Finland was part of the Russian empire when the first World War started. To secure the capital Helsinki, the Russian army built fortifications and large areas of forest were harvested in Sipoo in front of the fortresses. For this work the Russian empire employed Chinese workers, which unfortunately led to disorder and unrest.
A few soldiers from Sipoo enlisted in the German army and took part in battles on the Eastern front. Fighting in Sipoo started with the Civil War in January 1918. The Finnish Civil War was a part of World War I. The socialist Reds and the non-socialist Whites were guilty of murders and abuse, both in the fighting and in the treatment of prisoners and civilians behind the front. In this case, Sipoo was no exception.