As with all photos, this has a story. [Rüdiger von der Goltz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%BCdiger_von_der_Goltz) is probably not one of the most well known military figures, but he and the troops under his command played major roles in forging the modern nations of Finland, Latvia and Lithuania, and also forms an important part of the history of Estonia.
This photo was taken at the Hotel Kämp in Helsinki, Finland, during the German intervention in the [Finnish Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Civil_War). Count von der Goltz used the hotel as his base of operations throughout the campaign. He was in command of the [Ostsee-Division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea_Division) (Baltic Sea Division), a group of about 10,000 troops. This aid would play a decisive role in the victory of the White forces.
Rüdiger von der Goltz would later go on to form and command the [Baltische Landeswehr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltische_Landeswehr), a formation of the Baltic-German nobility that would play a key role in preventing Latvia and Lithuania from falling to pro-Bolshevik forces after the defeat of Germany in World War I. His formation would later overthrow the Latvian government in an attempt to restore German rule, but would be defeated by the Estonians at the Battle of Cēsis.
Although most of the formation would head to Germany after this defeat, some of the remaining forces would aid the Latvian Army until the end of the [Latvian War of Independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_War_of_Independence). Many would be awarded land as a token of gratitude despite the earlier hostilities.
Rüdiger von der Goltz would later go on to loosely participate in anti-Weimar nationalist groups and would [meet again]) with [Carl Gustaf Mannerheim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustaf_Emil_Mannerheim) in Finland in 1938 on the 20th anniversary of the Finnish Civil War. He would die shortly after the end of World War II on the 4th of November, 1946, at the age of 80 years old.
**Edit:**
Here is an alternative version with blonde hair which I cut from the colorization before I posted here:
Fantastic job with the colourisation! Do you mind if I ask why you elected for gray hair/tasche? Did you base that on a documented description of the man or on experience/instinct based on the shading of the original photo? Myself I might have assumed the man was blonde just from the image and assumed german lineage. Thanks!
Hunter9502
Here is the [original photo](https://www.ess.fi/incoming/img2454276/pyc0o9/ALTERNATES/w980/1912355.jpg).
As with all photos, this has a story. [Rüdiger von der Goltz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%BCdiger_von_der_Goltz) is probably not one of the most well known military figures, but he and the troops under his command played major roles in forging the modern nations of Finland, Latvia and Lithuania, and also forms an important part of the history of Estonia.
This photo was taken at the Hotel Kämp in Helsinki, Finland, during the German intervention in the [Finnish Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Civil_War). Count von der Goltz used the hotel as his base of operations throughout the campaign. He was in command of the [Ostsee-Division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Sea_Division) (Baltic Sea Division), a group of about 10,000 troops. This aid would play a decisive role in the victory of the White forces.
Rüdiger von der Goltz would later go on to form and command the [Baltische Landeswehr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltische_Landeswehr), a formation of the Baltic-German nobility that would play a key role in preventing Latvia and Lithuania from falling to pro-Bolshevik forces after the defeat of Germany in World War I. His formation would later overthrow the Latvian government in an attempt to restore German rule, but would be defeated by the Estonians at the Battle of Cēsis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_C%C4%93sis_(1919)
Although most of the formation would head to Germany after this defeat, some of the remaining forces would aid the Latvian Army until the end of the [Latvian War of Independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_War_of_Independence). Many would be awarded land as a token of gratitude despite the earlier hostilities.
Rüdiger von der Goltz would later go on to loosely participate in anti-Weimar nationalist groups and would [meet again]) with [Carl Gustaf Mannerheim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustaf_Emil_Mannerheim) in Finland in 1938 on the 20th anniversary of the Finnish Civil War. He would die shortly after the end of World War II on the 4th of November, 1946, at the age of 80 years old.
**Edit:**
Here is an alternative version with blonde hair which I cut from the colorization before I posted here:
https://i.imgur.com/h4v8Gok.png
iamscrooge
Fantastic job with the colourisation! Do you mind if I ask why you elected for gray hair/tasche? Did you base that on a documented description of the man or on experience/instinct based on the shading of the original photo? Myself I might have assumed the man was blonde just from the image and assumed german lineage. Thanks!