Greatest Finn Ever

Finns have just named Baron Carl Gustav Emil von Mannerheim the greatest Finn of all time. "Marski" was quite an interesting guy, equal parts conservative militarist and welfare-state liberal - a sort of Nordic Bismarck. He served as a general in the czar's army until 1917, when Finland declared its independence. On returning home, Mannerheim defeated the "Reds" in the Finnish Civil War in 1918 and served as interim head of state until 1919. He spent the Twenties helping to found the modern Finnish welfare state, and then, beginning in 1933, served as commander-in-chief of the Finnish military. In the "Winter War" of 1939-1940, Mannerheim defeated the Red Army in battle. After Finland allied itself with Germany in 1941, Mannerheim had to fight the longer "Continuation War" against the USSR, which was lost in 1944. Named to serve as president, Mannerheim signed a peace treaty with the USSR which bound Finland to eject all German troops from its territory. In the "Lapland War," the Finnish army fought fiercely to expel the Germans. Partly by dint of their success, Finland held the distinction of being the only Axis nation to escape occupation by the Allies. Mannerheim resigned the presidency in 1946.