Finnish White Movement in Petrograd at the Beginning of 1918: Aims, Objectives and Results

Abstract

The emergence of the Finnish White movement in Petrograd has hardly been studied by historians. Nevertheless, during the Civil War in Finland (January — May 1918), the “Finnish Whites” organized quite effective support for the “White Finland” from Petrograd. For the army of C. G. E. Mannerheim the “White Finns” organized the transfer of volunteers across the border. About ten group crossings of the state border were carried out. They also delivered weapons to the White Army. Terrorist activities were also organized on Soviet territory. For this purpose, a Special Petrograd company was organized from the Finns. The Finnish White movement in Petrograd completed its most active phase of the struggle only with the suppression of the revolution in Finland and the beginning of the Red Terror in Russia.