Murmansk expedition

British, French, and US expedition to northern Russia 1918–19 to protect the Murmansk–Petrograd railway line from Finland which was then an ally of Germany. The expedition was also to occupy part of the Kola peninsula which the Finns were bargaining with the Bolshevik government for.

The regional Soviet authorities cooperated with the Allies in protecting the railway line and the Allies, for their part, undertook not to interfere in the area politically and to provide food for the population. Shortly afterward the Supreme Soviet changed its mind and ordered the local Soviet not to cooperate, but the locals ignored the order. The Allied force moved south in October 1918 and cleared the area of various renegade Finn and Bolshevik groups, eventually reaching Lake Onega in the summer of 1919. By this time the original purpose of the expedition had been achieved, and, the war being over, evacuation was ordered. By the end of 1919 the entire force had been withdrawn.