Homeland trip in Valkeala, German Finland 1918
HOMELAND TOUR IN VALKEALA
GERMAN FINLAND 1918
Niiniranta Activity Center
Leiritie 11, 45370 Valkeala
Guided homeland tour
The tour will introduce you to the sites of the Valkeala cultural and historical route in Valkeala church village, Niinistö and Saarento-Jokela.
Departure by bus at 1:00 PM from Valkeala Niiniranta
You can also board the tour from Valkeala church village in the church parking area
Return to the starting point in Niiniranta
At 2:30 PM lecture The German Baltic Sea Division in the Finnish Civil War 1918
Seppo Hentilä, Professor Emeritus, University of Helsinki
The event ends at approx. 16:00
Register via Kouvola’s online store or to Sanna
Sc. Sanna Paakala tel. 0401483438 or Helena Jetsu
Organized by Valkeala Parish and the City of Kouvola Cultural Services
Coffee and free admission
Seppo Hentilä
Professor Emeritus
University of Helsinki
The participation of a German detachment of approximately 12 000 men, the Baltic Division, in the Finnish Civil War in April-May 1918 accelerated the Whites’ victory. The Germans captured Helsinki and liberated most of southernmost Finland all the way to Lahti. Without German participation, the war would have been longer and bloodier. After the fighting ended, the Germans remained in Finland for another six months to establish their own army for an independent Finland. In August 1918, the parliament elected the German prince Friedrich Karl as king of Finland. Finland was about to become a vassal state of Germany, but it was spared that fate when Germany suffered defeat in World War I in November 1918.
Photo:
General Mannerheim greets a German officer after the victory parade of the White Army
content description: shaking hands on the left is Rüdiger von der Goltz, shaking hands on the right is Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, next to Mannerheim in a top hat is Pehr Evind Svinhufvud