Carl Gustaf Mannerheim was a popular Finnish military leader and politician. He defended Finland against the Soviet forces during the Second World War and later served as the country’s president. He had also served as the cavalry commander of the Guards Cavalry Brigade in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. He was awarded the Sword of St. George, one of the highest honors of Imperial Russia. He became the leader of Finnish government forces in the civil war of 1918, and then the commander-in-chief during the Second World War. He sought a close alliance with the west and was completely against German National Socialism and Soviet Communism. He was given the title of “Marshal of Finland,” becoming the only person to receive the title. A short political career followed his impressive stint as a military man. His tenure as the president of Finland, although short-lived, has been credited as one of his major achievements. Mannerheim remains one of the most important statesmen in Finland's history. His life has fascinated many generations of Finns. There have been over 300 books about him published in Finland and elsewhere. His residence in Helsinki has been a museum for over 60 years and is a popular tourist attraction to date.