rage ▁and ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁command ▁a ▁caval ry ▁brig ade . ▁▁ ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁M anner heim ▁served ▁as ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁Gu ards ▁Caval ry ▁Brigade , ▁and ▁fought ▁on ▁the ▁Aust ro - H ung arian ▁and ▁Roman ian ▁front s . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 1 4 , ▁after ▁distingu ishing ▁himself ▁in ▁combat ▁against ▁the ▁Aust ro - H ung arian ▁forces , ▁M anner heim ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁St . ▁George , ▁ 4 th ▁class . ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 5 , ▁M anner heim ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁ 1 2 th ▁Caval ry ▁Division . ▁ ▁M anner heim ▁received ▁leave ▁to ▁visit ▁Finland ▁and ▁St . ▁Petersburg ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁and ▁witness ed ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁the ▁February ▁Revolution . ▁After ▁returning ▁to ▁the ▁front , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁general ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁( the ▁promotion ▁was ▁back dated ▁to ▁February ▁ 1 9 1 5 ), ▁and ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Caval ry ▁Corps ▁in ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 7 . ▁However , ▁M anner heim ▁fell ▁out ▁of ▁favour ▁with ▁the ▁new ▁government , ▁who ▁regarded ▁him ▁as ▁not ▁supporting ▁the ▁revolution , ▁and ▁was ▁rel ieved ▁of ▁his ▁duties . ▁He ▁decided ▁to ▁ret ire ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁Finland . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁ ▁Reg ent ▁of ▁Finland ▁ ▁In