Marshal Mannerheim and Poland

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Carl Gustav von Mannerheim (1867-1951), the Marshal of Finland and the leader of this country during planet War II – an exhibition was organized in Warsaw, the authors of which were Anna and Jukki Soisalon-Soininen. I had the pleasance of having any conversations with Mrs Anna (she is Polish) and erstwhile with Mr Jukki.

The exhibition is simply a kind of possum of this climbing book (first published in 2020 in Finnish), which is on the 1 hand a collection of texts talking about Mannerheim's relationships with Poland, on the another hand an album of truly unique photographs and reproductions of priceless documents, including letters he directed to his Polish friends as well as letters to him. During his 7 years in Poland, first as a lower-ranking officer in the garrison in Kalisz (1889–1891) and then as a side officer of Tsar Mikołaj II in the Kingdom of Poland (1909–1914), he established very close contacts with Polish aristocracy, families of Potocks, Zamoyski, Branicki, Lubomirski. Everything indicates that his large love (or platonic) was the Duchess Maria Lubomirska, wife of Zdzisław Lubomirski. It is worth quoting the full text here Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoronski:

"Carl Gustav Mannerheim spent 7 years in Poland, which allowed him to learn about our culture. As he wrote, it was the most pleasant time in his life, he made the most beautiful acquaintances and friendships that survived the test of time. I have my cognition of the marshal from historical sources, of course, but I know quite a few curiosities and memories from household messages. relationship with the Dukes of Lubomirski was most likely established at 1 of the meetings of Polish landowners attended by Mannerheim, possibly besides in the Hunting Club, or possibly in Lubomirski goods. Suffice to say that in the palaces of my ancestors Mannerheim hosted many times, as Princess Mary wrote.

It was in the Hunting Club that the most crucial officers and members of the Polish aristocracy met, who in future played a key function in the process of regaining independence. During social meetings, the marshals met Prince Zdzisław Lubomirski. There was a relationship between men based on deep same - respect. The Marshal observed how his uncle was coping during his office at the most crucial time at that time to the Regency Council. Later, erstwhile the same tasks were put before Mannerheim, he could trust on the experience of Prince Regent in creating and organizing a fresh administration, institutions and another essential structures for the state to operate smoothly. These experiences made the relation between men even closer.

According to household messages, during planet War II, erstwhile my uncle was sent to prison in Pawiak, Mannerheim immediately intervened to release the prince. He's most likely the reason he got fired after 2 months. He besides engaged to free my grandparents, and many of the another aristocratic families with whom he had a closer relationship.

In turn, my great-grandfather, the owner of the property in Kruszyn, led a horse breeding race in the home of Spectators. Marshal Mannerheim has repeatedly participated in hunts taking place in Poland, for example, in Spala and visited studs of Polish landowners. possibly he besides hosted the Spectators. In my household collections there is simply a photograph of the marshal with a hand-made dedication in French, which proves the intimacy between him and my great-grandfather. In addition, it dates back to 27 December 1919 and the town of Lausanne.

From my father's communicative I know that Mannerheim and my great-grandfather met many times in Switzerland. The Marshal of Finland drew political attention there. On the 1 hand, Lubomirski negotiated the inclusion of Gdańsk and Silesia in Poland and convinced the king of Spain, on the another hand, to do so for business purposes in Switzerland. He frequently supported Mannerheim in this very hard period for him, both on political and financial issues.

I besides cannot overlook the past of the acquaintance of Princess Maria Lubomirska, the wife of my great-grandfather, with the marshal. He was so stuck in the memory of the Duchess: “The encounter with him had something refreshing..., struck his loyalty to a warrior knight, besides felt in the ballroom.” On the another hand, Marshal Mannerheim shared with Princess Maria his profoundly hidden views and concerns about the situation on the front. In 1 letter he wrote: “I am ashamed of my profession. I am ashamed to admit that the only consequence of this year's run was the demolition and misery of 2 countries: Poland and Galicia. The harm will last at least 1 generation."

The marshal kept in contact with his household for the remainder of his life. He left his heart in Poland. It is besides worth to say that among the memorabilia in the book is simply a scan of Mannerheim's business card, which he gave in Paris in 1919. Roman Dmowski (from the Roman Dmowski National Foundation collections). Finally, 1 comment – authors of the book effort to demonstrate, a bit by force, the proximity of 2 characters, that is, Mannerheim and Piłsudski. This is simply a incorrect lead – the 2 shared almost everything, especially the attitude towards Russia, due to the fact that despite the trend in this book – Mannerheim was not a rusophobe, but an anti-bolshevik. Unlike Piłsudski, he besides saw the issue of white Russia he wanted to help. Just read his dramatic letter to the Social Democratic Prime Minister of Finland of 28 October 1919"

“Mr President, [...] The improvement of events seemingly for the last time gives our nation the chance to participate in a decisive fight against the cruelest despot the planet has seen. We can defend our freedom, supply our young republic with a peaceful and successful future and prove Finland's sovereignty to the full world. [...] The full European community is convinced that the destiny of Peter's garden is in Finland's hands. The liberation of Peter's Garden is not only a Finnish-Russian issue, it is simply a common issue of the remainder of the world. [...] If the white troops that are now fighting under Peter’s Garden are broken, the blame will fall on us.” The reasoning was completely different than Piłsudski presented.

Jan Engelgard

Anna and Jukki Soisalon-Soininen, “Mannerheim. Polish Years”. Minsk Land Museum 2023, p. 407.

Think Poland, No. 33-34 (13-20.08.2023)