Sisällissodan

The Finnish Civil War, known in Finnish as sisällissota, was a war fought in Finland from January 27 to May 15, 1918. The conflict was part of the turmoil following World War I and the Russian Revolution. It pitted the Finnish Red Guards, a socialist militia, against the Finnish Whites, a conservative group. The Reds were supported by Soviet Russia, while the Whites received military aid from the German Empire.

The war began with a series of strikes and uprisings by the Red Guards, who sought to establish a socialist republic. The White forces, led by General Mannerheim, responded by launching a counteroffensive. The fighting was brutal, with widespread atrocities committed by both sides. Key battles included the Battle of Tampere, a decisive White victory, and the Battle of Viipuri, which secured the strategic port city for the Whites.

The war concluded with the White victory and the establishment of a non-socialist government in Finland. The aftermath of the war was marked by severe political repression and a deep societal division. Thousands were imprisoned, and many died in internment camps. The Finnish Civil War left a lasting legacy on Finnish society, shaping its political landscape and national identity for decades to come. It remains a sensitive and complex period in Finnish history.