Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a civil war in Finland between January 27 and May 15, 1918 that was fought between the Reds and the Whites. The Reds were led by a section of the Social Democratic Party and were supported by Soviet Russia. The Whites were led by the conservative-based Senate (government) and were supported by the Imperial German Army. The Whites won the war. As a result, Russian influence on Finland decreased, but the Finnish people continued to be divided for a long time.
Background
The Russian Empire had broken after the First World War, and Finland had gained independence on 6 December 1917. The Finns did not agree on how Finland should be governed.
Aftermath
The war divided Finland for a long time. After the war, about 80,000 Reds had to go to prison camps.[1] About 1,300 of them died because of diseases and hunger, and about 500 of them were sentenced to death.[1]
Finnish Civil War Media
- General Map of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Indicating Postal Roads, Stations and the Distance in Versts Between Them- According to the Latest Verified Data in St. Petersburg in 1825 WDL353.png
A map of Russia's Grand Duchy of Finland from 1825. The map texts are in Russian and Swedish.
- Demonstration at Helsinki Senate Square.jpg
A demonstration at Helsinki Senate Square.
- Russian sailors celebrating February Revolution in Helsinki.jpg
Russian sailors celebrating February Revolution in Helsinki
Valkoisten konekiväärikomppania Leinolassa Tampereen valtauksen jälkeen 19.4.1918 (26970230675)
Troops of the paramilitary Red Guard's Tampere company pictured in 1918
Kenraali C. G. E. Mannerheim (26936604946)
Kullervo Manner, chairman of the Finnish People's Delegation, and last commander-in-chief and also only prime minister of the Finnish Reds, pictured c. 1913–1915
- The frontlines and initial offensives at the beginning of the war. Areas controlled by the Whites and their offensive Areas controlled by the Reds and their offensiveRailroad network
- The main offensives until 6 April 1918. The Whites take Tampere and defeat the Finnish-Russian Reds at the Battle of Rautu, the Karelian Isthmus. Areas controlled by the Whites and their offensive Areas controlled by the Reds and their offensiveRailroad network
The insignia of the Finnish Air Force, 1918–1945
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hämäläinen, Eenariina; Kohi, Antti; Päivärinta, Kimmo; Vihervä, Vesa; Vihreälehto, Ira (2012). Forum 7 Historia. Otava. ISBN 9789511252825.