Valkoisten Voitonparaati

Finnish Defense Forces, a position he would resign from 14 days later.^[3][4] It consisted of 12,000 men marching down the streets of the capital.^[5] It is regarded today as a political show of force organized by Mannerheim to strengthen his position vis-à-vis the German troops in the country. The parade played an important role in Mannerheim's later career, as a result of which he became nationally known to the point of becoming the 6th President of Finland in the mid-1940s.^[6] The Whites also organized victory parades in other cities they had occupied during the war. Large parades were also held in Vaasa and Vyborg, both of which Mannerheim attended.^[7]

Pohjoisesplanadi.^[9]

Second World War broke out in 1939. On his 75th birthday in 1942, Mannerheim's birthday (4 June) was declared as Flag Day by the National government, shifting the celebrations from 16 May to 4 June. This declaration was part of the celebrations that also saw the decision to grant Mannerheim the title of Marshal of Finland as well as the visit of German leader Adolf Hitler at Immola Airfield. Today, Flag Day continues to be an official military holiday and is celebrated with parades and award ceremonies. 16 May is informally celebrated by the population as a commemoration of the end of the war while the third Sunday in May is officially recognized as the Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers. This holiday sometimes falls in the same week as 16 May and on that date itself.^{[citation needed}