Soviet republic that existed in southern Finland in 1918.

 

The revolution began in Finland on the evening of January 14(27). The Finnish Workers’ Executive Committee created by the radical wing of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) seized power the next day in Helsingfors (Helsinki). The government of Pehr Evind Svinhufvud fled north of the country to Vaasa. The SDP established the Finnish People's Delegation, a revolutionary government headed by Kullervo Manner. The Delegation published the Workers and citizens of Finland! declaration announcing the socialist revolution in the country. It established the workers’ control on the railways and factories and passed a law on the nationalization of banks. The Supreme Workers’ Council of Finland was established to oversee the executive branch.

 

The southern part of Finland with large industrial centers (Helsingfors, Tammerfors, Abo, Vyborg, etc.) and two-thirds of the country’s population was under the control of the Reds. The working population of these centers became the basis for the formation of the Red Guard, which was the main armed force of the FSWR. Some Russian military units stationed in this territory also supported the Reds. The north of the country was controlled by the Vaasa government. Its supporters were called Whites in contrast to the Red Finns. Their army was led by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim.

 

On March 1, 1918, the government of Soviet Russia entered into an agreement with the Finnish People's Delegation, under which Finland received all immovable property located within the territory of the former Grand Duchy of Finland and transferred to Russia its immovable property on Russian territory. In addition, Russia gave Pechengsky Territory (Petsamo) to Finland and Finland transferred Fort Ino to Russia.

 

After the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918, the withdrawal of Russian troops from Finland began. The Baltic Fleet, which played a key role in the Bolshevization of the Finnish garrison, left Helsingfors. In early April, German troops landed in Finland and actively participated in the civil war on the side of the Vaasa government. With their help, the Whites took Helsinki and other cities in the south of the country and made the Finnish People's Delegation move to Vyborg. The Reds decided to replace the civil government with a dictatorship. Kullervo Manner became the dictator and Otto Kuusinen became the new chairman of the Finnish People's Delegation. At the end of April, the Red government fled to Petrograd. On April 29, the White troops took Vyborg followed by arrests and executions (of the Russian population as well, along national lines). The Finnish Civil War lasted until mid-May and ended with the victory of the Whites. The Finnish Socialist Workers’ Republic ceased to exist.