Under the pretext of humanitarian aid, a Swedish navy detachment occupied the islands, starting on 13 February, but in early March (4 and 5 March) Germany sent troops to the islands and the Swedish troops were sent home. The Åland Islands remained in Finnish possession, and Mannerheim sent there a military governor in March.
Mannerheim was particularly offended by the clandestine manner in which the Swedish authorities had persuaded an expedition of Finnish Civil Guards led by Fabritius from Åland to Sweden. After the war Sweden still sought support from abroad for her requests of territorial expansion. Åland had been demilitarized by an international agreement, and was therefore a sensitive point in the defence of Finland, an open flank.
The question of Åland was to be a bone of contention in the relations between Finland and Sweden for a long time, which Mannerheim was not able to put aside either.This may have been a reason why, being faced with a difficult choice during the Second World War, he was prepared to consider offering Åland instead of some other area to the Soviet Union.
Commander-in-Chief 1918 | Headquarters 1918
| Vaasa Senate | Hannes Ignatius
| Martin Wetzer | Harald Hjalmarson
| Ernst Linder | Gösta Theslöf | Jägers | St Petersburg Question | Relations with Germany | Cross of Liberty
| Eastern Karelia | Uusimaa Dragoon
Regiment | Fir Twig | Finnish Flag
| Swedish Brigade | Civil Guards | Jäger Conflict | Heikki Kekoni | Red Prisoners | Wilhelm Thesleff
| Aarne Sihvo | Rudolf Walden |
Air Force - Air Weapon | Red and White
Terrorism | Great Parade 16 May, 1918 | Åland Question | Monarchy | Mannerheim's Resignation
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