The Battle of Tampere was a crucial engagement in the Finnish Civil War, which erupted shortly after Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917. The conflict saw the Red guards, mostly composed of socialists and workers, opposed by the White forces, which were nationalists and conservatives supported by Germany. Between March and early April, the Red guards fortified the city of Tampere, making it a stronghold amid an attempt to secure control over Finland. The battle was characterized by intense street fighting, artillery bombardments, and heavy casualties. The White forces, under the command of General Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, aimed to capture the city to disrupt the logistical strength of the Red guards. The decisive assault came on April 4 when the White forces launched a coordinated attack that penetrated the defenses of the Red stronghold. By April 6, with the Red forces overwhelmed and retreating, the city fell into White control, marking a tactical defeat for the Red guards. This change of power not only affected Tampere but also had wider implications for the ongoing war, contributing to the eventual defeat of the Red forces and consolidating White authority in Finland. Mannerheim's successful campaign in Tampere further solidified his military reputation and influence in a post-war Finland, shaping the trajectory of the nascent Finnish state.