Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (June 4, 1867 – January 28, 1951) was the reputed Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces, Marshal of Finland, an astute politician, a successful military commander and was later President of Finland (1944–1946).

From Civil-War Victor to Head of State

In January 1918 the Senate of the newly independent Finland, under its chairman Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, appointed Mannerheim as Commander-in-Chief of Finland's almost nonexistent army, which was then not much more than a number of locally set up White Guards. His mission was the defence of the Government during the Civil War in Finland. He accepted the position despite of his misgivings about the German influences in the government. He founded his headquarters in Seinäjoki and began to disarm the remaining Russian garrisons and their 42,500 troops. During the ensuing Civil War (or War of Liberty, as it was known among the 'Whites') in March 1918, Mannerheim was promoted to general of cavalry (ratsuväenkenraali).

Related Topics:
1918 - Senate - Pehr Evind Svinhufvud - Commander-in-Chief - White Guard - Civil War in Finland - German - Seinäjoki - General of cavalry

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Dismayed at the increasing German influence, Mannerheim left the country temporarily in June 1918. Mannerheim was thus out of the country during the last, fateful period of the civil war, a time of mass deaths as a result of disease and starvation in prison camps and of lengthy trials. During the war he had already tried to stop the "White terror" and had opposed the mass imprisonment of Reds.

Related Topics:
June - Disease - Starvation - Prison camp

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In autumn 1918, Mannerheim held discussions in London and Paris. In September he was summoned back from Paris to become Protector of State or Regent. There were even monarchists who wanted to make him Finland's king. After the elected Frederick Charles of Hesse had aroused the victorious Allies' suspicions, and renounced the throne, Mannerheim secured recognition of the independent Finland from the United Kingdom and USA. He also requested and received food aid from overseas to avoid famine. Although he was an ardent anti-Bolshevik, he eventually refused an alliance with Russian White generals because they would not have recognized Finnish independence. In 1919 he lost the presidential election in the Parliament to Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg and retreated from public life.

Related Topics:
London - Paris - Regent - Monarchist - King - Frederick Charles of Hesse - Allies - United Kingdom - USA - Famine - Bolshevik - 1919 - Parliament - Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg

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