North Ingria

Kirjasalo was in control of , including five villages that had a total population of around 400 people. The country had its own Protection Corps and local newspaper '' as well as its own military regiment, the , which was composed of 580–1,700 military volunteers, and led by Georg Elfvengren, prior to being sacked and replaced by . Kirjasalo also had its own badge of honor, the Cross of the Ingrian White Wall''. Government The Republic of Kirjasalo had two governments in charge, the ('North Ingrian Caretaker Committee'), which was the executive refugee government established in July 1919 by Ingrian refugees from Bolshevik Russia, and the Caretaker Committee, which was in charge of boosting morale, publishing stamps to raise money, and organizing volunteer regiments, such as the . A local council existed in Kirjasalo, though it was only ever operational for a couple of months. == History ==

Following the October Revolution, and Bolshevik Russian expulsions and mass-mobilizations of Ingrian Finns in Kirjasalo and other locations, and with the Heimosodat (Aunus Expedition), tensions were high in Northern Ingria. On 9 July 1919, the ('North Ingrian Caretaker Committee') was elected as the executive government with Santeri Termonen at its head, and the independence of Kirjasalo was declared in a meeting attended by around 400 people in Rautu. Finland began to supply Kirjasalo with military equipment, and volunteer activists began to train the Ingrian military volunteers. Georg Elfvengren became the leader of the newly organized , leading around 580 men. On 26 July 1919, Elfvengren launched military offensives towards Ylä-Miikkulainen and Lempaala from the Finnish border, capturing multiple villages and locations, eventually reaching Perämäki and Putkelovo on 30 July, killing twenty-five Bolshevik troops in the process. Due to Bolshevik replenishments, Elfvengren's were forced into retreat, retreating until the village of Kirjasalo. Elfvengren's hopes of causing a diplomatic incident and causing a wider rebellion amongst Finns and Ingrian Finns in the area had failed terribly. The Ingrians lost control over the Gruzino railway station, and were forced to retreat back to Kirjasalo. After the Treaty of Tartu, the entirety of Ingria was affirmed to be in the control of Bolshevik Russia, a mourning party was hosted on 5 December 1920. During the farewell party Erik Heinrichs held a speech, after which '''', the anthem of Kirjasalo, and Porilaisten Marssi were sung. The State Flag was saluted and lowered on 6 December 1920, and on the same day the village of Kirjasalo left for Finland. == See also ==