This spring it will be 100 years from the end of the Finnish Civil War in 1918. It was a conflict for the leadership and control of Finland during nation's transition to an independent state. The collapse of the Russian Empire caused a power vacuum in the Grand Duchy of Finland and this led to internal tension in the Finnish social order. The downfall of the former government created serious crisis in the political power and militarily. Two different authorities in the field of politics were established in Finland, The Senate of Finland(Whites) and The People's Council(Reds). Disagreements between these two parties eventually resulted a full-scale war, the Finnish Civil War.
When measured in time, the war was a short, three and a half months. But it's known for its cruel drawbacks to which both parties committed. The mental wounds caused by this war rooted deep in to the Finnish society for decades and the war and matters related to it were kept in silent. Even in modern day talks it's hard to find a neutral interpretation and the topic is challenging. Some matters are transpired in the battle of Syrjäntaka in the ending days of the Finnish Civil War.
In February 1918 the Reds carried out a general offensive but it turned to be an unsuccesful in all fronts. The Whites counter-attacked and the Reds line of defense was crushed in many critical points. Meanwhile the German Baltic Sea Division had landed in the coast of the southern Finland capturing its capital, Helsinki and continued deeper in the heartland. Now with heavy pressure from south and from north the Reds had to retreat aiming Karelian Isthmus where their lines still could repel the attacker.
This pullback movement obtained signs of chaos and panic and it also hit the "red" civilian people living in the area. They didn't feel being safe if they would fall into the Whites or the Germans. Researchers are talking of tens of thousands of civilian refurgees who joined this withdrawal.
Towards the crossroads of Syrjäntaka withdrew 5 000 Red Guard soldiers and with them 18km long column of refurgees. Contingent of German troops, approximately 400 men had previously taken control of the crossroads. Without knowing the presence of each other they encountered and the battle started in a darkening evening.
The Germans had dug-in but the line was stretched thin due the low number in men. The Reds were not organized well due the painful retreat and the chaos of the column of the refurgees. The darkness hindered action, but secondly all nearby buildings were ignited fire due this battle. Uncertain about the future destiny and the despair of the crowd, the Reds tried to break through the German defensive line through all the night. Company of Red women soldiers participated this fiercely fight as well as other women and children from among the refurgees. At dawn the German resistance wavered when the casualties and losses increased, they were also low on ammunition. The battle resulted a Red breakthrough and the crossroads remained open for retreating Reds and refurgees for 10 more hours.
In military terms battle of Syrjäntaka was irrelevant, it didn't affect the outcome of the war, the Reds and the refurgees never made to the Karelian Front or Soviet-Russia, they all surrendered at the end of the war just a few days later. The outcome of the Syrjäntaka battle was the last victory achieved by the Red Guard in the Finnish Civil War. But there are other significant aspects in this matter. It is noticeable that this battle was fought between the Reds and German Empire, there were no White Guard forces present. This tells about the desire of establishing a German hegemony in Finland and creating a German possession in the country. This didn't happen in the end because of the outcome of the World War I. Another significant point is the masse of the civilian population who attended fighting and the local people suffering directly and unintentionally. This is completely unusual event in Finnish history. In Syrjäntaka it was apparent that the Finnish Civil War applied to all sections of population, soldiers, men, women, children, civilian. It is unfortunate to say that the uncertainity and the fear among the refurgees was justly, it all came true in the aftermath of this war.
When measured in time, the war was a short, three and a half months. But it's known for its cruel drawbacks to which both parties committed. The mental wounds caused by this war rooted deep in to the Finnish society for decades and the war and matters related to it were kept in silent. Even in modern day talks it's hard to find a neutral interpretation and the topic is challenging. Some matters are transpired in the battle of Syrjäntaka in the ending days of the Finnish Civil War.
In February 1918 the Reds carried out a general offensive but it turned to be an unsuccesful in all fronts. The Whites counter-attacked and the Reds line of defense was crushed in many critical points. Meanwhile the German Baltic Sea Division had landed in the coast of the southern Finland capturing its capital, Helsinki and continued deeper in the heartland. Now with heavy pressure from south and from north the Reds had to retreat aiming Karelian Isthmus where their lines still could repel the attacker.
This pullback movement obtained signs of chaos and panic and it also hit the "red" civilian people living in the area. They didn't feel being safe if they would fall into the Whites or the Germans. Researchers are talking of tens of thousands of civilian refurgees who joined this withdrawal.
Towards the crossroads of Syrjäntaka withdrew 5 000 Red Guard soldiers and with them 18km long column of refurgees. Contingent of German troops, approximately 400 men had previously taken control of the crossroads. Without knowing the presence of each other they encountered and the battle started in a darkening evening.
The Germans had dug-in but the line was stretched thin due the low number in men. The Reds were not organized well due the painful retreat and the chaos of the column of the refurgees. The darkness hindered action, but secondly all nearby buildings were ignited fire due this battle. Uncertain about the future destiny and the despair of the crowd, the Reds tried to break through the German defensive line through all the night. Company of Red women soldiers participated this fiercely fight as well as other women and children from among the refurgees. At dawn the German resistance wavered when the casualties and losses increased, they were also low on ammunition. The battle resulted a Red breakthrough and the crossroads remained open for retreating Reds and refurgees for 10 more hours.
In military terms battle of Syrjäntaka was irrelevant, it didn't affect the outcome of the war, the Reds and the refurgees never made to the Karelian Front or Soviet-Russia, they all surrendered at the end of the war just a few days later. The outcome of the Syrjäntaka battle was the last victory achieved by the Red Guard in the Finnish Civil War. But there are other significant aspects in this matter. It is noticeable that this battle was fought between the Reds and German Empire, there were no White Guard forces present. This tells about the desire of establishing a German hegemony in Finland and creating a German possession in the country. This didn't happen in the end because of the outcome of the World War I. Another significant point is the masse of the civilian population who attended fighting and the local people suffering directly and unintentionally. This is completely unusual event in Finnish history. In Syrjäntaka it was apparent that the Finnish Civil War applied to all sections of population, soldiers, men, women, children, civilian. It is unfortunate to say that the uncertainity and the fear among the refurgees was justly, it all came true in the aftermath of this war.
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