FINNISH CIVIL WAR
Years: 1918-1918 | Est. deaths: 20 000
Published prior to 2013
The Finnish Civil War was fought from January to May 1918, between the "Reds" (punaiset), Communists together with Social Democrats, and the "Whites" (valkoiset), forces of the Conservative Senate intending to maintain status quo (retained independence and constitutional monarchy without parliamentarism).
Finns have many names for this conflict: vapaussota (War of Liberty), kansalaissota or sisällissota (Civil War), luokkasota (Class War), punakapina (Red Rebellion), torpparikapina (Crofters’Rebellion), veljessota (the war between brothers). All of these names are true in one way or another.
The Civil War and the Continuation War have been the two most controversial and emotion-loaded events in the history of modern Finland, often seen as the hinges or pivots of Finland’s fate.
Thus the Civil War has had a great influence also on the foreign relations of Finland.