BACKGROUND The Marshal of Finland served Russia for 30 years
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By Jussi Konttinen
The Russians have every reason to "steal" part of C.G. Mannerheim for themselves. The Finnish white general, Marshal, and President served the Russian Czar for 30 years.
"Mannerheim was an officer who was unwaveringly loyal to those in power. He established his own career, and at the same time served the interests of the Russian empire", writes Professor Timo Vihavainen.
If there had been no Bolshevik revolution, he probably would have remained loyal to His Majesty.
At the age of 20, Mannerheim began his studies at the renowned Nicholaevsky Cavalry School in St. Petersburg in 1887. After two years at the school he was sent to Poland.
In 1891 Mannerheim returned to St. Petersburg to the Chevalier Guard, where he trained new recruits, who guarded the Winter Palace, and he worked at the imperial stables. In 1896 he took part in the coronation of Nicholas II in Moscow as the Czar’s aide.
In St. Petersburg Mannerheim led an active social life. He was good at polo, equestrian sports, and hunting. He married Anastasia Arapova, the daughter of a noble family, in 1892. The marriage ended in 1903 and the wife moved to France with their daughter.
Mannerheim saw front-line action in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905, and was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1906 he was sent on a two-year espionage mission to Central Asia and China, which was disguised as a scientific expedition.
In 1909 Mannerheim returned to Poland, first commanding a regiment, and later, a brigade. He served as a front-line commander in the First World War in different parts of the East European front, rising to the rank of a division commander, then taking command of an army corps. Later he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.
Russia’s provisional government put Mannerheim into the military reserve in December 1917 because it was felt that he "could not adapt to present conditions". He requested a discharge from the army in January 1918.
Still in 1919 as the Regent of Finland, Mannerheim held negotiations with White Russians on a possible attack against the Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg. However, Finland felt that the project would be dangerous for a country that had just won its independence.
In his memoirs, Mannerheim wrote:
"When I look back over the years in which I wore the Czar’s uniform, I must note with gratitude that my expectations were fulfilled. I was able to get onto the big stage that opened before me a much wider perspective than that which would have awaited me had I remained in Finland."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 24.1.2005
More on this subject:
 Homecoming exhibition for Mannerheim in St. Petersburg
Helsingin Sanomat
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