 | |
 Germany |  Finland |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Germany, Helsinki | Embassy of Finland, Berlin |
Finland–Germany relations are thebilateral relations between theFinland andGermany. Both countries are part of theEuropean Union, are signatories of theSchengen Agreement, and are members of theeurozone andNATO. Germany fully supported Finland's application to joinNATO, which resulted in membership on 4 April 2023.[1]
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The interaction between Finns and Germans can be traced back to theViking Age, as Viking swords manufactured in theCarolingian Empire have been discovered in Finland.[2]
The authority of theKingdom of Sweden became established in Finland from the 12th century onward. Sweden founded Swedishprovinces in the Finnish territories. At that time, Finland was not known as a distinct concept but rather referred to as the Eastern Land of the Swedish Realm.[3]
During the Swedish rule, chartered towns with the right to engage in international trade were established in Finland.Turku andVyborg became major commercial centers. German merchants settled in both cities, where they rose to prominence as leadingburghers, becoming the most influential traders in Finland’s largest urban centers.[3]
Relations between Finland and theHoly Roman Empire were close. Finland’s trade was oriented toward the cities of the Empire and theHanseatic League. Members of theFinnish nobility and clergy pursued studies at German universities.[3]
Sweden,Norway, andDenmark formed theKalmar Union in 1397 as a counterbalance to the growing economic power of the Hanseatic League. The purpose of the Union was to promote internal markets and strengthen mutual security cooperation among theNordic kingdoms.[3]
The Kalmar Union collapsed due to internal power struggles and was dissolved whenGustav Vasa ascended the Swedish throne. Sweden subsequently founded the city ofHelsinki, intended to compete withTallinn, a member city of the Hanseatic League.[3]
Vyborg evolved into the most German-influenced city in Finland. It has been characterized as architecturally reminiscent ofLübeck, reflecting the significant role played by trade families of German origin in the city’s development.[4]
In the 17th century, Sweden launched wars along the southern coast of theBaltic Sea, conquering several German cities and territories. Finnish soldiers, known as “hakkapeliittas,” took part in these Swedish campaigns.[5][6]
Throughout the 18th century, Germany remained an important trading partner for Finland, continuing a centuries-long cooperation within the Baltic region.[3]
Sweden lost Finland during theFinnish War of 1808–1809. The conflict was connected to theNapoleonic Wars. Sweden refused to join theContinental System against theUnited Kingdom, which ledFrance,Denmark-Norway, and theRussian Empire to declare war on Sweden. As a result, Sweden found itself engaged in a two-front war.[4]
In 1809, EmperorAlexander I of Russia transformed Finland into anautonomous Grand Duchy. Thereafter, Finland’s trade expanded both toward Russia and Britain.[4]
Germany retained its prominent position among the Finnish educated classes and intelligentsia. Finns continued to seek scientific, artistic, and cultural instruction from Germany.Johan Vilhelm Snellman, the national philosopher of Finland, became acquainted with German philosophy at theUniversity of Berlin (Humboldt University) during the years 1840–1841.[4][7][8]
German culture had a significant influence on Finland during the 19th century, particularly in the areas of urban life and education. Helsinki’s elevation to the status of Finland’s capital in 1812 brought with it a German-speaking population that played a central role in the city’s development.Carl Ludvig Engel was the main architect in Finland. The German language was, after Swedish and Russian, among the most important minority languages, and families of German origin held leading positions in commerce, education, and cultural institutions both inHelsinki and inVyborg. German influences were also evident in literature,Romanticism, and the formation of national consciousness, although toward the end of the 19th century the role of the German language diminished in administration and education.[9][10]
German cultural impact extended into literature, Romanticism, and the shaping of nationalist ideas. However, towards the late 19th century, the status of the German language diminished in both administration and education asFinnish nationalism and theFinnish language rose in prominence. German influences were part of a broader European cultural exchange that contributed to Finnish national identity and culture during the 19th century.[11][12]
Specifically, German influence was strong in music and academia; prominent Finnish musicians studied in Germany, adopting German musical styles and educational models which shaped the Finnish music scene and institutions. Individuals such asFredrik Pacius and Richard Faltin were key advocates of German culture in Finland, influencing academic and musical developments. German was also the main foreign language studied, and many guest lecturers at theImperial Alexander University came from Germany, a leader in philosophy, human sciences, and natural sciences at the time.[13][10]
In Finland, German immigrants settled in the country. Among them wasHeinrich Georg Franz Stockmann, who founded theStockmann department store in 1862.[14]
TheFirst World War began in 1914. The Grand Duchy of Finland, which was part of the Russian Empire, was allied with theUnited Kingdom andFrance, forming part of theAllies of World War I. The German Empire,Austria-Hungary, andItaly belonged to theCentral Powers.[3]
Russia feared that German forces might attempt a landing on the Finnish coast. Fortification work was initiated along the Finnish shoreline, but the events of the First World War did not extend to Finland itself.[15]
In the midst of the war, in 1917, Russia experienced major strikes, mass demonstrations, and widespread unrest. EmperorNicholas II of Russia decided to abdicate as a result of theFebruary Revolution. The Russian Empire collapsed, and a bourgeoisRussian Republic was established in its place. TheCommunist Revolution began in October, overthrowing the republic and giving rise toSoviet Russia. Finland declared itself independent in December 1917.[3]
Relations between both nations began after theGerman Empire recognised the newly independent Finnish state on January 4, 1918. In the ensuingFinnish Civil War, Germany played a prominent role siding with theWhite Army and trainingFinnish Jägers.[16]In one of the decisive battles of the war, German troops tookHelsinki in April 1918.[17]
After the Finnish Civil War, a treaty was concluded between Finland and the Germany Empire that granted significant economic advantages to Germany. The Finnish White government initiated theFinnish Kingdom project. The Finnish Parliament electedPrince Frederick Charles of Hesse, the brother-in-law of GermanEmperor Wilhelm II, as Crown Prince and futureKing of Finland. Prince Frederick was on his way to Finland when he learned, while inEstonia, that the German Empire had been overthrown. As a result, he turned back and never arrived in Finland. Finland became arepublic in 1919.[3][18]
Finland’s trade with theWeimar Republic in the 1920s was a significant part of Finland’s foreign commerce. The Weimar Republic was Germany’s form of government from 1919 to 1933, and Finland’s trade relations with Germany became especially important after trade between Finland and Russia nearly came to a halt. During the 1920s, Finland imported grain primarily from Russia and Germany, and the major export goods were wood-processing products, which made up about 90% of exports in the 1920s. Thus, forestry industry exports to Germany were substantial.[19][20]
During World War II, the secret protocol inMolotov–Ribbentrop pact enabled theWinter War (1939–40), aSoviet attack on Finland. Finland andNazi Germany were "co-belligerents" against Soviet Union during theContinuation War (1941–44), but a separate peace with Soviet Union led to the Finnish-GermanLapland War (1944–45).
Germany was divided after theSecond World War intoWest Germany andEast Germany. West Germany joined theEEC andNATO, becoming part of theWestern bloc, whereasEast Germany became a member of theCouncil for Mutual Economic Assistance and theWarsaw Pact, forming part of theEastern bloc.[3]
After the Second World War, Finland continued its policy ofneutrality, which it had pursued since 1935. During the Cold War, Finland’s social system was based on democracy and a market economy.[3]
Finland recognised both theFederal Republic of Germany and theGerman Democratic Republic (West and East Germany) in 1972 and it established diplomatic relations with East Germany in July 1972 and with West Germany in January 1973.[21] The two Germanys were reunified in 1990, giving rise to present-day Germany.[3]
The EEC Free Trade Agreement of Finland, concluded in 1973 and entering into force at the beginning of 1974, increased trade between Finland and theEuropean Economic Community (including West Germany). On the basis of the agreement, the gradual abolition of most tariffs on industrial products by the end of 1977 improved Finland’s access to Western European markets, which boosted trade and investment opportunities with West Germany. This agreement was a significant part of Finland’s Western integration, strengthening trade relations with West Germany without EEC membership. It had a positive impact on the growth of Finland’s foreign trade volume toward Western European countries and increased direct investment in Finland from Western Europe. The agreement did not cover agricultural products, but it was a significant step in strengthening Finland’s economic ties with the West in the 1970s.[22][23][24]
Finland became a member of theEuropean Union in 1995 and joined theEurozone with Germany in 1999. Finland’s decision to join the EU strengthened the relations between Finland and Germany. In July 2022, Germany fully approved Finland's application forNATO membership.[3][25]
Traditionally, Finland’s principal export articles to Germany have included forest industry products - paper, cardboard, and pulp - alongside telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, and iron and steel. The most significant import items have been motor vehicles as well as machinery and equipment.[26]
Approximately 400 Finnish companies operate subsidiaries or branch offices in Germany. Traditional players includeNokia,Wärtsilä,Kone,Stora Enso,UPM Kymmene, andOutokumpu. The most relevant sectors for Finland in Germany are IT and digitalization, bioeconomy, and environmental technology markets. German ports play a central role in transit traffic passing through Finland. Access to the German market is challenging, yet success in Germany serves as a guarantee of quality and expertise. Furthermore, cooperation as a partner or subcontractor to a German company offers entry into global corporate networks.[26]
About 350 German parent companies maintain subsidiaries in Finland, mainly in the pharmaceutical and logistics sectors. The most significant German enterprises and employers includeMeyer Werft,Bayer, andLidl. The German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (DFHK) based in Helsinki is the largest bilateral chamber of commerce operating in Finland.[26]
Finland also has a consulate general inHamburg, two honorary consulates general inDüsseldorf andMunich.
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