Gustav Mannerheim in the XXI Century Studies (on a New Book by Henrik Meinander)

Abstract

The article-review is an analysis of the book by a major Finnish researcher H. Meinander about the life and work of the most prominent military and political figure of Finland, Gustav Mannerheim. Following the author, the reviewer goes through the milestones of Mannerheim's life, analyzing both the convincing and the controversial statements of the historian. The book is written on the basis of various sources and contains polemics with other authors who were engaged in the same subject. The author strove for objectivity, neither embellishing the thoughts and actions of his hero, nor detracting from their meaning and significance, and in many ways achieved his goal. The monograph is divided into chapters that characterize particular periods in Mannerheim's life and consist of separate thematic sections-essays. The result is a dynamically developing picture of the formation of the hero's personality against the background of the most important events in the history of the world, Finland and Russia. The author traces how one of the most important European politicians, who has learned the contradictory experience of the history of the twentieth century, grows out of an aristocrat and a dandy officer. Central to the narrative is the theme "Mannerheim and Russia". Conscientious military service in the Russian Empire, the struggle with Soviet Russia, and, finally, the realization of the need to look for ways to form peaceful relations with a powerful neighbor - this is the evolution of Mannerheim's attitude to our country. A lot of space is also devoted to the problem of Finland's relations with other countries – Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom. "The lessons of Mannerheim", as they are presented in the book, will be useful for the current and future generations of Finnish and Russian political scientists and political practitioners.