokskildring Bokrecension: Kjell Westö – Hägring 38] (in Swedish)</ref>
==See also==
* [[Ruben Oskar Auervaara]]
==Further reading==
* {{cite book | author=Selén, Kari | title=Madame: Minna Craucherin levoton elämä | location=Helsinki | publisher=Helsinki-kirjat | year=
==References==
▲{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005128349.html|title=Ilotyttö, varas ja vanki esiintyi saksalaisena aatelisnaisena – sitten Lapuan liikkeen kanssa flirttaillut Minna Craucher murhattiin|trans-title=The young prostitute, thief and prisoner appeared as a German noblewoman... then, Minna Craucher, who flirted with the Lapua Movement, was murdered!|first=Seppo|last=Varjus|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=18 March 2017|access-date=25 July 2021|language=fi}}
* [https://areena.yle.fi/1-50359906 Adelsdamen och horan.] Finlandssvenska krimpodden 20 December 2019. Rundradion. (in Swedish)
* [https://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-170045-CraucherMinna Craucher, Minna] at ''Uppslagsverket Finland'' (in Swedish)
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[[Category:1891 births]]
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[[Category:People from Häme Province (Grand Duchy of Finland)]]
[[Category:Political history of Finland]]
[[Category:Finnish salon-holders]]
[[Category:Finnish murder victims]]
[[Category:Finnish spies]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Finland]]
[[Category:People murdered in Finland]]
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