Whites (Finland): Difference between revisions
not or, WP is not a dictionary |
|||
| (45 intermediate revisions by 32 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Anti-communist faction of the Finnish Civil War (1918)}}{{Expand Finnish|topic=hist}} |
|||
{{unreferenced|date=May 2011}} |
|||
{{Infobox flag |
|||
| Name = White Finland |
|||
| Image = Flag of Finland 1918 (state).svg |
|||
| Nickname = State flag of Finland during the Civil War |
|||
| Use = 010010 |
|||
| Proportion = 17:26 |
|||
| Adoption = 27 February 1918 |
|||
| Relinquished = 29 May 1918 |
|||
| Design = Rectangular [[Coat of Arms of Finland]] (colours gold and silver on red) |
|||
}} |
|||
'''White Finland''', usually shortened to '''Whites''' ({{langx|fi|Valkoiset}}, {{IPA|fi|ˈʋɑlkoi̯set|IPA}}; {{langx|sv|De vita}}, {{IPA|sv|de ˈviːta}}), were the [[Refugee government|refugee]] and [[provisional government]] following the [[October Revolution]] and those forces who fought for and under [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud's first senate]], in opposition to the "Reds", the [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]], during the [[Finnish civil war|Finnish Civil War]] in 1918. |
|||
== Background == |
|||
The '''Whites''' ({{lang-fi|Valkoiset}}, {{lang-sv|De vita}}, {{lang-ru|Белофинны}}), or '''White Finland''', was the name used to refer to the refugee government and forces under [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud's first senate]] who opposed the "Reds", or the [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]], during the [[Finnish civil war]] (1918). The forces were initially formed and supported by the paramilitary [[White Guard (Finland)|White Guard]], ''[[Jäger (infantry)|Jäger]]'' troops, and other recruitees and draftees, as well as the [[right-wing politics|political right]].{{cn|date=August 2012}} Separatist-minded from Russia, the [[Jäger Movement|Jägers]] had left to Germany between 1914 and 1917 for military training and returned at eve of the civil war, many already as [[First World War]] veterans. They also received military support from the [[German Empire]]. |
|||
[[File:Venäjä tunnustaa Suomen itsenäisyyden.png|thumb|The decision of the Soviet of the People's Comissars' to recognise Finnish independence, signed by [[Vladimir Lenin]], [[Leon Trotsky]], [[Grigory Petrovsky]], [[Joseph Stalin]], [[Isaac Steinberg]], [[Vladimir Karelin]] and [[Alexander Schlichter]].]] |
|||
White Finland was established as a [[provisional government]] on November 27, 1917 following the [[October Revolution]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1. Svinhufvud |url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/hallitukset-ja-ministerit/-/gov/svinhufvud |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Valtioneuvosto |language=fi-FI}}</ref> leading to the total collapse of the [[Personal union|Personal Union]] between Finland and the [[Russian Republic]]. Following the establishment of the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Soviet Russia]], and with the recognition of [[Vladimir Lenin]] and other prominent [[Bolsheviks|Bolshevik officials]] in Russia, Finland was officially [[Independence of Finland|granted independence]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2xCJBAAAQBAJ |title=The Finnish Civil War 1918: History, Memory, Legacy |date=2014-08-14 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-28071-7 |language=en}}</ref> |
|||
This Government was ruled from [[Vaasa]] from 29. January – 3. May 1918, and the [[Senate of Finland|Senate]] was moved there, as [[Helsinki]] had been captured by the Reds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vaasan lyseon lukion vaiheita |url=https://www.vaasa.fi/koulutus-ja-tyo/lukiot-ja-ammatillinen-koulutus/lukiot/vaasan-lyseon-lukio/historia/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Vaasa |language=fi}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | The Whites had no clear political aims in common, other than stopping the [[communist]] [[Communist revolution|revolutionary]] Reds from taking power and returning to [[Swedish Constitution of 1772|constitutional rule]] by |
||
| ⚫ | The Whites had no clear political aims in common, other than stopping the [[communist]] [[Communist revolution|revolutionary]] Reds from taking power and returning to [[Swedish Constitution of 1772|constitutional rule]] by a [[Senate]] (the government of the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]) which was formed by the non-socialist parties of the ''[[Eduskunta]]'' (parliament) and returning to the [[Rule of Law]]. The provisional head of state of White Finland was [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud]], chairman of the senate at the time, and its military was commanded by [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim]]. The Conservative Senate government was supported by the remnants of the Finnish Legion stationed along the eastern front.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Military Intervention and Common Sense: Focus on Land Forces|last=Unterseher|first=Lutz|date=2009|publisher=Ryckschau|isbn=9783000280764|location=Berlin|pages=20–21}}</ref> |
||
Whites claimed the entire former [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]. The initial frontlines were established rather quickly, and over the course of the war, Whites conquered all of Finnish territory and vanquished the Reds, with remnants of Red forces fleeing to [[Soviet Russia]]. The [[Finnish constitution]] of 1919 established the modern [[Republic of Finland]], and the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Finnish)|Treaty of Tartu]] between Finland and Russia (1920) confirmed the outcome. Thus, the Republic of Finland is the sole successor of White Finland. |
|||
[[File:Valkoisia Oulussa 1918.jpg|thumb|Protection Corpsmen in Oulu, 1918.]] |
|||
The main fighting force of the 'White Army' was the [[White Guard (Finland)|Protection Corps]],<ref name=":2" /> which was a volunteer army mostly made up of the rural peasant and lower classes, as they made up around 77% of the entire protection corps fighting units. The Protection Corps had around 15,000 men in their ranks, and with conscription enforced, the numbers of the 'White Army' rose to around 60,000 men in total, with the conscription numbers, the working class become to consist of around 25% of the frontline troops.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pylkkänen |first=Ali |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=otELuQAACAAJ |title=Suojeluskuntalaiset - keitä he olivat?: vapaaehtoisten maanpuolustajien sosiaalinen kerrostuneisuus 1917-1944 |date=2001 |publisher=Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu, sotahistorian laitos |isbn=978-951-25-1256-0 |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ylikangas |first=Heikki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xO20DwAAQBAJ&q=Ylikangas%2C+Heikki%3A+Tie+Tampereelle |title=Tie Tampereelle |date=2019-10-09 |publisher=Werner Söderström Ltd |isbn=978-951-0-43696-7 |language=fi}}</ref> |
|||
The [[Jäger Movement|Jägers]] were recruited by [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]] between 1914 and 1917 for [[Military education and training|military training]], even participating alongside their German benefactors, in combat against the [[Russian Empire|Russian forces]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]], before returning to [[Finland]] for the upcoming civil war.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/sites/view/31?0 | title=Memorial to Finnish Jaegers in Klapkalnciems }}</ref> Because Russia did not draft Finns for combat duties, their experience as [[First World War]] veterans had significant impact during the war. They received arms and equipment matching those of regular German troops, and sporadic further military support from the German Empire. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
* [[Finnish Civil War]] |
|||
* [[White Guards (Finland)]] |
|||
* [[Classical Conservatism]] |
|||
** [[Edmund Burke]]'s [[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'' |
|||
* [[Rule of Law]] |
|||
* [[Legalism (Western philosophy)]] |
|||
The White Army did not only just consist of [[Finnish people|Finnish]] men, however they also gained the support of foreign groups and voluntary military organizations, such as the '<nowiki/>''Friends of Finland''' group in [[Sweden]], which organized and equipped [[Swedish Brigade|Swedish volunteers]] to fight in Finland, this came with [[Swedes|Swedish]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] such as [[Ernst Linder]], who came to command the {{Ill|Satakunta Group|fi|Satakunnan ryhmä}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hannula |first=J. O. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPDxmQEACAAJ&q=Hannula,+J.+O.:+Suomen+vapaussodan+historia |title=Suomen vapaussodan historia |date=1938 |publisher=WSOY |language=fi}}</ref> The Whites also found sympathy from the [[Polish Legion in Finland|Poles]] and [[Estonians]], who also served as volunteers in combat.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Valtioneuvoston kanslia|url=http://vnk.fi/julkaisukansio/2004/j03-venalaissurmat-suomessa-1914-22-osa-2.2_/pdf/134314.pdf |access-date=2023-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224195311/http://vnk.fi/julkaisukansio/2004/j03-venalaissurmat-suomessa-1914-22-osa-2.2_/pdf/134314.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-24 }}</ref> |
|||
{{Finland-stub}} |
|||
{{military-history-stub}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
The Whites' campaign was initially challenged by the goal of capturing the [[Varkaus]] industrial center.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Finnish Civil War 1918: History, Memory, Legacy|last1=Tepora|first1=Tuomas|last2=Roselius|first2=Aapo|date=2014|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004243668|location=Leiden|pages=100}}</ref> The around 1,200 [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red guardsmen]] who were controlling the city finally surrendered after the White troops secured the surrounding areas.<ref name=":0" /> This battle was one of the turning points of the civil war since it gave the Whites control of the northern part of Finland. The success of the campaign is attributed to the White's better equipment, organization, and unity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=A Short History of Finland|url=https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryfinl00sing|url-access=limited|last1=Singleton|first1=Fred|last2=Upton|first2=Anthony F.|date=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0521640695|location=Cambridge, UK|pages=[https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryfinl00sing/page/n121 109], 110}}</ref> |
|||
By February 1917, Finland was already divided with the Whites controlling the area north of [[Pori]], [[Tampere]], [[Lahti]], [[Lappeenranta]], and Viipuri while the urban areas to the south were under the Red zone.<ref name=":1" /> With the assistance of the Germans under [[Rüdiger von der Goltz|General Rüdiger von der Goltz]], the Whites were able to capture [[Helsinki]] and Tampere until the Reds finally fled to [[Soviet Russia]] in April, and the victors inherited the borders of the former Grand Duchy.<ref name=":1" /> The initial frontlines were established rather quickly, and over the course of the war, Whites reclaimed all Finnish territory. The [[Finnish constitution]] of 1919 established the modern [[Republic of Finland]], and the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Finnish)|Treaty of Tartu]] between Finland and Russia (1920) confirmed the outcome. Thus, the Republic of Finland is the sole successor of White Finland. |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{Reflist}}{{Portal bar|Finland|}} |
|||
[[Category:Finnish Civil War]] |
[[Category:Finnish Civil War]] |
||
[[Category:People of the Finnish Civil War (White side)| |
[[Category:People of the Finnish Civil War (White side)|*]] |
||
[[Category:Post–Russian Empire states]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 08:24, 1 November 2024
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Finnish. Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
.svg) | |
| State flag of Finland during the Civil War | |
| Use | State flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 17:26 |
| Adopted | 27 February 1918 |
| Relinquished | 29 May 1918 |
| Design | Rectangular Coat of Arms of Finland (colours gold and silver on red) |
White Finland, usually shortened to Whites (Finnish: Valkoiset, IPA: [ˈʋɑlkoi̯set]; Swedish: De vita, Swedish pronunciation: [de ˈviːta]), were the refugee and provisional government following the October Revolution and those forces who fought for and under Pehr Evind Svinhufvud's first senate, in opposition to the "Reds", the Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic, during the Finnish Civil War in 1918.
Background
[edit]
White Finland was established as a provisional government on November 27, 1917 following the October Revolution,[1] leading to the total collapse of the Personal Union between Finland and the Russian Republic. Following the establishment of the Soviet Russia, and with the recognition of Vladimir Lenin and other prominent Bolshevik officials in Russia, Finland was officially granted independence.[2]
This Government was ruled from Vaasa from 29. January – 3. May 1918, and the Senate was moved there, as Helsinki had been captured by the Reds.[3]
The Whites had no clear political aims in common, other than stopping the communist revolutionary Reds from taking power and returning to constitutional rule by a Senate (the government of the Grand Duchy of Finland) which was formed by the non-socialist parties of the Eduskunta (parliament) and returning to the Rule of Law. The provisional head of state of White Finland was Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, chairman of the senate at the time, and its military was commanded by Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. The Conservative Senate government was supported by the remnants of the Finnish Legion stationed along the eastern front.[4]
The main fighting force of the 'White Army' was the Protection Corps,[2] which was a volunteer army mostly made up of the rural peasant and lower classes, as they made up around 77% of the entire protection corps fighting units. The Protection Corps had around 15,000 men in their ranks, and with conscription enforced, the numbers of the 'White Army' rose to around 60,000 men in total, with the conscription numbers, the working class become to consist of around 25% of the frontline troops.[5][6]
The Jägers were recruited by Imperial Germany between 1914 and 1917 for military training, even participating alongside their German benefactors, in combat against the Russian forces on the Eastern Front, before returning to Finland for the upcoming civil war.[7] Because Russia did not draft Finns for combat duties, their experience as First World War veterans had significant impact during the war. They received arms and equipment matching those of regular German troops, and sporadic further military support from the German Empire.
The White Army did not only just consist of Finnish men, however they also gained the support of foreign groups and voluntary military organizations, such as the 'Friends of Finland' group in Sweden, which organized and equipped Swedish volunteers to fight in Finland, this came with Swedish officers such as Ernst Linder, who came to command the Satakunta Group.[8] The Whites also found sympathy from the Poles and Estonians, who also served as volunteers in combat.[9]
Campaign
[edit]The Whites' campaign was initially challenged by the goal of capturing the Varkaus industrial center.[10] The around 1,200 Red guardsmen who were controlling the city finally surrendered after the White troops secured the surrounding areas.[10] This battle was one of the turning points of the civil war since it gave the Whites control of the northern part of Finland. The success of the campaign is attributed to the White's better equipment, organization, and unity.[11]
By February 1917, Finland was already divided with the Whites controlling the area north of Pori, Tampere, Lahti, Lappeenranta, and Viipuri while the urban areas to the south were under the Red zone.[11] With the assistance of the Germans under General Rüdiger von der Goltz, the Whites were able to capture Helsinki and Tampere until the Reds finally fled to Soviet Russia in April, and the victors inherited the borders of the former Grand Duchy.[11] The initial frontlines were established rather quickly, and over the course of the war, Whites reclaimed all Finnish territory. The Finnish constitution of 1919 established the modern Republic of Finland, and the Treaty of Tartu between Finland and Russia (1920) confirmed the outcome. Thus, the Republic of Finland is the sole successor of White Finland.
References
[edit]- ^ "1. Svinhufvud". Valtioneuvosto (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ a b The Finnish Civil War 1918: History, Memory, Legacy. BRILL. 2014-08-14. ISBN 978-90-04-28071-7.
- ^ "Vaasan lyseon lukion vaiheita". Vaasa (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ Unterseher, Lutz (2009). Military Intervention and Common Sense: Focus on Land Forces. Berlin: Ryckschau. pp. 20–21. ISBN 9783000280764.
- ^ Pylkkänen, Ali (2001). Suojeluskuntalaiset - keitä he olivat?: vapaaehtoisten maanpuolustajien sosiaalinen kerrostuneisuus 1917-1944 (in Finnish). Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu, sotahistorian laitos. ISBN 978-951-25-1256-0.
- ^ Ylikangas, Heikki (2019-10-09). Tie Tampereelle (in Finnish). Werner Söderström Ltd. ISBN 978-951-0-43696-7.
- ^ "Memorial to Finnish Jaegers in Klapkalnciems".
- ^ Hannula, J. O. (1938). Suomen vapaussodan historia (in Finnish). WSOY.
- ^ "Valtioneuvoston kanslia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ a b Tepora, Tuomas; Roselius, Aapo (2014). The Finnish Civil War 1918: History, Memory, Legacy. Leiden: Brill. p. 100. ISBN 9789004243668.
- ^ a b c Singleton, Fred; Upton, Anthony F. (1998). A Short History of Finland. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 109, 110. ISBN 0521640695.
