MANNERHEIM | History and his Line

Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim towers over all other characters of the Winter War, and of Finnish history in general. This video is a brief introduction to one of the great leaders of the 20th Century (and according to a TV poll in 2004, the greatest Finn of all time). Full script is available as captions/subtitles, and the source I used for this video is -

Trotter, W. The Winter War: The Russo-Finnish War of 1939-40. Aurum Press Ltd, 2003.

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[Perkelenaattori]

My favorite story of Mannerheim is when Hitlers plane landed when Adolf came to visit him on his birthday, Mannerheims aide asked the Field Marshal if they should run towards Adolf and he just answered "Let the corporals do the running" as Adolf was running towards them.

[EdMcF]

Two anecdotes about Mannerheim that I have read. 1. in the Winter War, a German military attaché, a Colonel, was having dinner (Germany being pacted with the Soviets at this point) and was rather sneering towards Finland. Towards the end of the meal, he asked Mannerheim if he would mind if the Colonel smoked whilst he was still eating. Mannerheim replied that he didn't know as no one had ever tried it. The Colonel did not light up. 2. During the Continuation War as Germany was losing WW2, he had a conference with Hitler as he sought to extricate Finland from the war. Mannerheim lit a cigar knowing Hitler hated smoking, and by Hitler's passive reaction to smoking in his presence deduced that Hitler knew he was in a weak position. Tidbit: From that meeting, secretly recorded by Finnish intelligence, the voice of Hitler in 'normal' conversation was recorded, and this recording was used by Bruno Ganz to get Hitler's voice right for Downfall.

[michaely]

Mannerheim is a relic of the old european officer class which was flexible in the sides they fought for, but they were concerned to be fighting for honour. Mannerheim was criticised in WW2 that "his decisions were made to how they would be viewed in the future" which is a lesson all other sides could have followed in WW2.

[ernestasmedonas]

Mannerheim was great leader !! Someone like him was needed in Baltic states in 1940 !!! Now we have to deal with consequences of sovie rule. i am from Lithuania . Thanks Tik !!!! great dokumentories with fresh view!

[MaMa-khxh]

I found one mistake. C.G.E. Mannerheim was Finnish-Swedish not Swedish-Finnish. Finnish-Swedish are Finnish (born and raised in Finland) but their native language is Swedish. Swedish-Finnish are also born in Finland and their native language is Finnish but they live in Sweden. Just to clarify that he was native Finnish.

[Alexandros.Mograine]

I'd say mannerheim is probably the greatest person in Finnish history, because without him our history could be very different.

[DavidJGillCA]

Another fascinating and heroic figure in Finland's history from this same period is Risto Ryto. Ryti was a lawyer, central banker, technocrat and a dedicated public servant and Finland's prime minister when the Winter War broke out in 1939. Finland's then President Kyosti Kallio suffered a stroke in late 1940 and the country's leaders made Ryti the nation's president. President Kallio's departure from office became another small national tragedy amid the larger tragedy of the Winter War when he suffered a heart attack and died as Mannerheim and President Ryti accompanied him at a farewell ceremony in his honor at Helsinki's train station while the band played Porilaisten marssi.
Ryti collaborated with Mannerheim on an agreement with Germany to gain Finland the military assistance it so desperately needed. One might say that hey tricked the Germans into accepting President's Ryti's personal assurance of the terms of cooperation, an agreement that had no force without the approval of Finland's Senate. Thereby, Ryti's resignation was conceived before the fact to be tendered at the moment Finland had what it needed from Germany and Ryti would take the fall for collaboration with Nazi's leaving Finland's heroic national savior, Marshall of Finland, CGE Mannerheim untarnished by association with Hitler. In the ultimate act of a dedicated public servant Ryti knowingly sacrificed himself for his country. There was no justice in the 10-year sentence he received as a collaborator, at Stalin's insistence, and that would destroy him.

[kimanthoni]

When Mannerheim went to the Swedish court as a young general, the Swedish Hovmarshal started to give him instructions about the courts etiquette. Mannerheim interrupted the man and said, that i have socialized in bigger courts, than this. Royal army 5 star general, commander of the Chevalier guard and a side adjutant of Nikolai II. He had personal acces to the ancient Romanov family, when he wished.

[RonidLanis]

Fun fact:
Finnish are trying to do a movie on Mannerheim for many years now and every few years there are some attempts, but he is such a controversial person that no-one knows how to do it without angering someone else.


TIK, If you'll ever be doing anything on leaders / generals from Poland I can help finding / translating sources. (anything on Sosabowski for instance would be great, especially that you already did document on Market Garden).

[davidgifford]

Excellent, Mannerheim deserves more attention, a fascinating character of European history

[sampohonkala]

The reason why he risked his life traveling through Russia during the revolution to reach Finland is that he was a Finn coming home to serve his country.

[petrameyer]

Lessons learned:

Napoleon: Do not attack Russia in the winter!
Germany: Do not attack Russia in the winter!
Russia: Do not attack Finnland in the winter!

[Vulcaani]

Mannerheim didnt earn the name of "bloody baron" in the finnish civil war. He opposed cruelty and bad treatment of red prisoners as it would soil the white cause. After the capturing of Varkaus, the white local leader (named Löfström) ordered a decimation of imprisoned reds and russians without authorisation. This greatly angered Mannerheim and his second man, Ignatius, prompting him to order an investigation. He was called a slaughterer by the reds who lost the war and needed myths of tyrannical enemies.

[timosdinkydetailing]

My favourite story about Mannerheim was from my Grandfather, who fought in the Winter War. He told of a speech that The Marshal made after the war, to a group of Finnish Boy Scouts who had helped in the war effort (my grandfather was also a Scout leader). With his very poor Finnish, Mannerheim wanted to say “Minä kiitän teitä” or “I thank you.” What, unfortunately, came out was “Minä keitän taita” or “I boil lice”

[blakewinter]

Thanks for making this! My great-grandfather fought under Mannerheim 100 years ago in the Finnish war of independence. He was wounded and carried shrapnel in his leg after the war.

[CGGrognard]

Now I know a little more about Mannerheim. Thanks to you TIK, for you're always providing a great story in history that no others are willing to address. Also like that you provide references too.

[protestagain]

Mannerheim is the Nordic region's greatest statesman of all time. He managed a masterpiece to balance between the bark and the wood.

[Dowly]

Good to see you do a video on Mannerheim.

As for the Finno-Russo wars, I'd advice to tread carefully. There aren't that many (if any) good English language books about the two wars. What there is, is often very simplified or uses German and Soviet sources giving the conflicts a very biased look.

[RAPamme-cqnq]

70th anniversary of Mannerheim death. One of the greates man in european history. He was a very humble, true patriot who knew when to step down and when to reappear for the sake of his nation. So rare in his days and so unheard of these days. He is one of my favourite figures in all history of humankind. If I could meet some one from the past, it is quite possible that he would be my choice.

[kevinpaulson]

Outstanding! I had never heard of this guy before and now I want to learn more. Thank you!