He assumed that as a token of gratitude for this Finland would get eastern Karelia and
could live in peace with Russia, i.e. with monarchist or middle-class Russia.
The Senate, led by Svinhufvud, was in 1918 of the opinion that the monarchists would attempt to regain Finland after the conditions had been established. They would by no means enlarge Finland by giving her back eastern Karelia. Mannerheim regarded these objections as groundless, as Finland would be dealing with aristocratic Russians, not Bolsheviks. But Mannerheim’s view was unrealistic, because the white Russians were unable to get the support they had hoped for from the Western Powers, and did not even dare to promise Finland her independence. This is the reason why Mannerheim rejected his St Petersburg plan in spring and summer 1919.
In summer 1941, during the time of German support, the Germans pressed Mannerheim to attack Leningrad. Politically, this was an extremely delicate matter, as Stalin had in 1939 stated that the safety of Leningrad was the main reason for his territorial demands. As regards population, Leningrad was the size of Finland, and the battles in the area would be extremely bloody. Mannerheim now had a chance to decline, which he doubtlessly felt would be the right decision. Later on the inhabitants of Leningrad, who had so greatly suffered during the state of siege, only remembered that Finnish troops had participated in the siege in the north, but did not realize that Mannerheim’s reservedness had saved Leningrad from destruction.
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
COURSE OF LIFE | FAMILY | TIME OF GROWTH | MILITARY CAREER | WAR OF INDEPENDENCE | REGENT 1918-1919 | CIVILIAN | DEFENCE COUNCIL | COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 1939-1946 | PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC 1944-1946 | RETIREMENT | SPECIAL TOPICS | SEARCH