Important dates

April

3 April

The 9,500-strong Baltic Sea Division, headed by General Rüdiger von der Goltz, lands in Hanko.

The Red administration’s newspaper “Bulletins of the Finnish People’s Delegation” publishes a law on compulsory work. It applies to all men under 55, but “may be extended to idle women as well.” The law enters into force immediately.

3 April

The White assault on the city of Tampere begins.

5 April

A declaration by the Senate to the Finnish people calls on citizens to assist the German troops that have landed.

6 April

The Red Tampere is defeated. Some 10,000 Reds are taken prisoners. Soon after the capture, Whites execute about 300 Reds and all the 200 Russian soldiers left in the city.

7 April

The first part of a German brigade lands in Loviisa, under the leadership of Colonel Otto von Branderstein.

8 April

The People’s Delegation flees Helsinki and heads for Vyborg. The last issue of the “Bulletins of the Finnish People’s Delegation” in Helsinki. Two issues are published in Vyborg. 10 April Red governing bodies, who have fled to Vyborg, give Kullervo Manner, now appointed the leader of the revolution, dictatorial powers in both military and civilian matters.

12–13 April

The Germans take Helsinki.

14 April

The Germans organise a victory parade in Helsinki.

16 April

Twenty-five moderate representatives of the Workers’ Movement, who have not participated in the rebellion, call for a cessation of hostilities. They will become leaders of the Social Democratic Party after the war.

17 April

The Helsinki Senate issues a decree on the attachment of the Russian Sveaborg fortress, off the coast of Helsinki, to Finland.

19 April

The German troops that landed in Loviisa on 7 April, take Lahti. Reds in Western Finland are deprived of their escape route to the east.

25 April

Government troops approach Vyborg. Most of the People’s Delegation flee to St. Petersburg on boats.

28 April

Government troops capture Vyborg.