Russia conquered the Grand Duchy of Finland in order to guard St. Petersburg against attacks from the West across the Baltic Sea. The Finnish nation was formed under the military protection of Imperial Russia. This gave reason for the Russian generals and admirals to feel uncertain about the loyalty of the Finnish subjects of the Tsar. Their precautionary measures provoked antipathy in the border country, and the consequent "Finnish Question" was one of the difficulties contributing to the fall of the Tsarist Empire.

The author has managed to come across evidence which helps throw new light on many aspects of the Finnish-Russian relationship, particularly on the final phases of Imperial domination in the border country. The book is a well-written and readable narrative, based on extensive research in Russian and Western archives. Detailed information on the Russian armed forces is given in footnotes. Special stress is laid on the importance of military factors in the political and national development of the border regions of the Russian Empire.

Auteur(s): Luntinen Pertti
Publié par Helsinki: SKS en 1997
486 pages, Paperback
ISBN 951-710-067-1

Disponibilité : Presque en rupture au magasin