The Finnish Civil War (January–May 1918) was a conflict in Finland fought between the socialist Reds, backed by Soviet Russia, and the conservative Whites, supported by Germany. It occurred during Finland’s transition from being an autonomous Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire to becoming an independent republic.
Background
Finland had been part of the Russian Empire since 1809, and the country experienced growing political and social tensions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Industrialization, population growth, and rising worker movements led to deep class divides. When the Russian Empire collapsed during World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared independence in December 1917. However, political instability worsened between the left-wing working class (Social Democrats) and the conservative middle and upper classes.
Finland's parliament was split, and the country had no national military to maintain order. The left, influenced by the Russian Bolsheviks, formed the Red Guards, while the right-wing factions, supported by rural elites and former military officers, created the White Guards.
Events
The war began in January 1918 when the Red Guards seized control of Helsinki and other southern cities. The White Guards, led by General C.G.E. Mannerheim, controlled the rural north and central Finland.
- The Reds launched offensives in southern Finland but lacked experienced leadership and coordination.
- The Whites, with better organization and military training, including Finnish Jägers trained in Germany, gained the upper hand.
- Germany intervened militarily on behalf of the Whites in March 1918, launching attacks in the south, including the capture of Helsinki and Tampere, a decisive victory for the Whites.
As the war progressed, Red forces collapsed, with the final battles fought in April and early May 1918. Thousands of Red soldiers were captured, and many fled to Russia.
Aftermath
The war resulted in about 39,000 deaths, including soldiers, civilians, and prisoners, with significant casualties due to political violence, known as White Terror and Red Terror. After the White victory, around 80,000 Red supporters were imprisoned, and about 12,500 died in camps due to starvation and disease.
Finland became a republic, but the Civil War left the nation deeply divided. The Finnish right gained political control, while the Finnish left was severely repressed. Finland’s relationship with Germany grew closer during this time, but the defeat of Germany in World War I led to Finland’s independence as a democratic republic.
The civil war left long-lasting scars in Finnish society, but Finland gradually reunited through social reforms and moderate political compromise in the years that followed.