The Finnish military leader and statesman Baron Carl Gustav Emil von Mannerheim (1867-1951) was the father of modern Finland.

Carl Gustav von Mannerheim was born on June 4, 1867, near Turku of a prominent family. He received his early military training in imperial Russia and early showed courage and adaptability to the vigorous life. He explored Central Africa, served in the Russo-Japanese War, and was commander of Russia's VI Cavalry Corps on the Romanian front in World War I. With Russia's collapse he returned to a Finland in turmoil.

On Jan. 4, 1918, the president of the Finnish Senate had received from the Soviets recognition of Finnish independence in a document signed by Stalin, Trotsky, and Lenin. On January 28, however, the Red Guards, dominated by Finnish left-wing Social Democrats, seized power in most of the major cities. Members of the government, the Whites, made up of leading members of the government and...