The Red Order of Revolution was issued on 26 January 1918, and a red lantern, a symbolic indicator of the Uprising, was lit in the tower of the Helsinki Workers' Hall. Aaltonen placed the Red power base in Helsinki.

The Red Guards, led by Ali Aaltonen, refused to recognise the Whites Guard's power status, and decided to establish a military authority of their own. The Whites gained weaponry by disarmament of Russian garrisons during 21–28 January, in particular in southern Ostrobothnia. The Senate renamed the White Guards, the Finnish White Army and the White Order to engage was issued, on 25 January. He established a major power base in Vaasa-Seinäjoki area. On 15 January, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, a competent former general of the Imperial Russian Army, was appointed supreme commander of the White Guards. The Svinhufvud Senate and the Parliament decided, on 12 January 1918 to create a 'State power of internal order and discipline', leaning on the White forces. The first local battles were fought during 9–21 January in southern and southeastern Finland, mainly to win the race for weapons and for controlling the Viipuri town. On the right, the vanguard of the conflict was the Jägers who had been moved to Finland by the end of 1917, and the active volunteer White Guards of Viipuri province in the southeastern corner of Finland, southwestern Finland and southern Ostrobothnia. On the left, the vanguard of the war was the active, urban Red Guards from Helsinki, Kotka and Turku they led the rural Reds, and convinced the socialist leaders who wavered between peace and war to support revolution. Both sides justified the acts as defensive measures, particularly to their own supporters. The escalation toward war began in early January 1918, as each military or political act of the Reds or the Whites resulted in a corresponding counteraction by the opponent.

5.4 Battle of Vyborg (24th - 29th April 1918).

5.3 Battle of Lahti (19th April - 1st May 1918).

5.2 Battle of Helsinki (12th - 13th April 1918).

5.1 Battle of Tampere (15th March - 6th April 1918).

The two primary belligerents were the Finnish Whites who fought for democracy albeit in variation but primarily banded as anti-communist forces and the Finnish Reds who represented communism in Finland in whom some wanted independence from Soviet Russia and some who desired autonomy within the Russian Communist State. Following success in Finland, Finnish Whites pushed in Russia to support the White Movement there. The War of Liberty or Finnish War of Liberty was a conflict for the leadership of Finland during the countries transition from a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire to an independent state.

Aoe 3 wars of liberty