Finnish Military Politics Between the Two World Wars

Abstract

extra-governmental institutions of the extreme right,' who thought little of Finland's political institutions, and who sought to implement their objectives through the use and threat of force. During this period two military organizations were available to the extreme right. The Civil Guards (called White Guards during the 1917-18 civil war and territorial forces after 1932) were a voluntary militia of approximately 100,000, first established to facilitate independence and later used against the state. The national army was smaller with approximately 30,000 men organized under German auspices after the civil war. The goals, even the leadership of both the extreme right and the armed forces were often identical, and the military was frequently directed by the extreme right to exert force on behalf of two objectives: the establishment of a 'Greater Finland', uniting in one nation all Finnish speaking peoples, and the destruction of Finnish socialism and parliamentary democracy. 'Greater Finland', the first goal, was pursued during the civil war by Finland's military leaders. Plans for the invasion of East Karelia were drawn up by General Mannerheim in early 1918. The eastward advance was not successful, but volunteers were recruited both from the white guards and the German-trained officers (jagers) of the newly emerging national army to conduct guerilla-type operations in the east.2 After the civil war, Mannerheim's resignation as Commander in Chief in May 1918, and the rise of German influence in the armed forces complicated plans for 'Greater Finland'. At first, German dominance was welcomed by the extreme right.3 As late as November 1918 they believed that Germany would emerge victorious from the