Finnish

(index me)

Noun

metsäkaartilainen

1. (during the Finnish Civil War in 1918) A Red who hid himself/herself in the forest (literally: a member of the "Woods Guard").
2. (during the Continuation War in 1941—1944) A deserter who hid himself in the forest (literally: a member of the "Woods Guard").

Usage notes

• The term originated in the Finnish Civil War, after which hudreds of Reds hid themselves in the forests in order to avoid being prosecuted for war crimes. The term is used also when referring to the Finnish deserters in the Continuation War, who also hid themselves in the forest — for the same purpose.

Declension

Synonyms

• (a Red during the Civil War; a deserter during the Continuation War): käpykaartilainen

See also

• metsäkaarti
• käpykaarti