Episode 8.
Did Kersten save Finland’s Jews? Arto Koskinen and John Bernstein meet historian Hannu Rautkallio who tells them his point of view on Felix Kersten’s wartime relationship with the Finnish government. Investigative reporter Boris Salomon reveals to Bernstein and Koskinen the kinds of deals Felix’s friend, businessman Ernst Ukkonen, made with the SS with Kersten’s help.

Episode 8. Did Kersten save Finland’s Jews? Arto Koskinen and John Bernstein meet historian Hannu Rautkallio who tells them his point of view on Felix Kersten’s wartime relationship with the Finnish government. Investigative reporter Boris Salomon reveals to Bernstein and Koskinen the kinds of deals Felix’s friend, businessman Ernst Ukkonen, made with the SS with Kersten’s help.

Felix Kersten and the Finnish Government

Felix Kersten was the mysterious, personal physical therapist of SS commander Heinrich Himmler. He said he saved the lives of tens of thousands of concentration camp prisoners. Was he a saint or a devil in disguise — or both at once? Who was this Himmler’s janus-faced Finnish masseur and why can’t documentary filmmaker Arto Koskinen stop following him? The Felix Kersten Files podcast is based on Arto Koskinen’s experiences in making the film ‘Who was Felix Kersten?’ in the late 1990s. The film was meant to tell the story of a good and forgotten Finnish masseur, but the filmmakers soon found out forgeries and secrets in Felix Kersten’s story. Now, more than 20 years later, Koskinen wants to answer questions that never stopped bothering him. Why doesn’t Felix Kersten’s story fall neatly into place? What is the truth about this talented man who could meld into any environment? Did European nations protect Nazi Germany’s core even after the war ended? Appearances: John Bernstein, Toby Bernstein, Andrea Kersten, Kerstin Kersten, Arto Koskinen, Antti Matikkala, Werner Neuss, Hannu Rautkallio, Freek van Rijsinge, Sune Sahlstedt, Boris Salomon, Pauline Taubach, Tapio Tamminen, Jos Verlaan, Jan Wellmann ja Lars Westerlund. Interview excerpts from the film ‘Who was Felix Kersten?’ are featured from: Yehuda Bauer, Ulf Brandell, Louis De Jong, Arno Kersten, Irmgard Kersten, Friedrich Klingenberg ja Sir Hugh Trevor-Roper. Directed by Arto Koskinen Script: Arto Koskinen and John Bernstein Recordings: Arto Koskinen and Ville Välimäki Narrator: Trent Pancy Sound design and original music: Kimmo Vänttinen Audio mixing: Kimmo Vänttinen and Juuso Heikkilä Web producer: Suvi Sinervo, Yle Drama Producers: Elina Ylä-Mononen and Juha-Pekka Hotinen, Yle Drama

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Felix Kersten and the Finnish Government

Felix Kersten and the Finnish Government