The arrival of the Anglo-French fleet off the coast of Finland and the Åland War resulted from the conflicting interests of Russia, Britain, and France.
In the mid-19th century Russia sought to expand towards Turkey so that its ships might gain access to the Mediterranean. The British and French allied themselves with Turkey against the Russians. War broke out in 1854.
In the Gulf of Finland, the British wanted to deprive the Russian Navy of a route to the Baltic Sea and from there to the Atlantic. Fighting took place along the whole Finnish coastline, from Hamina in the southeast to Tornio at the northern end of the Baltic. An abortive sortie against the port of Kokkola resulted in the loss of a small British vessel, which is still proudly displayed in the town.
In the Åland Islands, after a lengthy siege, the British and French forces occupied the Bomarsund Fortress that was still under construction at the time. The fighting became known as the Åland War.
The Crimean War ended in the defeat of Russia in 1855. A peace treaty was signed in 1856.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 18.8.2005
