Sweden Intervenes in Finland 1917

[DrakonFin]

After the German Ostsee-Division and German-trained Jäeger officers and NCOs had sealed the outcome of of Finnish Civil War after the major White victory at the Battle of Tampere, German influence in Finland was nearly total.

The Finnish government signed a treaty that practically turned Finland into a German puppet (no customs for German good in Finnish markets while Finnish goods would be subjected to German customs, basing rights for German military units and so forth), and was busily turning the country into a Prussian-styled monarchy with Prince of Hessen as the new King of Finland.

Yep. It is kind of ironic how eager the Finnish right was to give away the independence that the nation had just achieved (or was in the process of achieving). But then, when you have always been a part of a bigger empire and have little idea of what independence is... In the light of both Finnish Germanophilia and Russophobia at the time, it is understandable the conservative right thought that it would be much better to be a politically semi-independent, economically dependent German client state than an autonomous part of Russia, especially after the Russian state had been actively stripping away that autonomy as of late.

There is a historical continuum there in the actions of the early 20th century Finnish right and today's pro-NATO Europhiles in making Finland a part of the West no matter what the cost, methinks.

 

[chris N]

It is also the fact that by 1917 the Russian state was imploding and what appeared to be about to replace it was a leftist dictatorship that wouls strip the Grand Duchy of all of its independence.

 

[ingemann]

If Sweden intervene even before Russia leave the war, I'm not sure there's a lot the Entente could do, Sweden is already defacto blockage by the Entente and a invasion is impossible (or at least highly unrealistic). As Sweden could just about feed itself and their agriculture was backward, they could likely survive until the war ended. Especially because they would likely keep the conscription at a relative low point.
So Sweden invade Finland and secure Finnish independence, they will likely push somekind of greater Finland which include Karelia and Murmansk. When Germany make peace with Germany and likely also Finland, the Swedes will likely try to negotiate a separate peace with the Entente as Sweden will see itself as cobelligerent. The Entente will likely not take it. But as Germany break down a year later, Sweden will be the last one at war with the Entente. But as they have only used their troops against the Russians, the Entente may accept a status quo peace.

Sweden gain Aaland, while Finland is a kingdom (under a Bernadotte) and includes Karelia and Murmansk. The Swedish-Finnish relationship will likely be quite good and include a defensive alliance (if Sweden has joined the war, neutrality won't be a choice anymore).

The big consequence will be in the decades afterward. Sweden will be forced to invest heavily into its military, to avoid the threat of Communist revenge. Finland on the other hand avoid its civil war and likely see a much stronger social democratic party in the interbellum. The closer relationship with Sweden likely also mean that Finland see greater economic growth in the periode. At the same time they have to deal with a large Russian minority along the White Sea (through they will likely be happy to not be under USSR). The economic growth will likely mainly happen along the southern and western coastline, where trade with Sweden are easy. Like in real history we will likely see the start of a pan-Nordic custom union.
Another demographic effect is on the Kola Peninsula it was until WWI home to a small Norwegian community and there also existed a Norwegian-Russian pidgin (Russernorsk) which was close to develop into a creole. Both was killed off in the aftermatch of the Russian revolution, where trade with Norway was stopped and later the Norwegians was deported from the Kola Peninsula. With Kola being under Finnish rule and cut off from Russia proper, while transport through Finland being much more expensive than trade with Norway. We will likely see it the Kola Norwegians grow as a group, while Russernorsk may become a true creole language.

Outside Finland and Sweden, the Danes and Norwegians will likely see neutrality as less realistic in the next war and may invest in their military. While in USSR the Finnish control over Vyborg and the western White Sea will be seen as threat by USSR. The Svalbard treaty will likely not happen here thanks to the limit Russian access to Svalbard, instead the Norwegian Claim will likely be recognised at the same time as the Danish claim to East Greenland is recognised by the Permanent Court of International Justice.

 

[chris N]

Sweden's intervention in the war comes after the overthrow of the Provisional government and the rise of the communist. Since it is aimed primarily at preventing a spread of the communist revolution to Finland and the west I would doubt that the western allies would take any action.
I would agree with just about all that You have had to say on the point.

Sweden and Finland would both have to spend a lot more on the military than in OTL. It is possible that the ethnic Germans in Russia might flee to the north especially if the war still ends with an allied victory.

It is quite likely that the alliance might grow to include Estonia and perhaps Latvia.

 

[chris N]

The chaos of the October Revolution in Russia had allowed the Swedish military to push deep into Finland with little resistance from the Russians.The Finnish people were assured by the Swedish government that they would be granted total self rule.
Needless to saw the Germans were puzzled by this move by Sweden.
Some in the German High Command were happy that the Swedish government had made the move. It meant that there would be no need to divert resources from the main war to fight in Finland.
London and Paris were divided on what this meant. The Swedish government assured the British that this action was taken as a result of the Reds taking over in Russia. Since many in the British and French governments were worried about western arms falling into German or other hostile forces this was in a way reassuring.
Sweden had no intention of invading Russia but it was supporting a Greater Finland.

 

[chris N]

With the Chaos in Russia the Swedish Army should be able to establish control of the region. The Reds would be facing a big problem in the fact that they are still at war with the Germans and the whites are beginning to organize to retake the country.
It is probable that with some aid the white forces might capture St Petersburg and the Civil war might go on longer or result in a split Russia. Either way it would work to the Advantage of the Swedish-Finnish Alliance.

 

[mikegold]

The big consequence will be in the decades afterward. Sweden will be forced to invest heavily into its military, to avoid the threat of Communist revenge. Finland on the other hand avoid its civil war and likely see a much stronger social democratic party in the interbellum.

Also, the line from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega, and the White Sea is far more defensible than the OTL Finno-Russian interwar border. The Russians would have a much harder time starting any alt-Winter-War, and even assuming Molotov-Ribbentrop like conditions, may not even try.

 

[chris N]

It is quite likely that the alliance would be joined by Estonia. There is little doubt that the post world war I period would see Sweden spend a lot more on defense than it did in OTL.

 

[chris N]

The Map below is one that I came across. It is for a greater Finland that I doubt could be achieved without some truly chaos taking place in Russia. It also seems to claim a lot of territory that was at one point part of the Swedish Empire in the East. There is some possibility regarding Estonia as they share a number of points in common including language.

 

[chris N]

Swedish and Finnish forces were moving as quickly as possible to occupy
Finland and push what Russian forces existed out of not only the Grand Duchy but out of the territory that would be claimed by the new state.
There were some heated exchanges between the Germans and the Swedish diplomats in both Berlin and Stockholm but there were some in the military high command that thought that the Swedes were actually easing problems for Germany. Germany would not have to divert military resources to Finland .
There was also some discussion in London and Paris as well as Washington. Sweden made it clear that it was liberating Finland and seeking to prevent the Reds from causing problems . There were those in both the British and French Governments that feared with the collapse of the Provisional Government that eventually the Revolution might move to the west

 

[chris N]

It was lucky that the Chaos existed in Russia because it allowed the Swedish Army to occupy Finland without having to fight a lot of major battles. Most of the Russian forces scattered. The German Trained Finnish troops were landed by the Germans and they joined the Swedes in clearing the land of the remaining Russian forces. The March toward the borders of Greater Finland began.
While all this was taking place the Swedish government began the process of setting up the government of the new Kingdom of Finland, A Swed would serve as its Monarch but it would be a Finnish Parliament that ruled the country. Lots of factors had to be nailed down but progress was being made.

 

[chris N]

Swedish and Finnish forces had pushed the border to the maximum. The Swedish Military command would not push over the border to take St Petersburg. They had assured the British government that unless asked by the allies to take the city this was it. The Swedish Army had also reached the limit of its ability. The Finnish Jager battalions that had arrived and been raised had helped a great deal.
Also there just was not that much opposition yet. Still the Swedes had captured a lot of Russian artillery , small arms and even some tanks. Most of the Russian troops had been more than willing to give up their weapons and return to Russia.

 

[chris N]

Sweden had been victorious in the war and it now had a Swed on the throne of the Kingdom of Finland. The new country was quite a bit larger than the old Grand Duchy of Finland . It now also included people speaking both Russian and Norwegian. The Finns at this point would welcome people that might be more able to adopt. Russia was a dangerous place the war between the Central Powers and the Communist were still going on but it was clear that that war might be considerably larger. The Allies had landed troops in a variety of areas of Russia so as to secure arms and other military supplies that had been intended for the Russian Provisional government. British and American troops were at Arkhangelsk and already there had been some clashes with the Red Forces.
The British were of a mind to support the new White Russian Forces that were being raised not to fight the Germans but to take the country back from the Reds. Surprisingly it was not too far a trip to the West and the allies would be in the Kingdom of Finland.
The Swedish government had made it clear that neither Sweden nor the New Kingdom of Finland was at war with the Western allies. They had no desire to get involved in the struggle.

 

[chris N]

It was clear to the Swedish government that the Great War was coming to an end. The Germans were inflicting heavy loses on the Soviets to the point that the Reds were about to cave in and sign the German Peace Treaty. The Swedish and Finnish governments were working out a number of issues. There was a trade and boundary agreement and there was a defense alliance agreement between the two.
Former Russian Lt General Karl Mannheim had become the head of the Finnish Army.
Sweden and Finland were holding secret talks with the Western allies regarding the situtation in Russia.

 

[PoeFacedKilla]

this sucks, i've spent months creating a TL like this;
although sweden remains neutral (until NATO) so i guess it won't be as interesting.

guess ill work on another one (this always happens)

anyway good luck.

 

[chris N]

As 1917 drew to a close and the new year was to start shortly Swedish and Finnish military planners were meeting to discuss a number of issues. They were also secretly meeting with the English. A growing topic of discussion was the City of St Petersburg. The former Russian Imperial capital was in Russia but it was a very unstable place. The Reds grip on it had not been loosen but it would not take much of an effort by an organized military to take it.
There were those in the British government that wanted to strangle the Communist before they took root and became a bigger threat. It was clear that the Germans could with a little more determination take not only the city but the naval installation which was not that far away. Might it be better if the Swedish -Finnish Force took the city.
There was even a proposal to arm the Russian White and help them to take the area.

 

[chris N]

It was clearly in the best interest of the Swedish-Finnish governments that the Reds in Russia not be given a moments peace. Thus a decision was made to supply the White forces with captured Russian arms that were considered to be not worth keeping. Sweden was trying to standardize the military equipment of the Swedish and Finnish militarizes so as to reduce supply problems. Thus all of the captured Russian rifles and machine guns were considered not worth keeping.
Talks with the British and even the French had now reached the point that there appeared to be allied approval to see the Swedish-Finnish Army occupy St Petersburg.

Meanwhile a continued German advance into Russia had finally gotten the Reds to realize that they had better make peace fast befor the Imperial German war machine crushed them.

 

[chris N]

A decision was reached by the Joint Swedish-Finnish Military Command to liberate St Petersburg from Red control. The British had decided not to object to it. Lt General Karl Mannerheim had organized a force of White Russian troops to help in the up coming battle. The White Russian forces totalled between 3-5000 men and they would be supported by a Swedish- Finnish Force of about 24,000.

 

[chris N]

With a secret agreement that the allies would not object to the liberation of St Petersburg the wheels were set in motion and the Swedish-Finnish Army crossed the border. Attached to it was a White Russian Force. Anytime the opposition was too much for the White Russian Legion the Swedish- Finnish force would take over.
The battle for the Imperial Russian Capitla went on for nearly two weeks .
The Swedish- Finnish Army were determined to leave no Red Force in or anywhere near the City. The Coast was not too High but it was clear that the remnants of the Russian Navy manned by the Reds would also need to be eliminated.

 

[chris N]

Created by the Swedish- Finnish Military was the St Petersburg Zone. They had cleared both sides of the Gulf of Finland. But the only reason that it was clear was the military might of Sweden and Finland.