History of Sweden History of Russia
First posted on November 3rd 2006






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For links on general historical dictionaries, go to Historical Dictionary main page

Printed Reference : Historical Dictionaries, Greece

George Maude, Historical Dictionary of Finland, Lanham Md. : Scarecrow 1995


Geographic Names

Fisherman's Peninsula
... see under Rybachi Peninsula

Fiskarhalvön
... see under Rybachi Peninsula

Kalastajasaarento
... see under Rybachi Peninsula

Liinahamari
... a port on the Arctic Ocean. Developed by the Russians during World War I in order to establish communication with her western allies. In 1920 it became a Finnish port; from the German occupation of Norway in April/June 1940 to the German invasion of the USSR in June 1941 all of Finlands imports from the west, most notably petrol, came through Liinahamari, from where they were transported by truck to the rail head at Rovaniemi.

Olavinlinna
... in Swedish : Olofsborg. A fortress erected by Swedish nobleman Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475, on territory then technically Russian; the Treaty of Teusina confirmed it being on Swedish territory. The Treaty of Nystad 1721 left it a Swedish possession; in the Treaty of Åbo Sweden ceded Olavinlinna and environs to Russia. Upon the establishment of the Dynastic Union between the Czardom of all the Russias and the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809, Olavinlinna was reintegrated into Finnish territory.

Olofsborg
... see under Olavinlinna

Pechenga
... see under Petsamo

Petsamo
... in transcribed Russian Pechenga, a strip of land located within Russia on her border to Norway. Traditionally Russian territory, in 1920 the RSFSR ceded it to Finland, giving the latter access to the Arctic Ocean (the port of Liinahamari). In 1921 Nickel deposits were found in the area. In the Treaty of Moscow Finland ceded a small part of the territory, her share of the Rybachi Peninsula, to the USSR; in the Treaty of Paris 1947 Finland ceded the remainder.

Rybachi Peninsula
... in Finnish : Kalastajasaarento, in Swedish : Fiskarhalvön, translated : Fisherman's Peninsula. In 1920 the border between the RSFSR and Finland was delineated on a way leaving the smaller western part of the peninsula on Finnish territory, the larger eastern part on Russian territory. In the Treaty of Moscow March 13th 1940 Finland ceded her share to the USSR.

Viborg
... see under Viipuri

Viipuri
... city located on the Karelian isthmus. In Swedish : Viborg, in transcribed Russian Vyborg. The Swedes erected a castle at Viipuri in 1293; the Treaty of Nöteborg 1323 recognized Viipuri as Swedish territory. In 1721 ceded to Russia; following the establishment of the Dynastic Union of the Czardom of the Russias and the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809, Viipuri was reintegrated into Finland. Ceded to the USSR in the Treaty of Moscow 1940, reannexed by Finland in 1941, de facto Soviet territory since 1944, ceded by Finland in the Treaty of Paris 1947. Part of the RSFSR 1947-1991, of the Russian Federation, Leningrad Oblast, since 1992.


Finland under Swedish Rule (-1809) ..... go to narrative history of Finland 1525-1809

Finnish National Awakening
... a process lead by Finnish intellectuals in which they became aware of their Finnish (as opposed to Swedish) identity, in the 18th century. Leading figures included Daniel Juslenius (1676-1752) and Henrik Gabriel Porthan (1739-1804).

Great Northern War 1700-1721
... When Charles XII. ascended, at the age of 15, to the Swedish throne in 1697, he found Sweden surrounded by countries which wanted to recover territory lost to Sweden earlier - Denmark, Poland, Russia. France also was interested to see Sweden's enemies neutralized by Sweden, so that these powers' armies could not be utilized against France in the War of Spanish Succession 1701-1713. Accounts on the Great Northern War (1700-1721), which faced Sweden against Russia, Poland and Saxony, later also against Prussia and Hannover, focus much on the charismatic person of Charles XII. From a Finnish perspective, the (Russian) Siege and Battle of Narva 1700, the (Russian) construction of St. Petersburg from 1704 onward, the Russian capture of Viipuri in 1710 and the effective Russian control of Finland from 1714 (Battle of Napue) to the end of the war (1721) are the most important events.
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Nöteborg, Treaty of
... see under Treaty of Nöteborg

Nystad, Treaty of
... see under Treaty of Nystad

Peace of ...
... see under Treaty of ..

Plussa, Truce of
... see under Truce of Plussa

Russo-Swedish Wars
... see under Swedish-Russian Wars

Svartholm Fortress
... constructed in Finland in 1746-1766 to protect the harbour of Degerby (Loviisa). Never saw action; an expolsion in 1855 turned it into a ruin..

Sveaborg (Suomenlinna)
... constructed in Finland in 1748-1770 to protect the harbour of Helsinki (Helsingfors). The surrender of the fortress to the Russians in 1808 marked the loss of Finland to Sweden. The now Russian fortress was bombarded by a British fleet during the Crimean War (1855). During World War I it was to protect the approaches to St. Petersburg. Transferred to civilian administration in 1973. Named UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. Swedish-Russian War of 1590-1595
... initiated by Russia which hoped to regain territory conceded to Sweden in the Truce of Plussa 1583. Both sides undertook campaigns into enemy territory, without the armies meeting each other in open battle. The Treaty of Teusina 1595 ended the war, revising the border in Russian favour; Sweden ceded territory in Ingermanland.

Swedish-Russian War of 1656-1658
... A part of the First Northern War 1655-1660, in which Sweden faced a coalition of enemies - Denmark, Poland and Russia. Czar Alexis I. aimed at regaining territory lost to Sweden in the Treaty of Stolbovo. The Russian army initially made progress, but Sweden disembarked reinforcements and regained previously lost territory; the Treaties of Valiesar 1658 and Kardis 1661 confirming the conditions of the Treaty of Stolbovo 1617.

Swedish-Russian War of 1741-1743
... declared by Sweden; militarily won by the Russians, ended by the Treaty of Åbo in 1743. Click here for more information.

Swedish-Russian War of 1788-1790
... declared by Sweden; naval battles (Hogland 1788, a draw; Svensksund I 1789, a Russian victory, Svensksund II 1790, a Swedish victory) were the main events. The failure of the Swedes to disembark her troops (and the policies of Swedish king Gustavus III., cutting into the privileges of nobility) caused the formation of the League of Anjala. The war was ended by the Treaty of Värälä in 1790, without border revisions.
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Teusina, Treaty of
... see under Treaty of Teusina

Treaty of Åbo 1743
... ended the Swedish-Russian War of 1741-1743. Sweden ceded areas east of the Kymi river with the castle of Olofsborg and the towns of Vilmanstrand and Frederikshamn, occasionally referred to as Western Karelia, to Russia.

Treaty of Nöteborg 1323
... in Swedish : Nöteborgfreden, in Finnish .. Pähkinasaaren; Nöteborg is spelled Orekhovo in transcribed Russian. The treaty restored peace between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Novgorod, and defined the border between the two, which ran from a coastal point on the Karelian Isthmus east of Viipuri diagonally in northwestern direction to a point on the northeastern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. It was first violated in 1475, and replaced by the Treaty of Teusina in 1595.

Treaty of Nystad 1721
... in Swedish : Nystadfreden, in Finnish Uudenkaupungin rauha. The treaty ended the Great Northern War (1700-1721); Sweden had to cede Livonia, Estonia, Ingermanland, Ladoga Karelia and the Karelian Isthmus to Russia.

Treaty of Teusina 1595
... in Swedish : Teusinafreden, in Finnish .. Tässinä; Teusina is spelled Tyavsino in transcribed Russian. The treaty restored peace between the Kingdom of Sweden and Russia, and redefined the border between the two, which ran from a coastal point on the Karelian Isthmus east of Viipuri in northerly direction to the Murman Sea. It ended the Swedish-Russian War of 1590 to 1595.

Treaty of Värälä 1790
... ended the Swedish-Russian War of 1788-1790; confirmed the stipulations of the Treaty of Åbo 1743.

Truce of Plussa 1583
... ended the Livonian War (1558-1583), defined borders in the Livonia-Ingermanland region. Valid for three years, it was extended in 1585/86, but permitted to lapse in 1590.

Värälä, Treaty of
... see under Treaty of Värälä


Finland in Dynastic Union with Russia, 1809-1917 ..... go to narrative history of Finland 1809-1864 . 1864-1914 . 1914-1918


1917-1947 ..... go to narrative history of Finland 1914-1918 . 1918-1920 . 1920-1939 . 1939-1945 . 1945-1948

Air War
... Finland primarily was affected by Soviet air raids. During the Winter War the bombing was partly aimed at population centres, partly at harbours and railroad junctions. During the Continuation War the main bombings did take place in February 1944 when series of large scale attacks against Helsinki were intended give emphasis to the recently reiterated Russian demands for return to the 1940 borders and to scare Finland out of the war. The attacks failed, both in destroying Helsinki and forcing the Finns to the negotiation table.

Anglo-French Expeditionary Force
... France and the United Kingdom, since September 1939, were at war with Germany, but took no action, and, on its western front, neither did Germany (Phoney War / Drole de Guerre). When in November 1939 Soviet forces invaded Finland, and Finland surprisingly held ground against the invading forces, vastly superior in numbers and arms, the French and British governments contemplated to send an Anglo-French Expeditionary Force into Finland. In February 1940 French and British officers arrived in Finland to discuss the plan with Finnish authorities. If implemented, it would have resulted in the stationing of Anglo-French forces along the Narvik- Kiruna railroad, and thus would have provided the Allies with the power to deny Germany access to Swedish iron ore. The signing of the Peace of Moscow on March 13th 1940 prevented these plans to be realized; the Anglo-French Expeditionary Force never was formed.

Anti-Comintern Pact
... originally signed by Germany, Japan and Italy in 1937. With the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of 1939 it became temporarily obsolete; on the occasion of the German invasion of the USSR (June 22nd 1941) it was revived, with Finland, Hungary, Spain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Manchukuo, the (pro-Japanese) Nanjing administration and occupied Denmark as additional signatories. With Finland cutting diplomatic relations with Germany on Sept. 4th 1944, from a Finnish perspective, the pact lost validity.

Blockade
... see under War Economy

Continuation War
... in Finnish : Jatkosota, in Swedish : Fortsättningskriget; fought June 1941 to September 1944. Finland, as a German ally, invaded Soviet territory, retook the territory ceded in 1940 and proceeded to occupy further territory (Olonets Karelia, parts of White Karelia). Late During 1942 and -43 the war was more or less static, and - on the Finnish side, conducted with a reduced military force, as the men were needed in the industry. It was resumed with full vigour in June 1944 when the Red Army on Stalin¡¯s order launched a major attack on the Karelian Isthmus with the aim of pushing Finland out of the war. After three months the Russians gave up their aim of occupying Helsinki but Finland nevertheless finally understood that it was time to accept the Russian terms. An armistice, in English called the Moscow Armistice, was signed on September 19th. A peace treaty, basically confirming the armistice terms was finally signed in Paris 1947. (The Paris Peace Treaty)

Finnish People's Republic
... see under Terijoki Government

Finnish-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
... concluded in 1932; cancelled by the USSR on the eve of the Soviet invasion in late Nov. 1939 (Winter War).

Food Rationing
... 1939-1948; see under War Economy

German-Finnish Transit Agreement
... signed in the fall of 1940. Germany had launched the occupation of Denmark and Norway in April 1940. Germany demanded Sweden and Finland to grant her the right of passage for her troops to northern Norway through Swedish respectively Finnish territory; it was granted in both cases. The agreement also permitted the Germans to establish military transit bases in northern Finland.

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
... concluded in on August 23rd 1938. In a secret memorandum attached to the Pact, Germany and the USSR agreed to split amongst themselves the cordon of states between them created after World War I; according to this memorandum, Finland was allocated to the USSR.

The Holocaust
... Finland did not react to German suggestions to intern her Jewish population (of just over 1,000) and to hand them over to German authorities for 'special treatment'. The Finns did not discriminate against their Jewish countrymen, as well as against Jewish refugees who had recently arrived (about 500); At least 8 of the latter have been handed over to German authorities during the war.

League of Nations
... formed in 1920. Finland was not a founder member, but joined on Dec. 16th 1920 and remained member until the dissolution of the League in 1946. In 1921, the status of the Åland Islands being disputed between Sweden and Finland, the League of Nations, called upon as an arbitrator, decided the islands to remain part of Finland but be granted cultural autonomy.

Mannerheim Line
... a military defense line on Finnish territory near the Russo-Finnish border on the Karelian Isthmus. Construction of bunkers had begun in 1921. Named after Field Marshall C.G.E. Mannerheim, it held against Soviet assault during the early phase of the Winter War. Its strength has, during the Winter War, been exaggerated by the propaganda of both sides.

Mobilization of Women into the Workforce
... see under War Economy.

Moscow Armistice
... signed September 19th 1944, it ended the Continuation War. The borders of 1940 were largely restored; in addition Finland had to cede the Petsamo area. Finland had to lease the Porkkala Peninsula (from where the Russians had Helsinki within gunrange) to the USSR for 50 years.

Terijoki Government
... in Finnish : Terijokihallitus; official term used by the government Suomen Kansanvaltainen Tasavalta; in Swedish : Terijokiregeringen / Demokratiska Republiken Finland. In November 1939 Soviet forces occupied the Finnish town of Terijoki (presently Zelenogorsk). Here they proclaimed a Finnish People's Republic, official name Democratic Republic of Finland, and named as their president O.V. Kuusinen, as PM P. Tuominen, the latter at that time in Stockholm - from where he denounced the invasion. The official Soviet position was that the USSR was not at war with Finland, that it merely supported the Terijoki Government. This fiction, however, was given up around late January 1940.

Treaty of Moscow
... signed March 13th 1940 by representatives of Finland and the USSR; ended the Winter War. Finland had to cede Karelia (i.e. Ladoga Karelia and the Karelian Isthmus, with Viipuri), Salla, Finnish territory on the Rybachi Peninsula and four islands in the Gulf of Finland; it leased the Hanko Peninsula to the USSR for a period of 30 years. The population of the ceded areas was The population was given two weeks to evacuate themselves, their belongings, animals etc. (at minus 30 degrees Celtigrade); an estimated 422,000 did.
Many of them would return when Finland liberated Ladoga Karelia and the Karelian Isthmus in 1941, and had to evacuate again in 1944.

War Economy
... During the Winter War, Finland could get supplies through the Baltic Sea, through Norway-Sweden (the railroad Narvik-Kiruna) and through her northern port of Liinahamari, on the Arctic Sea. In April 1940, Germany launched the invasion of Denmark and Norway; this cut off overseas supplies through Narvik, leaving Liinahamari as the only port connecting Finland with the west. Finland's relations with Britain were good until Finland in June 1941 joined the Anti-Comintern Pact and partook in the invasion of the USSR; from then on Finland, like Germany, found herself under blockade and relied entirely on supplies from/through neutral Sweden and allied Germany.
... Finland fully mobilized her armed forces in November 1939 to September 1944. Women were called up to replace men in the workplace. From 1942 to 1943 the war, from a Finnish perspective, was static and part of the Finnish fighting force was released to return to their jobs, where they were desperately needed; in 1944 they had to take up arms again.
... The war situation resulted in scarcity; materials essential to the war, such as petrol, were not available for civilian use. Scarce necessities such as food (since 1939) were rationed.

Winter War
... in Finnish : Talvisota, in Swedish : Vinterkriget, fought between Finland and the USSR from Nov. 26th 1939 to March 13th 1940. The war began with an unprovoked Soviet invasion. The Soviets established the Terijoki Government (a Finnish People's Republic) and maintained not to be at war with Finland, but merely to assist the Terijoki Government. The Finns, outnumbered and outgunned, managed to hold their ground (the Mannerheim Line) and, applying the Motti Tactics, to achieve successes by isolating and eliminating six Soviet divisions. Over time, the Red Army ground, notably on the Karelian Isthmus where it reached the outskirts of Viipuri. In March 1940, aware of her military weakness and the political situation, the Finnish government concluded the Treaty of Moscow, in which she had to agree to the cession of territory. During the war, Finland lost 22,830 dead and 43,557 wounded. Soviet casualties are estimated between 120,000 and 170,000 dead.

Åland Treaty, Motti Tactics, Rapid Emergency Resettlement Act, Karelians, Soviet Karelia, Peace Treaty (1947)


1947-1991 ..... go to narrative history of Finland 1945-1948 . 1948-1969 . 1969-1990 .

Finlandization, Olympic Games 1952, CSCE Conference, Helsinki Conference, EFTA, Finnish Academy of Sciences
since 1991 ..... go to narrative history of Finland since 1991

EU, EURO







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