Introduction to History of Finland

Ancestors of the modern Finns migrated from the Volga basin to the Baltic coast region sometime during the first millennium B.C. Gradually, many settled in what is now Finland. During the mid-12th century the Swedes conquered the Finns and converted them to Christianity. Sweden made a grand duchy of the area inhabited by the Finns, and Swedish became the official and literary language. Sweden gave the Finns a high degree of self-rule and a constitutional government.

In the early years of the 18th century, Finland suffered greatly from wars between Sweden and Russia. In 1703 Peter the Great of Russia founded St. Petersburg only 30 miles (48 km) from the Finnish border, and control of Finland became increasingly important to Russia. It obtained Karelia (eastern Finland) and neighboring provinces in 1721, and in 1809 (during the Napoleonic Wars) Sweden agreed to give up the rest of the country. In ceding Finland to Russia, Sweden made the czar pledge that the Lutheran religion would be preserved and the laws and liberties of the Finns protected. In the 1860's Russia loosened its control over Finland by allowing the Finnish Diet (parliament) to have authority over local affairs.

In 1897, however, the Russians began to reduce Finnish rights. The manifesto of 1899 lessened the authority of the Finnish legislature. As Russian rule tightened, Finnish nationalist sentiment was aroused.

Independence

Upon the outbreak of World War I, some Finns joined the Russian army, others the German army. Following the overthrow of the czarist regime in Russia (February, 1917), Finland was permitted a representative government. After Russia's Bolshevik (Communist) revolution in November, Finland declared itself independent, December 6, 1917. Russia recognized Finland's independence in January, 1918, and in March it was confirmed by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Finland's first years of independence were difficult ones. The economy was shaky, there was a severe food shortage, and strikes nearly paralyzed the country. Internal conflicts led in 1918 to civil war. On one side were the “Reds,” aided by Russia; on the other were the “Whites,” headed by Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim and aided by Germany. The Reds were defeated and Mannerheim was named regent. On June 17, 1919, Finland became a republic, with a new constitution being adopted the next month.

A peace treaty with Russia in 1920 gave Pechenga (Petsamo) to the Finns, providing them with an ice-free port on the Arctic Ocean. In 1921 the League of Nations settled a dispute with Sweden over the Åland Islands in favor of Finland. There was also a dispute with the Russians over Karelia, which they had retained except for the southern tip (the Karelian Isthmus). A Karelian uprising in 1921 was crushed by the Russians.

Finland gradually achieved political and economic stability. Communist strength in the country grew until the government dissolved the party. However, Communists and Socialists took part in later governments. Agrarian reforms and liberal labor legislation were passed and freedom of religion was established. In 1927 an amnesty act freed about 1,200 persons still in prison for their roles in the 1918 civil war. In 1932 a bloodless revolt by a right-wing party was put down. During this period, the Finns built fortifications, called the Mannerheim Line, across the Karelian Isthmus north of Leningrad (St. Petersburg).

World War II

A nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union was signed in 1932 and renewed in 1934. In October, 1939, the Soviet Union demanded that Finland give up certain strategic areas near Leningrad and Kronshtadt, and grant a 30-year lease on the Hangö Peninsula at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. In return, the Soviet Union offered territory north of Lake Ladoga. Finland rejected only the demand for the Hangö lease, on the grounds that it would violate Finnish neutrality. After three weeks of negotiations, the Soviets renounced the nonaggression pact and attacked Finland.

In the war that followed, called the Russo-Finnish War, or Winter War, the Finns resisted bravely, winning widespread sympathy, but not much practical aid. The Finns held back the Soviets in the fall of 1939, but were defeated the following spring. In March, 1940, Finland signed a peace treaty ceding to the Soviet Union the Karelian Isthmus, several islands, territory around Lake Ladoga, and the western part of the Rybachiy Peninsula. Finland also gave the Soviets a 30-year lease on Hangö Peninsula. (

In 1940 Finland granted German troops permission to cross the country to invade Norway. When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, Finnish troops also attacked. Soon after, Finland signed a pact with the Axis powers. Great Britain declared war on Finland, and the United States interned Finnish ships in American ports.

During 1941, the Finns captured southern Karelia and regained most of the territory lost in 1940. As Germany's position weakened, however, many Finns began wishing for peace. In February, 1944, Finland was warned by the United States not to continue the war. Peace discussions began, but the Finns twice refused the Soviet Union's terms. The Soviets opened a full-scale offensive, broke through the Mannerheim Line, and captured the port of Viipuri (now Vyborg). Nevertheless, in June, 1944, Finland signed an agreement with Germany pledging to continue the war. The United States severed diplomatic relations with Finland but did not declare war.

By this time few people in Finland wished the war to continue. In August the government was forced to resign, Mannerheim became president, and the Finnish-German agreement of June was denounced. A peace treaty with Great Britain and the Soviet Union reduced Finland to its 1940 boundaries and gave the Petsamo area back to the Soviet Union. The Soviets gave up the Hangö lease in exchange for a 50-year lease on the Porkkala headland, near Helsinki.

After World War II

After the war, 450,000 refugees from Soviet-controlled territories came to Finland. Under Soviet pressure, Finland refused to join in the European Recovery Program, and in 1948 signed a mutual nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union. This was renewed in 1955, and at the same time the Porkkala naval base was returned to Finland.

In 1955 Finland became a member of the United Nations and of the Nordic Council. Large loans from the United States in 1959 and from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 1960 helped to build up Finland's industrial capacity. In 1961 Finland became a member of the European Free Trade Association.

In the 1960's, relations with the Soviet Union became closer through increased trade, although Finnish foreign policy was one of neutrality. Finland's nonaggression treaty with the Soviet Union was renewed again in 1970, and in 1973 Finland signed a trade pact with the European Community (now known as the European Union).

In 1981,President Urho Kekkonen, who had been reelected three times since assuming the Presidency in 1956, resigned because of failing health. In 1987, Harri Holkeri became the first prime minister from the Conservative party since 1946. He served until 1991. In 1995, Finland became a member of the European Union. Tarja Halonen, the first woman in Finland to be elected as President, took office in 2000. In 2006, Halonen won reelection.

Matti Vanhanen became head of the ruling Center Party and prime minister in 2003. In the 2007 parliamentary elections, Vanhanen's Center Party won a narrow victory with 51 seats in the 200-member parliament. The Finnish parliament reelected Vanhanen as prime minister. Vanhanen then formed a four-party coalition government, including the Green Union, the National Coalition Party, and the Swedish People's Party.