History: World War II Photography, Finnish Defense Forces, Finland

• Autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland
As a result of the so called Finnish War of 1808-1809 Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland in the Russian Empire until Finland's declaration of independence on December 6, 1917. During that period the Finnish army participated in the wars of Russia, such as the Crimean War - during which, in 1855, the French and the English navies attacked Finland - and the First World War.
• Independent Republic of Finland
From 1917 on Finland has been an independent republic. This period started with the Finnish Civil War in 1918, between the reds (communists) and the whites (mixed right wing, liberal and centrist groups allied against the Reds), soon after Finland's declaration of independence. The former were supported by Bolshevik Russia, and the latter by the German Empire. The Whites eventually defeated the Reds.