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Finland’s way to Independence: 1905-1917
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What was the Jäger Movement in Finland?
It’s 1905. Russia is losing its war against Japan and, within the large Russian Empire, there is growing dissatisfaction with how Tsar Nicholas II is governing. This unrest spreads to Finland, which is part of the Russian Empire as a Grand Duchy. In recent years, Russia has restricted Finland's self-determination, and many Finns are unhappy with the Tsar's leadership. In October, a general strike breaks out in Russia and spreads to Finland.
From October 30 to November 6, all factory, office, school, and railway workers are on strike — Finland is at a standstill. Political reforms are demanded! In the Finnish Parliament - Lantdagen, the people are represented by four estates: nobility, priests, bourgeoisie, and farmers. But, the majority of Finland's population, is not represented by any of these estates and therefore has no say. Working class people and social democrats now demand equal voting rights for all, and the resignation of the Senate.
To avoid a revolution, the Tsar agrees. The estate parliament is abolished and replaced with a single-chamber parliament. Finland becomes the first country in the world to give all women and all men both the right to vote and the right to run for office. All Finns over the age of 24 are allowed to vote in the 1907 parliamentary election. But… in 1908, Tsar Nicholas restarts his Russification of Finland and appoints a new Governor General to Finland to prioritise Russian interests.
In 1910, the Tsar orders that all important laws in Finland be decided by the Russian Parliament — the Duma. And it gets worse for the Finns. In 1912, the Tsar creates a new law allowing Russian officials to work in Finland without even knowing Finnish. Now, important official positions are filled by Russians. The Finns protest, but are powerless.
In 1914, the First World War breaks out. Russia is at war with Germany. The Finns do not have to fight in the Russian army, but are still affected. Under wartime conditions, Russian authorities tighten censorship in Finland and restrict freedom of assembly and expression. Now, those who protest against Russification are arrested and deported.
Many Finns hope that Russia will lose to Germany. A group of Finns known as the The Jäger Movement decides they can no longer tolerate Russian rule. They see armed resistance as the only way to gain freedom. They ask Sweden for help in getting military training, but Sweden, which is neutral, says no. Germany, at war with Russia, eventually agrees to train them.
About 2,000 Finns are secretly trained in Germany and then moved to the Eastern Front to fight against Russia. The “Jägers” will play a significant role in Finland's future, but no one knows that yet. As the First World War drags on, a shortage of goods and food in Russia leads to a revolution in 1917 - the February Revolution. Tsar Nicholas II abdicates and a provisional government takes over. It's a chaotic time.
Who is in power in Finland now? The Social Democrats and the bourgeois parties disagree. The Social Democrats want Finnish independence, but the Russian provisional government opposes it. The bourgeois parties do not want to clash with the Russians. Within a few months, another revolution — the October Revolution — breaks out in Russia.
The Bolsheviks seize power. Now, Finland's government takes action. On December 6, 1917, the Senate declares Finland’s independence. The parliament approves it. Lenin and the Bolsheviks, now in power in Russia, recognise Finland as an independent state on December 31, 1917.
Soon, other countries such as France, Sweden, Germany, and Norway also recognise Finland as independent.