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Mar 7­13:12

In August 1905 the Russian railwayworkers started a nationwide proteststrike against the regim and this strike was the spark which resulted in a landslide of strikes in the Empire which paralyzed Russia. All different oppositional elements in Russia joined the protests which became increasingly violent. The objectives were to change circumstances and the legislation in Russia. This was to be achieved through a legislative peoples representation. The radicalisation of the movement and the fact that the socialdemocrats actually controlled the strikemovement started to worry other bourgeois elements. Quite soon the Tsar had to accept defeat and new principles for the ruling systems in Russia were proclaimed. Civil rights and franchise were increased. The ruler still had extensive powers. Actually one could talk of a compromise between the Tsar and preoppositional non­socialstic elements. These joined together in a new coalition and crushed the labourmovement. The development in Russia went towards a civil war while both partners had armed themselves.

'Bloody Sunday', 22.1.1905

Mar 7­13:15

In october the Russian strikemovement spread to Finland were a generalstrike very soon paralyzed the country. The Finns were more unanimous ­ it was a question of the peoples proteststrike against the Granddutch and his policy of Russification but after a while the rift between the socialists and the non­socialistic elements widened.

Mar 7­13:17

The Finnish politicians weren't satisfied with a promise from the Granddutch but demanded that everything connected with the russification should be withdrawn. As Norway had broken their union with Sweden the same year some Russian liberals became worried that a similar kind o separatism was the motive behind the Finnish demands as well. The Constitutionalist assured that this wasn't the case i Finland.The 30.10.1905 the senate was dissolved and the Generalstrike was proclaimed. Constitutionalists and Socialdemocrats demanded the introduction of universal suffrage but as the labour mowement chose a revolutionary program of action it immediately caused friction to the non­socialists. Finland was paralyzed. AS the policeforces, which had been an instrument of Russification, ceased to exist, voluntary forces with the task to uphold the order were set up. In Finland the strikemovement was mainly directed against the Russification but the socialists also demanded other changes in the society. This widened the rift between socialists ­ non­socialists and it even came to violent clashes between the guard of the both partners.

Mar 2­19:38

Nilolaj and his government overestimated the powers of the protestmovement and decided to accept the Finnish demands.The Granddutch proclaimed the Novembermanifesto which meant that the russificationpolicy ceased to exist and Finland regained its Autonomy.When the protests continued (Viaporirebellion), under the command of some red guards and Russian sailors, it was suppressed by the Finnish authorities.The most important outcome of the Novembermanifesto was the Parliamentary reform of 1906.

Finska partiets kvinnor i Helsingfors i KFUM:s hus på hösten 1906. Museiverkets bildarkiv.

Mar 7­13:23

The Parliamentary reform 1906This represented a major step towards democratization of the Finnish society. The outdated concept of the four estates was replaced with a unicameral Parliament with 200 members elected for 3 years. Suffrage was universal and equal and the minimum voting age was set at 24 years. The elections were secret and proportional (d'Hondt's principles)The outcome of this reform was that Finland developed a modern style partysystem in which the existing parties were joined by the Swedish People's Party and the Agrarian Party.

Mar 8­16:46

THE DIETELECTIONS OF 1907SPP­24FP­59YFP­26Ag­9CWP­2­­­­­­­­­­­SDP­80

The electioncampaignes were dividing and bitter. This revealed the existing socioeconomic rift of the Finnish society.

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Mar 8­16:55

THE SECOND RUSSIFICATION PERIODQuite soon after the Great strike and the Parliamentreform it became obvious that the political shift, which granted the Finnish autonomy, was merely a breathing spell.The global situation had become more favourable for the Russian Empire (treaty with Britain ­ 1907) and the Russian oppositional movements had been suppressed while the Czar had regained his control of the Duma.Russian ruling circles were annoyed over the fact that revolutionaries were finding asylum in free Finland (e.g. Lenin and Stalin met here for the first time).As soon as Nikolai II had regained his confidence the brief era of liberalism was over. As for Finland this meant that the political thaw turned in to a second period of russification.

Mar 8­16:57

In 1908 a decree was announced which said that all matters relating to Finland were to be submitted to the Russian Ministerial Council for examination before beeing referred to the Granddutch. This decree repeaded (slopade) the symbol of a personalunion between Russia and Finland (before this Finland had been represented by a ministerstatesecretary who had personally related Finnish matters to the Granddutch).

1909 ­ 1) Frans A. Seyn was appointed as new generalgovernor. A man of the same kind as Bobrikov.2) Nikolai II issued a number of illegal decrees and edicts, one of which established Finland's participation in Russia's military expenditures on a permanent basis.Finland's strategical importance grew while it was believed Sweden would join the Central Powers in the event of a major War (pro­German monarch).1910 ­

Mar 8­16:59

1910 ­Changed Imperial legislation (a renewing of the Februarymanifesto). All more important laws concerning Finland were to be enacted (antas) by the imperial assembly and the Czar.Finland was entitled to elect deputies to both chambers of the assembly ­ but this was never done, in protest.

Mar 8­16:59

1912 ­Parity act (likställighetslagen); civil rights awarded to russians in Finland. Russians could (and did) man the senate and key state offices. numerous civil servants were ousted and sentenced to prison by Russian courts for violating the provisions of the parity act.

Mar 8­17:00

No dictatorship was instituted, everything was arranged in accordance with the new laws. The Press was more free than during the earlier russification period.A programme for total russification was made up in the beginning of the First World War but it was never carried through in practice due to the War.REACTIONS;The constitutionalists resigned from the Senate in early 1909 and the Old Finns the same autumn.No compliants. This time the Finnish people wasn't divided and the number of activists grew steadily. Also the socialists were more active and established close connections to the revolutionaries in Russia.

Mar 8­17:00

The Finns sought compensation for their political reverses in the area of sports. At the Olympic Games in Stockholm, 1912 Finland was projected on the Worldmap which was important for the national self­esteem.

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Mar 8­17:01

The "Jaeger"­ movement in Helsinki

The 27th Jaeger Battalion Heritage Association honours and upholds the traditions of Jaegermovement during the years 1914­1918.

The Jaeger­movement laid the foundation for Finland's independence. This active resistance movement was constituted at meeting held at the Ostrobotnia student association building in Helsinki on November 20th, 1914.

The impetus was the attempt by the Russian Empire to "Russify" the Grand Duchy af Finland, during the "years af oppression", and to destroy its autonomy. The latter period of "Russification" commenced in 1908 making the future af Finland appear ominous and when the first world war broke out, the common wish was for Russia's defeat. The final impulse to the birth of the Jaeger­movement was given when a new "Russification" programme was published in the Helsinki newspapers on November 17th and 18th, 1914, implementation of which would have meant the end of Finland's autonomy.

The first Finns arrived for military training at Camp Lockstedt in Germany on February 25th, 1915. This marked the start af a three year training period during which the number of Finnish trainees grew to a total of approximately 2000 men, starting from a small group assembled under the pretext of Pfadfinder (Boy Scout) training, and culminating into the formation af the 27th Royal Prussian Jaeger Battalion. This Battalion fought on the German eastem front before returning, as experienced fighters, onboard the s/s Arcturus to Vaasa in Finland, on February 25th, 1918. At the time the Finnish Independence War, which turned into a civil war, had already started.