In foreign policy, the Vaasa Senate relied on the German Empire for military and political aid. Their objective was to defeat the Finnish Reds; end the influence of Bolshevist Russia in Finland and expand Finnish territory to East Karelia, a geopolitically significant home to people speaking Finnic languages. The weakness of Russia inspired an idea of Greater Finland among the expansionist factions of both the right and left: the Reds had claims concerning the same areas. General Mannerheim agreed on the need to take over East Karelia and to request German weapons, but opposed actual German intervention in Finland. Mannerheim recognised the Red Guards' lack of combat skill and trusted in the abilities of the German-trained Finnish Jägers. As a former Russian army officer, Mannerheim was well aware of the demoralisation of the Russian army. He co-operated with White-aligned Russian officers in Finland and Russia.The fall of the Russian Empire, the October revolt and Finnish Germanism had placed Gustaf Mannerheim in a controversial position. He opposed the Finnish and Russian Reds, as well as Germany, through alliance with Russian White officers who, in turn, did not support independence of Finland. , , , , , ,
In foreign policy the Vaasa Senate relied on the German Empire for military and political aid Their objective was to defeat the Finnish Reds; end the influence of Bolshevist Russia in Finland and expand Finnish territory to East Karelia a geopolitically significant home to people speaking Finnic languages The weakness of Russia inspired an idea of Greater Finland among the expansionist factions of both the right and left the Reds had claims concerning the same areas General Mannerheim agreed on the need to take over East Karelia and to request German weapons but opposed actual German intervention in Finland Mannerheim recognised the Red Guards' lack of combat skill and trusted in the abilities of the German-trained Finnish Jägers As a former Russian army officer Mannerheim was well aware of the demoralisation of the Russian army He co-operated with White-aligned Russian officers in Finland and RussiaThe fall of the Russian Empire the October revolt and Finnish Germanism had placed Gustaf Mannerheim in a controversial position He opposed the Finnish and Russian Reds as well as Germany through alliance with Russian White officers who in turn did not support independence of Finland      