On 6 December 1917, Finland declared itself an independent republic. The declaration ended the era of the Grand Duchy and began the life of a sovereign nation.
The path to that day ran through revolution in Russia, war in Europe and a delicate political moment that Finland seized with resolve.
The path to independence
Through the 19th century, Finland's autonomy had waxed and waned. Towards the end of the century, Russian governments tried to tighten control and weaken Finnish self-rule, provoking widespread resistance in Finland.
The First World War made the situation more uncertain still. Finland waited, balancing between loyalty and the growing demand for self-determination among European peoples.
The shadow of war
The First World War drew in Russia, Germany and their allies, and Finland, though not a battlefield for most of the war, felt the strain of blockade, scarcity and political tension. Its own armed groups began to form.
The October Revolution
In 1917 revolution overthrew the Russian Emperor, and a new Soviet government came to power. With the imperial tie broken, the question of Finland's future status could no longer be postponed.
In the confusion that followed, the Finnish parliament asserted its authority, and across the country a broad movement favoured full independence. But the matter was urgent and contested, and the country was deeply divided along social and political lines.
The declaration of independence
On 6 December 1917, the Finnish parliament adopted the declaration of independence. It proclaimed that Finland, no longer bound to the Russian Empire, was a free and independent republic.
- The declaration was worded to win recognition from the great powers of Europe.
- Finland sought and soon received recognition from several states.
- The Soviet government, itself newly in power, recognised Finnish independence around the end of December.
The declaration was a landmark. It turned an autonomous grand duchy into a sovereign republic and set Finland on course to conduct its own foreign policy, build its own institutions and shape its own future.
Recognition and the new state
Independent Finland had to be built from the ground up: a constitution, a government, a currency, an army, and relations with the outside world. These tasks fell to the young republic within a tense and divided society.
Finland's new constitution, adopted in 1919, made it a republic with a president, a parliament and a government responsible to it. The foundation of modern Finnish statehood was now irrevocably laid.
Frequently asked questions
When did Finland gain independence?
Finland declared independence on 6 December 1917, and the move was recognised by the new Soviet government and other states soon after.
How did independence come about?
The Russian Revolution of 1917 broke the imperial tie, the Finnish parliament seized the moment and declared independence, and the great powers recognised the new state.
What kind of state was Finland in 1917?
It became a republic, with a constitution adopted in 1919 providing for a president, a parliament and a responsible government.
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