Battle of Varkaus

Overview

Battle of Varkaus was a battle of the 1918 Finnish Civil War, fought 19–21 February between the Finnish Whites and the Finnish Reds in Varkaus, Leppävirta. The victory was important for the Whites, giving them control of all of Northern Finland. The battle is best known for the bloody Lottery of Huruslahti held afterwards, where the Whites executed up to 180 Reds who had surrendered.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Varkaus, fought 19–21 February 1918 in Varkaus, Leppävirta, delivered the Finnish Whites a strategically significant victory during the Finnish Civil War. By securing Varkaus, the Whites gained control of all of Northern Finland, consolidating their hold on that region and denying the Reds a foothold there. The battle is also remembered for the Lottery of Huruslahti, carried out in its immediate aftermath, in which the Whites executed up to 180 surrendered Red prisoners. That event became one of the more documented atrocities of the civil war's violent conclusion phase, shaping how the battle has been historically assessed beyond its operational outcome.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (1)