Hitler’s oak survives in Lapua, South Ostrobothnia, amidst historical controversy

In the city of Lapua, South Ostrobothnia, an 88-year-old oak tree stands in front of the city hall, in commendable condition for its age. Its provenance, however, has been controversial, as it is referred to as Hitler’s oak. During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, winners received young oak saplings as honorary prizes. Heikki Oikarinen, head of green spaces in Lapua, noted that eight saplings were sent to Finland, one of which was won by local wrestler Lauri Koskela, who secured a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. After spending its early years in Helsinki, the oak was planted in Lapua in 1939. Most of the original saplings perished during the harsh winters of the 1940s, but this particular tree survived, possibly protected by surrounding lindens.

Oikarinen believes that today the oak carries no negative or ideological connotations, despite the Berlin Olympics being associated with Nazi propaganda which aimed to solidify the regime’s internal unity and enhance its global image.

Another of Hitler’s oaks can be found in Joutseno, South Karelia, with a more complex history. Boxers Sten Suvio and gymnast Ale Saarvala, both from Vyborg, initially had their winning saplings planted at the central field’s gate in Vyborg. When the Soviet Union occupied the city in 1944, one of the oaks was exhumed and transported to Joutseno. It is believed to have belonged to Suvio, while the fate of the second remains unknown. The sapling was first planted along the Saimaa road before being moved to its current location in the schoolyard in the 1970s, where it continues to grow today.

In total, eight Finnish Olympic winners received oak saplings as special prizes, but only two trees survive today. While other winners’ oaks did not withstand time, the legacies of these trees are reminders of both athletic achievement and historical complexity.