Redirected from Finnish Civil War
The White side was dominated by middle-class members of Finnish independence movements. As far as they were concerned, too close contact with communist Russia was tantamount to forfeiting the recently won independence. They were also influenced by German interests, because Germany had secretly given assistance, including the volunteer "Jaeger" troops (Jääkäri) that covertly had been trained in Germany during the World War.
The Whites regrouped in the north and centre of the country under the political leadership of Senate president Pehr Evind Svinhufvud and the military command of Carl Gustaf Mannerheim. They counter attacked at Vilppula[?] on March 15, and by April 6 they captured Tampere seizing 10,000 Red prisoners.
The Reds' situation in the south worsened by the arrival of White Jaeger troops on February 25, and the subsequent withdrawal of Russian forces under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918). On April 3, German troops landed at Hangö in support of the Whites, advanced rapidly eastward and took Helsinki on April 13. After another Red defeat at Vyborg on April 28-29, the last Red strongholds fell by May 7.
While the Whites celebrated the "war of independence" against Russia and bolshevism, the left refused for many years to participate in commemorations of Finland's pre-Civil War independence. The communist party was suppressed in 1923 and 1930, while the Social Democrats remained in opposition for most of the inter-war period. Svinhufvud became president in 1931-37, and Mannerheim in 1944-46.
Finns have many names for this conflict: Vapaussota (War of Liberation); Kansalaissota (War of Citizens); Punakapina (Red Rebellion); and Veljessota (War of Brothers).
See also: White Guard, Winter War, Continuation War, Finnish War, History of Finland
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