Estonian War of Independence (0)

Estonian War of Independence

During World War I the greatest colonial power in Europe – the Russian Empire – seized to exist. On its ruins the formerly enchained nations founded their own states . Among them was the Estonian Republic , officially declared on February 24, 1918.
When Germany surrendered to the Western Allies on November 11, 1918 a strategic vacuum arose in Eastern Europe. The new rulers of Russia – the Bolsheviks – decided to use it as a proper moment to re- conquer their lost territories. The ultimate goal was international communist revolution and Germany was the first standing on their way.
Thus on November 13, 1918 the Government of Soviet Russia denounced peace with Germany. On November 16 the Commander-in- Chief of the Red Army , Jukums Vacietis, gave orders to start a massive attack on a long front from the Gulf of Finland to the Ukraine . On November 28, two divisions of the Red Army (altogether 12,000 troops) crossed the Estonian border. The War of Independence had begun .
The situation of the Estonian Republic was rather desperate. Organizing of the army had just begun and less than 2,000 men could be sent to the front (without a single cannon). However , the Government headed by Prime Minister Konstantin Päts decided not to give up without a fight . During the first month of war Estonian soldiers were forced to retreat and the Red Army was able to occupy North - and South -Eastern Estonia. The university town of Tartu soon fell to the Red Army and in the beginning of January 1919 the enemy was just 40 kilometers from Tallinn (the capital of Estonia).
At the time when few military units and volunteers of the Defence League showed desperate resistance on the front, intense organizational work took place in the rear . Colonel Johan Laidoner ( since January 1919 Major General) who became Commander-in-Chief on December 23, 1918 was the coordinator and soul of these efforts. By January 5, 1919 14,000 additional men had been mobilized. Estonian forces could now set to counterattack and on the first birthday of the Estonian Republic (February 24, 1919) General Laidoner could report to the Parliament that the enemy had successfully been driven out of Estonian territory.
Though the Red Army was continuously supplemented it could not stop the Estonian armed forces. On counterattack the Estonian army took 6,000 prisoners of war and more than 40 cannons. The successful offensive also greatly helped Estonia’s neighbors – Latvia and Lithuania .
On May 12, 1919 the Estonian army went on a decisive offensive and conquered Pskov on May 25. The ostentatious attack of the Red Army towards the West had failed and Soviet Russia was forced into defensive warfare.
Estonia was not alone in the War of Independence. Great Britain was the first to answer Estonia’s call for help and sent her naval squadron to Tallinn on December 12, 1918. This provided coastal defence until Estonia could build her own navy. The British fleet also brought armament and other military equipment for Estonia. The United States of America helped Estonia with humanitarian aid. The greatest number of volunteers came from Finland that sent 3,500 men to Estonia; smaller units arrived also from Denmark and Sweden .
In turn Estonian helped Latvia in creating her army. In the summer of 1919 two of the three Estonian divisions operated in Northern Latvia, cleaning it from the troops of the Red Army. In June 1919 it lead to an armed conflict with stagnant Baltic Germans who tried to subject Latvia to their power. In the decisive battle under Cesis on June 23 (in Estonian: Võnnu) the Estonian-Latvian forces crushed German resistance. This day is now celebrated as Victory Day in Estonia.
In the summer and fall of 1919 war against Soviet Russia already took place on Russian territory. Only in November when the Red Army had beaten the Russian “Whites”, it could once again press the front over to Estonian territory. The fiercest battles of the War of Independence took place in November and December 1919 on the Narva Front. The Soviet Command sent two armies (altogether 160,000 troops) against Estonia and Estonia answered with the maximum she had – 85,000 men. By the end of 1919 the strength and morale of the Red Army had collapsed and Moscow agreed with armistice. It began on January 3, 1920 that is now celebrated as the Memorial Day of the Fallen.
On February 2, 1920 the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed . Russia declared to give up all claims against Estonia and unconditionally recognized the independence of the Republic of Estonia. The price of victory had been 5,000 Estonian soldiers.