In the long river of history, there are always some tough guys with iron bones, who show extraordinary spirit at the most critical moment. Mannerheim, the father of Finland in the midst of the vicissitudes of World War II, was such a ruthless man.
At Hitler's feast, he smoked his cigar and calmly displayed not only his personality, but also a profound judgment of the future situation. Why did he dare to be so calm in front of Hitler?
Mannerheim, born in 1867, spent almost all of his life in the most turbulent decades of modern Europe.
As a young man, he was educated at the Nikolai Cavalry School in St. Petersburg, and later participated in the Russo-Japanese War, where his bravery and courage led him to rise through the ranks and eventually become a colonel.
Even in the context of the collapse of Tsarist Russia and the unpredictable political situation, Mannerheim was able to maintain his conviction and calm.
In 1917, Russia withdrew from World War I, and the veteran returned to Finland, where a new role awaited him - chairman of the military council and commander-in-chief of the Self-Defense Forces.
Finland was at a crossroads of national orientation at that time, and when Mannerheim saw Finland taking sides with Germany and actively participating in the anti-communist movement, he immediately realized that this was the wrong path.
He firmly voiced his opposition, but was ignored by Parliament. In desperation, he resigned and returned to his hometown.
History tends to reward those who have a vision.
Germany was eventually defeated, and Finland's pro-German policy led to the country's troubles. Sure enough, Mannerheim's prophecy came true, and he was brought back to an important position after being ignored.
Mannerheim's vision doesn't stop there. When the 64-year-old returned to politics in 1931, he knew that the Soviet threat was not to be underestimated.
He began to build fortifications along the Finnish border, which became known as the Mannerheim Line. This line of defense not only played a huge role in the Winter War, but also became an important barrier for Finland against Soviet aggression.
Mannerheim's military reforms don't stop there. He promoted the development of the military industry, sent military students, trained pilots, and carried out military reforms.
This series of actions cultivated a powerful army for Finland, so that Finland could compete with the giant Soviet Union in the later Soviet-Finnish war, although it was a small country and a widow. This strong military attitude also earned Finland an international reputation as "indomitable" in World War II.
Mannerheim is best known for a face-to-face meeting with Hitler during World War II.
On that day, in order to win over Finland, Hitler held a grand banquet in an attempt to influence Mannerheim through his oratorical charm. In the face of Hitler's enthusiasm and eloquence, Mannerheim thought otherwise.
At the banquet, Mannerheim took out his cigar and gulped down, ignoring Hitler's speech.
This behavior was undoubtedly extremely disrespectful to Hitler, but Mannerheim's move was actually an expression of his disdain for Hitler and his policies. His attitude stems from his profound understanding and accurate judgment of the international situation.
Mannerheim was well aware that Germany's expansionist policies would eventually lead to a counterattack from the League of Nations, which was an inevitable historical trend.
Mannerheim's foresight and steadfastness made him stand out at Hitler's banquets. Not only did he stand his ground in front of Hitler, but in the days that followed, he made more preparations for the coming storm of war.
His decisions were undoubtedly based on his deep understanding of the nature of war. Mannerheim knows that real war is not only a contest between armies, but also a comprehensive embodiment of economic, technological, international relations and other factors. He not only strengthened military deployment, but also made corresponding adjustments in the political and economic fields to ensure the survival and development of the country in future wars.
This veteran's calmness and wisdom enabled him to make correct judgments and decisions at critical moments in history. His experiences and actions not only bought Finland valuable time for independence and freedom, but also left a deep mark on the development of world history.
Mannerheim's life is the best expression of courage and wisdom. Under his leadership, Finland not only maintained its national independence, but also maintained sufficient calm and rationality in an extremely complex international situation. His story is not just a part of history, but also a revelation to us today that courage and wisdom are equally important in the face of difficulties and challenges. Mannerheim's life is a vivid practice of this concept, and it also makes us understand that in the torrent of history, there are always some characters who can influence the direction of history through their actions.