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Sir Winston Churchill and Marshal Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim had much in common. They both were aristocrats, cavalrymen, Great War soldiers and committed anti-communists. Both made profoundly stirring public pronouncements and the both continued to lead their country while being old at age. The similarities engendered mutual admiration. Still, the quandaries of the WWII made the Great-Britain and Finland enemies while the UK declared war on Finland in December, 1941. Churchill and Mannerheim met only twice and Churchill couldn't admit their relationship anymore after June 1941, when Finland went to a war against the UK's ally, the Soviet Union.
They first encountered in 1920, affiliating to alliance politics. In Winston Churchill's personal words - 'to scorch Bolshevism out', the UK supported a grand alliance with several European nations, including Finland, whom all shared a border with the Soviet Union. Mannerheim was already valued by the Brits as an influential person, but there were doubts as he wasn't yet the President of Finland. In July 1920, Mannerheim ran for the post, but lost and retired for several years. When in the early 1930's Mannerheim returned to publicity, he made his best to awaken the alliance negotiations with the UK again, but now the global situation was changed and the Western Powers weren't interested anymore about an alliance with Finland.
The second encounter between these two gentlemen took place in 1936 on a dinner. Mannerheim used this opportunity, he complained and criticized Churchill's war memoir, the World Crisis, Churchill presenting the Finnish War of Liberation too strongly being a pro-German-spirit. Mannerheim's note left Churchill unpleasantly surprised and he asked Mannerheim to write more accurate version for future editions.
Churchill attempted to aid Finland during 1939-1940 and wanted to do this while he had failed in the matter some 20 years earlier. After the British cabinet meetings, however, the support for the Finnish war effort only remained as moral.
After a few days since Germany launched the Operation Barbarossa, Finland went to a war with the Soviet Union. Stalin, of course, laid pressure on Churchill, to declare war on Finland. Churchill privately opposed the idea and was reluctant. He was hoping Finland to stop on the 1939 border. However, the Finns crossed the border, in November 1941, Mannerheim received Churchill's letter at where Churchill congratulated Mannerheim for regaining the lost territory, but at the same, he strongly urged Finland to stop the offensive and search for a peace. Otherwise, there would be consequences. Mannerheim replied similarly gentlemanly, stating for instance, he would be deeply grieved, if his attempt to safeguard Finland would lead to a war with Britain. Mannerheim closed his words wondering, has there ever been such a polite declaration of a war between two countries. On December 3rd, 1941 Great Britain formalized the matter and declared war on Finland.
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