▁van ity . ▁In ▁another ▁tract , ▁however , ▁he ▁war ns ▁rec ruits ▁of ▁the ▁d angers ▁of ▁bar ra cks ▁life . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁October ▁Revolution ▁in ▁Russia , ▁the ▁Finn ish ▁social ists ▁followed ▁Vladimir ▁Len in ' s ▁ur ging ▁and ▁on ▁ 9 ▁November ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁set ▁up ▁a ▁Revolution ary ▁Central ▁Council ▁of ▁Work ers ▁in ▁Hels ink i . ▁In ▁December ▁the ▁center - right ▁coal ition ▁that ▁controlled ▁parliament ▁declared ▁independence . ▁In ▁January ▁the ▁social ists ▁seized ▁control ▁of ▁Hels ink i ▁and ▁announced ▁the ▁Finn ish ▁Social ist ▁Work ers ' ▁Republic . ▁The ▁" White " ▁parliament ary ▁government ▁fled ▁Hels ink i . ▁They ▁named ▁Carl ▁Gust af ▁Emil ▁M anner heim ▁commander ▁in ▁chief , ▁and ▁he ▁quickly ▁took ▁control ▁of ▁central ▁and ▁northern ▁Finland . ▁ ▁M anner heim , ▁from ▁the ▁Swedish - spe aking ▁el ite , ▁formed ▁his ▁high ▁command ▁from ▁ 8 4 ▁volunte ers ▁from ▁the ▁Swedish ▁army , ▁and ▁his ▁officer ▁corps ▁from ▁ 1 , 1 3 0 ▁J äger ▁volunte ers . ▁ ▁Gr ound st ro em ▁returned ▁to ▁Va asa , ▁the ▁temporary ▁capital ▁of ▁Finland ▁in ▁the ▁White ▁region , ▁and ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁February ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant . ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁batt alion ▁commander ▁in ▁the ▁White ▁forces , ▁taking ▁part ▁in ▁batt les ▁in ▁T amp ere