On the night of 23–24 April, the underground Vyborg White Guard was activated.
The Guard took the artillery fort in the Patterinmäki Hill, but in the morning they had to surrender, as the Whites could not hold the governmental buildings.
The White Army made its first efforts to enter the city on 25–26 April but the Reds managed to push them back.
The Whites had great losses, as they used conscripted units without former combat experience.
Some of the men even had sympathies for the Reds.

The Whites launched their decisive attack on 27 April at 12 noon.
It was preceded by hours of artillery fire, which destroyed the Patterinmäki Fort and the working-class neighbourhood of Kolikkoinmäki.
The conscripts were now mostly replaced by White Guards who had been fighting at the Karelian Front and White Army soldiers from the Savo Front.
On the night of 27–28 April, a group of Reds entered the Vyborg Prison, where leading Whites had been kept for several weeks.
After hours of heavy drinking, they shot more than 30 prisoners.
Among the victims were two members of the Finnish Parliament, Leander Ikonen and Matti Pietinen.

The Whites finally took the city after heavy street fighting on the morning of 29 April.
1,000 Reds managed to break through the siege and headed west but they were soon captured.
500 of them were found shot dead.
Some of the Reds were also evacuated to Saint Petersburg by sea.
On the night of 23–24 April, the underground Vyborg White Guard was activated. The Guard took the artillery fort in the Patterinmäki Hill, but in the morning they had to surrender, as the Whites could not hold the governmental buildings. The White Army made its first efforts to enter the city on 25–26 April but the Reds managed to push them back. The Whites had great losses, as they used conscripted units without former combat experience. Some of the men even had sympathies for the Reds.
The Whites launched their decisive attack on 27 April at 12 noon. It was preceded by hours of artillery fire, which destroyed the Patterinmäki Fort and the working-class neighbourhood of Kolikkoinmäki. The conscripts were now mostly replaced by White Guards who had been fighting at the Karelian Front and White Army soldiers from the Savo Front. On the night of 27–28 April, a group of Reds entered the Vyborg Prison, where leading Whites had been kept for several weeks. After hours of heavy drinking, they shot more than 30 prisoners. Among the victims were two members of the Finnish Parliament, Leander Ikonen and Matti Pietinen.
The Whites finally took the city after heavy street fighting on the morning of 29 April. 1,000 Reds managed to break through the siege and headed west but they were soon captured. 500 of them were found shot dead. Some of the Reds were also evacuated to Saint Petersburg by sea.
Battle of Vyborg