Karl Fredrik Wilkama

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Karl Fredrik Wilkama (born Karl Fredrik Wilkman) was a Finnish General of the Infantry and the supreme commander of the Finnish Defence Forces. He was born on 27 March 1876 in Helsinki, then part of the Russian Empire, and died on 15 July 1947 in Helsinki.

Career overview:
- He began his military career in the Russian Army in 1899.
- In 1918 he was promoted to General Major and commanded the Finnish Eastern Army during the Finnish Civil War.
- He served as Commander-in-chief of the Finnish Army from 31 May to 13 August 1918, stepping in while Mannerheim was on leave.
- He resigned in June 1919 but was reappointed as Commander-in-chief from 12 September 1919 to 7 August 1924, and was promoted to Lieutenant General on 16 May 1922.
- He had a third term as Commander-in-chief from 2 October 1925 to 22 May 1926.
- He became a General of the Infantry on 16 May 1928.
- In the Winter War and the Continuation War, he served in special positions at the Finnish Headquarters.

Honors:
- He received the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis, 2nd class.

Allegiance:
- He served in the Russian Army from 1899 to 1917, and in the Finnish Army from 1918 to 1944.