On 18 March 1742, during the Russian occupation in the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), Empress Elizabeth of Russia issued a proclamation in the Finnish language to the Finnish people asking them to create a Finland which would be independent from both Sweden and Russia. [1]

During World War II, Finland fought twice against the Soviet Union, first defending its independence in the Winter War and then invading the Soviet Union in the Continuation War. In the peace settlement Finland ended up ceding a large …

5 days ago · The gradual imposition of Russian as the third official language was ordered in 1900, and in 1901 it was decreed that Finns should serve in Russian units and that Finland’s own army should be disbanded. Increasing executive power was conferred on the ultranationalist governor-general, General Nikolay Bobrikov.

By the Treaty of Moscow of March 12, 1940, Finland surrendered a large area of southeastern Finland, including the city of Viipuri (renamed Vyborg), and leased the peninsula of Hanko to the Soviet Union for 30 years.

Mar 1, 2025 · Finland - Early Independence, Sovereignty, Autonomy: Although the liberation from Russia occurred peacefully, Finland was unable to avert a violent internal conflict. After the revolutionary Reds had won control of the Social Democratic Party, they went into action and on January 28, 1918, seized Helsinki and the larger industrial towns in ...

Sep 11, 2017 · On 31 December 1917, the Russian Council of People’s Commissars recognised the independence of Finland by promising to take the decision to be ratified by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Russian Workers’ and Military Councils.

Jan 4, 2025 · On December 6th of that year, Finland declared its independence from the Russian Empire. This significant milestone was recognized by the United States in May 1919, solidifying Finland’s status as an independent nation.

The Grand Duchy of Finland, officially and also translated as the Grand Principality of Finland, [a] was the predecessor state of modern Finland.It existed from 1809 to 1917 as an autonomous state within the Russian Empire. [1]Originating in the 16th century as a titular grand duchy held by the King of Sweden, the country became autonomous after its annexation by Russia in the …

Finnish and Russian representatives signed the Treaty of Dorpat on October 14, 1920, which provided for Russia’s recognition of the independence of Finland. Some 15,000 individuals were killed in political violence between May 1918 and October 1920.

Before independence, Finland was part of Russia as an autonomous Grand Duchy for 108 years. Finland became a Nordic society during 600 years of Swedish rule. This site describes events and notable personalities in the history of independent Finland.