Historical eventJanuary 261918

Red Guards (Finland)

A group of Red Guards hung a red lantern atop the tower of the Helsinki Workers' House, symbolically marking the start of the Finnish Civil War.

In context

When
Saturday, January 26 1918108 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1910s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1905.

Place: Finland.

Type: paramilitary organization.

What came before

Part of: Finnish People's Delegation and Red Army.

What happened

The Red Guards were the paramilitary units of the labour movement in Finland during the early 1900s. The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland and were one of the main belligerents of the Finnish Civil War in 1918.

January 26 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1918Red Guards (Finland)
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  8. 20152015 Los Llanos Air Base crash
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  10. 2020Sikorsky S-76
  11. 20212021 Indian farmers' Republic Day protest

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Everything we record for 1918 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Red Guards (Finland)”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/red-guards-finland-1918-january-26, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Red Guards (Finland) happen?

January 26 1918 — 108 years ago, on a Saturday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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