Finnish

(index me)

Noun

metsäkaarti

1. (during the Finnish Civil War in 1918) The group of Reds who hid themselves in the forest (literally: the "Woods Guard").
2. (during the Continuation War in 1941—1944) The group of (Finnish) deserters who hid themselves in the forest (literally: 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.

Synonyms

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

See also

• metsäkaartilainen
• käpykaartilainen