Mannerheim conducted the warfare from these headquarters in 1918 (War of Independence), 1939-1940 (Winter War) and 1941-1945 (Continuation War).
During the period of general alarm in October 1939, the headquarters, established in Helsinki, were transferred to Mikkeli in early December, and remained there until the end of the war. At the outbreak of the Continuation War, the headquarters were re-established in Mikkeli and remained in that town till the end of war activities, i.e. till 1945.
Mannerheim’s most important aids in matters of military policy were Erik Heinrichs (commander of the Karelian Army 1941, later Chief of General Staff 1942-1944), and in operational planning Aksel Airo (Quartermaster General).
The
innermost circle around the Commander-in-Chief was called "Marshal’s
Court", mostly on account of strictly defined manners of behaviour and etiquette. The
most renowned example was the full glass of Marshal’s Drink with its specific
ingredients, a tradition which goes back to the custom in the Russian Imperial Army of
pouring the liquor glasses to the brim.
World War II | Pacific War | Winter War | Headquarters | Mannerheim Line | Vilho Petter Nenonen | K.L. Oesch | Harald Öhquist | Paavo Talvela | Continuation War |Transit Pact | Risto Ryti | Order of the Day of the Sword Scabbard | Erik Heinrichs | A.F. Airo | Hugo Österman | Marshal's Drink | Mannerheim Cross | Title of Marshal of Finland | Air War - Air Forces
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