Page "Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim" Paragraph 42

Before the Continuation War, the Germans offered Mannerheim command over German troops in Finland, around 80, 000 men.

Mannerheim declined so as to not tie himself and Finland to Nazi war aims.

Mannerheim kept relations with Adolf Hitler's government as formal as possible and successfully opposed proposals for an alliance.

If Mannerheim had not also firmly refused to let his troops participate in the Siege of Leningrad, they would have ended up becoming an integral part of the siege.