The policy of Russification of Finland, 1899–1917, aimed at the termination of Finland’s autonomy but resulted in fierce Finnish resistance that ultimately led to Finland's declaration of independence in 1917. The russification was suspended and partially reversed 1905–07 and 1914–17 in connection with the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War.
For the Finnish public, the russification is one of the most significant events in their history, second only to the Winter War. For years it determined their understanding of international politics and their relation to international powers and other nations, such as the French, the British, the Scandinavians and, of course, foremost to the Russians. The Finns saw the successful outcome of their struggle as a proof for the efficiency of appeals to the international community and as a support for a legalist understanding of international relations. World War II would lead to profound disappointment in this respect, but the Finnish debate does still emphasize the literal wording of international treaties more than most other peoples seeing references to changed conditions as proof of low moral standards.
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