sisällissotia

Sisällissotia, often translated as the Finnish Civil War, was a conflict fought in Finland from January 27 to May 15, 1918. It was part of the wider turmoil following the collapse of the Russian Empire and the declaration of Finnish independence on December 6, 1917. The war was fought between the Finnish Reds, who were socialist and communist sympathizers, and the Finnish Whites, who were conservatives and liberals.

The Reds sought to establish a socialist republic, drawing inspiration from the ongoing Russian Revolution. They were largely composed of industrial workers, landless rural populations, and some intellectuals. The Whites, on the other hand, aimed to preserve Finnish independence and establish a more traditional, bourgeois state. Their forces included landowners, the middle class, and a significant portion of the educated population.

The conflict was characterized by intense and often brutal fighting, with significant atrocities committed by both sides. The Whites, with the support of the German Empire, eventually gained the upper hand. The war concluded with a White victory, leading to a period of political repression against the Reds. The consequences of the civil war profoundly shaped Finnish society and politics for decades, leaving deep divisions and a lasting impact on national identity. The memory of the war remains a sensitive topic in Finland.