Åland Offensive facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Åland Offensive
Part of the Finnish War
Date 10–21 March 1809 Location Åland, Finland Result Convention of Åland (See Aftermath)
Belligerents
Sweden	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Georg Carl von Döbeln	Gotthard Johann von Knorring
Strength
6,000 (including many sick soldiers)	17,000
Casualties and losses
1,750 captured (including around 1,150 sick and frostbitten, who were left behind in the retreat)	20–30 killed or wounded

The Åland Offensive was a big attack by the Russian Empire on Sweden in March 1809. It was part of the Finnish War. Russia wanted to force Sweden to join a trade system against Britain called the Continental System. They also wanted Sweden to give up Finland.

The plan was to use the Åland islands as a stepping stone. From there, Russian troops would attack Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The Swedish army, led by Georg Carl von Döbeln, quickly pulled back across the ice. This meant there were only small fights. Even though Sweden lost many soldiers, their main army was saved. Later, a special agreement called the Convention of Åland [sv] ended the Russian attack. It also made them leave the Åland islands.

Why the Åland Offensive Happened

After Russia took control of Finland, the Swedish king Gustav IV Adolf was removed from power. This was done in a sudden change of government called a coup. Russia then planned a huge attack on Sweden itself. Their goal was to force Sweden to agree to peace terms. These terms included joining the Continental System and accepting that Russia would take over Finland.

The Russian emperor, Alexander I of Russia, ordered a three-part attack. One part would go over the ice to Åland and then towards Stockholm. Another would cross the ice of Kvarken. The third would go over the Torne river.

Sweden had just over 6,000 soldiers, including many who were sick. These troops, led by General Georg Carl von Döbeln, were defending Åland. They were also protecting the path to Stockholm. The Russians, under their commander Gotthard Johann von Knorring, had about 17,000 soldiers ready for this attack.

The Attack Begins

The first Russian troops started moving on March 10. They reached Kumlinge by March 13. The next day, Cossacks attacked a Swedish outpost on Vårdö. General Döbeln first wanted to fight the Russians on the islands. But he changed his mind after hearing about the coup in Sweden. The huge difference in troop numbers also played a big part in his decision.

On March 16, after some small fights and talks that didn't work, Döbeln decided to retreat. The Russians were moving across Vårdö and the Föglö islands to surround the Swedes. The Swedish advance group left Eckerö for Stockholm that same day. They took many sick soldiers with them.

The main part of the Swedish army marched out the next day. It was during a snowstorm. Soldiers formed squares to protect their supplies and sick comrades. Many supplies, food, and sick soldiers were left behind because there weren't enough horses. The Russians moved quickly during this time. A cavalry attack by Yakov Kulnev was pushed back by the Swedish rearguard. However, a Swedish battalion of 475 men at Signilskär and 87 other soldiers were cut off. They were forced to surrender. By March 18, most of the Swedish forces reached Grisslehamn on the Swedish mainland. They had marched about 45-50 kilometers.

What Happened Next

The Swedish army managed to avoid being completely destroyed. But it came at a very high cost. About 1,750 men were lost, almost all of them captured. More than 1,100 of these were sick or had frostbite. They were left behind on the islands or during the march. The Russians, however, had very few losses, only about 20-30 killed or wounded.

Because the Swedish army was still a threat, the Russians did not immediately attack Stockholm. Instead, only a small group of cavalry went after the Swedes to show force. Soon, both sides started talking about peace. General von Döbeln asked von Knorring to stop further attacks so the peace talks wouldn't be disturbed.

On March 21, the Convention of Åland [sv] was signed. This agreement was good for Sweden, given the situation. It suddenly ended the Russian attack, even though Emperor Alexander I didn't want it to. It also led to the Russians pulling back from Åland to Finland by March 25. In return, von Döbeln promised not to take the islands back. After more fighting later that summer, the war ended in September with the Treaty of Fredrikshamn. In this treaty, Åland and the rest of Finland were given to the Russian Empire.

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