Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈkɑːɭ ˈɡɵˈstav ˈeːmɪl ˈmanːɛrˈheɪm]; in Russian: Густав Карлович Ма́ннергейм, tr. Gustav Karlovich (lit."Karl's son") Mannerheim; 4 June 1867 – 27 January 1951) was a Finnish military leader and statesman. Mannerheim served as the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Regent of Finland (1918–1919), commander-in-chief of Finland's defence forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and the sixth president of Finland (1944–1946).

Mannerheim was born in the Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire, into a family of Swedish-speaking aristocrats who had settled in Finland in the late 18th century. His paternal German ancestor Marhein had emigrated to Sweden during the 17th century. His maternal ancestry has its roots in Södermanland, Sweden.

Mannerheim made a career in the Imperial Russian Army, rising to the rank of lieutenant general. He also had a prominent place in the ceremonies for Tsar Nicholas II's coronation and later had several private meetings with the Russian Tsar. After the Bolshevik revolution, Finland declared its independence but was soon embroiled in civil war between the pro-Bolshevik "Reds" and the "Whites," who were the troops of the Senate of Finland. Mannerheim was appointed the military chief of the Whites. Twenty years later, when Finland was twice at war with the Soviet Union from late 1939 until September 1944, Mannerheim successfully led the defence of Finland as commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. In 1944, when the prospect of Germany's defeat in World War II became clear, Mannerheim was elected President of Finland and oversaw peace negotiations with the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. (Finland was never at war with the United States.) He resigned the presidency in 1946 and died in 1951.

Mannerheim (family)

Mannerheim is the surname of well-known noble family registered in Finland, Sweden and Germany.

Lineage

Baronial lineage

(number 18 in the register of the Finnish House of Nobility)

The family descends from a German businessman and mill owner, Henrik Marhein (1618–1667), who emigrated to Gävle, Sweden. His son, Augustin Marhein, was raised to the nobility in Sweden in 1693. He was introduced to the Riddarhuset as a member of the Untitled Nobility (adliga ätter), being introduced under number 1260, and with the surname Mannerheim. His son, an artillery colonel and a mill supervisor, Johan Augustin Mannerheim (1706–1778), was raised to the rank of Baron at the same time with his brother in 1768. Johan Augustin was introduced in 1776 under number 277. The family came to Finland in the latter part of 18th century and was immatriculated in Finland in 1818.

Comital lineage

(number 8 in the register of the Finnish House of Nobility)

Baron Carl Erik Mannerheim (1759–1837) was the son of Baron Johan Augustin Mannerheim. Born in Säter, Carl Erik was part of the Anjala League, an opposition movement during the reign of Gustav III of Sweden. However, he received an amnesty and emigrated to Finland, where he purchased Louhisaari Manor in 1795. In 1805, he was elected Chairman of the Finnish Economic Society. At the beginning of Russian rule in Finland, he was chairman of the delegation accounting for matters in Finland to Tsar Alexander I.

Markus Selin

Markus Selin (born 16 March 1960 in Vihti, Finland) is a television and film producer.

Career

Selin's first feature was conceived in the mid-1980s. At a party in Los Angeles he was introduced to fellow Finn Renny Harlin and became good friends with the aspiring director who was then working as a buyer for a Finnish distribution company. The two collaborated on a script about three Americans vacationing in Finland who cross the border into the Soviet Union. They approached Chuck Norris to star and he initially agreed but later had to pull out after the production was delayed due to financing problems. His son Mike Norris took over the lead. Selin and Harlin funded the first part of production themselves and then shopped around with the resulting 20-minute demo reel. Selin was eventually able to secure co-production financing from the U.S. for what became the most expensive film ever produced in Finland. Under the terms of the deal Selin held on to the Finnish distribution rights. However, upon completion in 1986 the film was banned by the Finnish government, fearing that its anti-Soviet slant might damage bilateral relations. Selin and Harlin followed this in 1987 with Wild Force: S.O.P.H.I.A. (a.k.a. I want you to stay) but failed to secure a distributor.