Editing Suomenlinna (section)

=== Finnish ownership ===
[[File:Suomenlinna, punainen leijonalippu, huhtikuu 1918.jpg|alt=|thumb|The red-yellow lion flag of Finland was raised in Suomenlinna in early April 1918 to mark the fortress's capture.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Photographer Wendelin Kaarlo August |title=Suomenlinna (Kustaanmiekka, bastioni Zander), punainen leijonalippu |url=https://www.finna.fi/Record/musketti.M012:HK19780407:201#image |access-date=2020-01-07 |website=www.finna.fi}}</ref>]]
Following the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution]] in 1917, [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Finland declared independence]], but Sveaborg remained under the control of Russian military forces. During the [[Finnish Civil War]], they handed part of it over to the Finnish [[Red Guard]] in March 1918. The [[White Guard (Finland)|Whites]] captured the fortress with the support of German forces in early April. Sveaborg received its current name, ''Suomenlinna'' ("Castle of Finland"), on May 12, 1918, when the red-yellow lion flag{{emdash}}used temporarily as Finland's national flag{{emdash}}was ceremoniously raised on the flagpole of Gustavssvärd, and eight salutes were fired from two Russian field cannons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bastioni Zander |url=https://www.suomenlinna.fi/kavijalle/nahtavyydet/bastioni-zander/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Suomenlinnan viralliset sivut |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Matti Klinge |title=Suomen sinivalkoiset värit, Kansallisten ja muidenkin symbolien vaiheista ja merkityksistä |publisher=Otava |year=1982 |isbn=951-1-06877-6 |pages=34–35}}</ref> The flag-raising ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including members of the Senate, the city council, and several high-ranking military officers. The name change of the fortress was proposed by Senator [[Kyösti Kallio]].<ref>{{Cite book |author=Jarmo Nieminen |title=Santahamina - sinivalkoinen saari |publisher=Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu and Jarmo Nieminen |year=2012 |isbn=978-951-25-2360-3 |pages=68}}</ref>

In 1918 and 1919, the islands housed a large prison camp in the aftermath of the civil war. Of the 10,000 Red Guard prisoners held at the [[Suomenlinna prison camp]], over 1,000 died of hunger and disease. Eighty prisoners were executed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vankileiri 1918 |url=https://www.suomenlinna.fi/linnoitus/suomalainenaika/sotavankileiri-1918/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Suomenlinnan viralliset sivut |language=fi}}</ref> 

After the civil war, the fortress functioned as a Finnish [[garrison]]. A coastal artillery regiment, the Naval Academy, and a base for the mine-sweeping fleet were stationed on the islands. There were small-scale restoration efforts, and interest in the fortress as a tourist destination started to grow. During the [[Winter War]] in 1939–1940, Suomenlinna housed anti-aircraft and artillery units and served as a base for the submarine fleet. During the [[Continuation War]], German military forces were stationed in Suomenlinna. The fortress sustained damage from bombings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Suomalainen varuskunta |url=https://www.suomenlinna.fi/linnoitus/suomalainenaika/suomalainen-varuskunta/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Suomenlinnan viralliset sivut |language=fi}}</ref>

After the war, the Valmet Shipyard at Suomenlinna built [[Barge|barges]] and [[Fishing trawler|trawlers]] as [[War reparations of Finland to the Soviet Union|war reparations]]. It also constructed vessels for the Finnish Navy and Coast Guard, and repaired ships. For the 200th anniversary of the fortress in 1948, the courtyard of Susisaari (Vargö) Castle and Kustaanmiekka (Gustavssvärd) were restored.<ref name=":1" />

No longer very practical as a military base, Suomenlinna was turned over to civilian administration in 1973. An independent government department, the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, was formed to administer the unique complex. At the time there was some debate over its Finnish name, with some suggesting that the old name ''Viapori'' be restored, but the newer name was retained. The presence of the military on the islands has been drastically scaled down in recent decades. The Suomenlinna garrison houses the Naval Academy ({{langx|fi|Merisotakoulu}}) of the [[Finnish Navy]] on ''Pikku Mustasaari''. Suomenlinna still flies the war flag, or the swallow-tailed state [[flag of Finland]].