The executions were carried out by Finnish Whites. The Germans did not execute Red women and, in many cases, tried to stop the Whites from shooting their prisoners. However, the Germans did participate in sexual abuse of the captured women. According to recent studies the executions were an organized effort to "cleanse" Finnish society of the Red Guard women. Most of the executed women were industrial workers, whom the Whites considered the lowest social class. The Guard members who had worked as maids or servants and came from rural areas were shot less often. In Lahti the executed men were usually commanders and platoon leaders, but in the case of women ordinary fighters were also shot. The Red women were seen as a threat to Finnish racial purity. Colonel Hans Kalm, leader of the Lahti executions, was interested in the eugenics of Martti Pihkala and Lauri Pihkala (brothers who were among the main inspirations of White Finland). In addition to executing Red women, the Whites carried out ethnic cleansing; more than 400 Russian civilians died in the Vyborg massacre.