Editing Felix Kersten (section)

==Early life==
Kersten was born in a [[Baltic German]] family in [[Dorpat]], [[Imperial Russia]], now Tartu, in [[Estonia]]. During the [[World War I|First World War]] he fought in the [[German Army (German Empire)|German Army]] and arrived in [[Finland]] in April 1918 with the German forces that intervened in the [[Finnish Civil War]]. Kersten served for a while in the [[Suojeluskunta]], was granted Finnish citizenship in 1920, and in September 1921 was commissioned as a [[2nd Lieutenant]] (''[[vänrikki]]'') in the [[Finnish Army]].

After his return to civilian life, Kersten remained in [[Helsinki]], where he studied [[therapy]] with the specialist Dr Colander, and after two years was awarded a certificate in physical therapy. He then left for Berlin, where he continued his studies and eventually became the pupil of a notable Chinese therapeutic [[massage|masseur]], Dr Ko,<ref>John H. Waller, ''Felix Kersten and the Secret Plot to Turn Himmler Against Hitler'' (2002), pp.9-10</ref> whom he had met at a dinner party. In 1925, Ko told Kersten "You have learned all I can teach you." He then turned his practice over to Kersten and retired to [[Tibet]].

Kersten had a number of influential patients, among them [[Hendrik of the Netherlands|Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands]] (after 1928) and [[Benito Mussolini]]'s son-in-law, the Italian [[Foreign Minister]] [[Galeazzo Ciano|Count Ciano]]. Kersten accepted [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s request to become his personal physical therapist, writing later that he feared for his safety if he had refused.

He was able to alleviate Himmler's severe stomach pains with his skills and gained his trust. Kersten used this trust to obtain pardons and the release of underground prisoners, labor camp inmates, homosexuals and others.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/himmler-s-healer-how-the-ss-chief-physiotherapist-saved-jewish-lives-1.5766993 Himmler's healer: The story of Felix Kersten], [[Haaretz]]</ref>