How the Reds LOST the Finnish Civil War (1918)

The Finnish Civil War (Suomen sisällissota) was a conflict that took place in Finland from January to May 1918, after the country declared its independence from Russia in December 1917. The war was fought between the "Whites," who were a coalition of conservative and pro-independence groups supported by Germany, and the "Reds," who were a coalition of socialists and communists supported by Russia.

The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the political and social tensions that had been simmering in Finland for several years prior to the outbreak of war. The country had been under Russian rule for over a century, and during this time, there were growing calls for greater autonomy and independence from the Russian Empire.

In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its independence and formed a new government. However, the country was deeply divided between those who wanted to align with Germany and those who wanted to align with Russia.

The conflict began in January 1918 when the Finnish Senate, which was controlled by the Whites, declared a state of war against the Reds. The fighting was brutal, with both sides committing atrocities against each other. The Whites eventually emerged victorious, and their leader, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, became the de facto leader of Finland.

After the war, the Reds were subjected to harsh repression, with thousands being imprisoned, executed, or sent to labor camps. The legacy of the Civil War continued to shape Finnish politics for decades, with tensions between left and right continuing to simmer beneath the surface.

Overall, the Finnish Civil War was a tragic and violent episode in the country's history, which saw thousands of lives lost and deepened political and social divisions that continued to haunt the country for years to come.

History Hustle presents: Why the Reds LOST the Finnish Civil War.

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ►

SUPPORT ME ON PAYPAL ►

SUBSCRIBE ►

INSTAGRAM ►

SOURCES

– The Splintered Empires, The Eastern Front 1917-21 (Prit Buttar).

– Russia in Flames. War, Revolution, Civil War, 1914 – 1921 (Laura Engelstein).