Finnish Civil War

File:Tampere destroyed in Civil War.jpg

Buildings destroyed in Tampere during the 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. About 1,300 of them died because of diseases and hunger, and about 500 of them were sentenced to death.

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).jpg

  Valkoisten konekiväärikomppania Leinolassa Tampereen valtauksen jälkeen 19.4.1918 (26970230675)

• Tampereen punakaartin komppania rintamalla (26936605946).jpg

  Troops of the paramilitary Red Guard's Tampere company pictured in 1918

• Kenraali C. G. E. Mannerheim (26936604946).jpg

  Kenraali C. G. E. Mannerheim (26936604946)

• Kullervo Manner.jpg

  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

• FinnishCivilWarMapBegin.svg

  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 offensive

    Railroad network
• FinnishCivilWarMapMiddle.svg

  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 offensive

    Railroad network
• Finland roundel WW2 border.svg

  The insignia of the Finnish Air Force, 1918–1945