Estonian War of Independence

Estonian War of Independence
Part of Russian Civil War
The Estonian War of Independence
Date 28 November 1918 – 2 February 1920
Location Estonia, Latvia, western Pskov region (Russia), southern Ingria (Russia)
Result Estonian victory
Territorial
changes		 Estonian territory shifted to the Republic of Estonia; northern Latvia and Riga gained by the Republic of Latvia; southern Ingria and western Pskov region moved under Soviet control
Belligerents
 Estonia  Russian SFSR Baltic German.svg Baltische Landeswehr
Commanders and leaders
Estonia Johan Laidoner Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Dmitrij Nadëžnyj Baltic German.svg Rüdiger von der Goltz
Strength
80,000 Estonian Army,[1]
25,650 White Russians[2]
4,000 Finnish soldiers		 160,000[1] 9,500[1]
Casualties and losses
3,600–4,000 dead
14,000 injured
667 captured[1]		 unknown
10,000 captured[3]		 400 killed
1,500 wounded[4]

The Estonian War of Independence (Estonian: Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably Britain, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, against the Soviet Western Front offensive and the offensives of the Baltic nobility-established armies in 1918–1920 in connection with the Russian Civil War. The campaign was the struggle of the Republic of Estonia for sovereignty in the aftermath of World War I. It resulted in a victory for Estonia and was concluded in the Treaty of Tartu.

Contents

Preface

In November 1917, upon the disintegration of the Russian Empire, a diet of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia, the Estonian Provincial Assembly, which had been elected in the spring of that year, proclaimed itself the highest authority in Estonia. Soon thereafter, the Bolsheviks dissolved the Estonian Provincial Assembly and temporarily forced the pro-independence Estonians underground in the capital Tallinn. A few months later, using a moment between the Red Army's retreat and the arrival of the Imperial German Army, the Salvation Committee of the Estonian National Council Maapäev issued the Estonian Declaration of Independence in Tallinn on February 24, 1918[5] and formed the Estonian Provisional Government. This first period of independence was extremely short-lived, as the German troops entered Tallinn on the following day. The German authorities recognized neither the provisional government, nor its claim for Estonia's independence, counting them as a self-styled group usurping sovereign rights of the Baltic nobility.

Course of the war

October Revolution – Southern Front – Eastern Front – Northern Front – Ukraine – Finland – Finnic peoples – Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania – Poland – Georgia – Armenia and Azerbaijan – Left-wing uprisings against the Bolsheviks – Basmachi – Yakutia

After the German Revolution with the capitulation of the Imperial Germany, between 11 and 14 November 1918, the representatives of Germany formally handed over political power to the Estonian Provisional Government. On November 16, the provisional government called for voluntary mobilization and started to organize the Estonian Army, with Konstantin Päts as Minister of War, Major General Andres Larka as the chief of staff, and Major General Aleksander Tõnisson as commander of the Estonian Army, initially consisting of one division.

Soviet westward offensive

Brothers, Hurry to Join the Nation's Army!: Estonian Army Recruiting poster in 1918

On the northern wing of the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919, on 28 November 1918, the 6th Red Rifle Division attacked units of the Estonian Defence League (partly consisting of secondary school pupils) and the German Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 405 at the defence of the border town of Narva, marking the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence. The red rifle division captured the city on 28 November, with their 7,000 infantry, 22 field guns, 111 machine guns, an armored train, 2 armored vehicles, 2 airplanes, and the Bogatyr class cruiser Oleg supported by 2 destroyers. The Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 405 thereafter withdrew westwards. The 2nd Novgorod Division opened the second front south of Lake Peipus where the division had 7000 infantry, 12 field guns, 50 machine guns, 2 armored trains, and 3 armored vehicles. The Estonian military forces at the time were 2000 men with light weapons and about 14,500 poorly armed men in the Estonian Defence League (Home Guard). End of November 1918 saw also the formation of the Baltenregiment, mainly a mounted machine-gun company plus infantry, the principal unit of volunteers belonging to Estonia's Baltic German minority. The Baltenregiment or Balti pataljon in Estonian thus belonged to the first fighting units, always staying loyal to the Estonian authorities, unlike the Landeswehr in Latvia.

The 6th Red Rifle Division captured Narva on 29 November, and the Tapa railway junction on Christmas Eve, and advanced to 34 kilometers from the capital Tallinn. Estonian Bolsheviks declared the Estonian Workers' Commune in Narva. The 49th Red Latvian Rifle Regiment took Valga railway junction on 18 December and Tartu town on Christmas Eve. By the end of the year, the 7th Red Army controlled Estonia along the front line 34 kilometers east of Tallinn, west from Tartu and south of Ainaži.

Colonel Johan Laidoner who was appointed Commander in chief of the Estonian armed forces recruited 600 officers and 11,000 volunteers by 23 December 1918. He reorganized the forces by setting up the 2nd Division in Southern Estonia under the command of Colonel Viktor Puskar, along with commando type units, such as the Tartumaa Partisan Battalion and Kalevi Malev. The national government obtained foreign assistance: on December 5, Finland delivered 5000 rifles and 20 field guns together with ammunition. The Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair arrived off Tallinn on 31 December, delivering 6500 rifles, 200 machine guns and 2 field guns. The squadron captured two Russian destroyers, Spartak and Avtroil, and turned those over to Estonia, which renamed them Vambola and Lennuk. In January 2, Finnish volunteer units with 2000 men arrived in Estonia.[6] Three armored trains were built in Tallinn under the command of Captain Anton Irv.

Liberation of the Estonian territory

The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day in Tallinn on February 24, 1919

By the beginning of 1919 Estonian Army had raised to total 13,000 men, with 5,700 on front facing 8,000 Soviets.[7] The strengthened Estonian Army stopped the 7th Red Army's advance on 2–5 January 1919 and went on the counteroffensive on 7 January. Tapa was liberated two days later with support of armoured trains, followed by Rakvere on 12 January. For capturing Narva, a 1,000 men Finnish-Estonian force was landed at Utria on 17 January, in the rear of the 6th Rifle Division, cutting off retreat for Soviet forces west of them. On 18 January Narva was liberated. Subsequently, the northeastern front stabilized along the Narva river. Within 11 days, the 1st Division had advanced 200 km.[8]

At the southern direction on 14 January Tartu, was liberated with fast strike by armored trains and the Tartumaa Partisan Battalion. The 2nd Division continued to advance southwards facing increasing Soviet resistance. In the Battle of Paju, the Tartumaa Partisan Battalion and the Finnish volunteers drove the Latvian Riflemen out of Valga on 31 January. The 7th Red Army was temporally out of the boundaries of Estonia and the battle front followed the historic Estonian settlement area.[9] In the second half of February, the Estonian southward advance continued by capturing Salacgrīva and Alūksne. The advance was soon stopped by the Soviet buildup for a new offensive into Estonia. On the first Independence Day on 24 February 1919, the pro-independence Estonian forces on the front consisted 19,000 men, 70 field guns, and 230 machine guns. Estonia had become the first country to repel the Soviet westward offensive.[10]

In the second half of February, the red armies started the new Soviet offensive to capture Estonia. For that purpose, the new Estonian Red Army was created. The forces concentrated against Estonia raised up to 80,000 men. In the positions along the Narva River, the Estonian 1st Division and their allied White Russian Northern Corps repelled the 7th Red Army's attacks.[9] The red army heavily bombarded Narva, leaving about 2,000 people homeless while failing to capture the city. The majority of the Soviet forces were concentrated at the southern front. The Estonian Red Army captured the Alūksne, Setomaa, Vastseliina, and Räpina Parishes by 15 March. After receiving reinforcements, the Estonian 2nd Division counterattacked and regained Petseri by 29 March. The Estonian Red Army was pushed behind the Optjok River. On 27 March, the Estonian 3rd Division was formed at the western flank of the southern front under the command of Major-General Ernst Põdder.[11] At Võru, the situation became critical at 22 April when the Estonian Red Army approached to 1.5 km from the town. Heavy fighting continued at the southeastern front up to the first half of May. On 25 April, the Latvian Riflemen captured Rūjiena, but were soon pushed back by the 3rd Division to Salacgrīva-Seda-Gauja line.[12]

Formation of foreign units

Estonian Marines from destroyer Vambola in May 1919

On 5–7 April 1919 Estonian Constituent Assembly was elected. The elections were won by Left and Central parties.[13] The 120 members of the Constituent Assembly met at the opening session on 23 April, and elected the chairman, Social Democrat August Rei. The provisional government retired, and new government headed by Otto Strandman was formed. On 4 June the assembly adopted a temporary Constitution of Estonia.[14] On 10 October The Land Reform Act was passed, which confiscated and redistributed the large Baltic German estates, covering more than half of the territory of Estonia.[15]

Estonia actively helped to organize White Russian, Latvian and Ingrian forces on the territory of the Republic. The White Russian Northern Corps had been organizing in Estonia since December 1918. On 18 February, an agreement was signed between Estonia and Latvia, which allowed formation of the Latvian forces under Estonian command, but using them only on the southern front. The North Latvian Brigade under the command of Jorģis Zemitāns was formed from the citizens of Latvia who had fled to Estonia.[16] In March 1919, an agreement was signed with the Ingrian National People’s Committee for the formation of an Ingrian battalion. By May 1919, there were 6,000 Russians, 4,000 Latvians and 700 Ingrians in their respective national units.[17]

Estonian offensive into Russia

Although the Estonian Army had attained control over the territory of Estonia, their opposite Red Armies were still active, and the Estonian High Command decided to push their defense lines across the border into Russia. On 13 May White Russian Northern Corps went on offensive at Narva, catching Soviets by surprise and destroying the 6th Soviet Division.[18] The offensive was supported along the Gulf of Finland's coast by Estonian navy and marines. With the front approaching, garrison of the Krasnaya Gorka fort mutinied. But 7th Red Army received reinforcements and counterattacked, pushing White Russian forces back, until the front was stabilized with support of the Estonian 1st Division on Luga and Saba rivers.[19]

The offensive of the Estonian Petseri Battle Group began also on 13 May. The operation destroyed the Estonian Red Army, captured Pskov on 25 May and cleared the territory between Estonia and the Velikaya River of the Soviet forces.[9] A few days later White Russian forces arrived to Pskov, but as they were unable to defend the town on their own, some Estonian forces remained in Pskov, while the rest were pulled back to the Estonian border. The White Russian Northern Corps mobilised members of the local population in the Pskov region. On 19 June 1919, the Estonian Commander-in-Chief General Johan Laidoner rescinded his command over the White Russians, and they were renamed the Northwestern Army. Shortly afterwards, General Nikolai N. Yudenich took command of the troops.[18]

Landeswehr war

Estonian soldiers during the Estonian War of Independence

The Landeswehr War broke out on the southern front in Latvia on June 5, 1919. The Latvian democrats led by Kārlis Ulmanis had declared independence like in Estonia, but had been soon pushed by Soviet forces to Liepāja where the German-Latvian forces finally stopped their advance. The Baltic-German forces led by general Rüdiger von der Goltz consisted of the Baltische Landeswehr formed from local Baltic-Germans, and the Iron Division of former Imperial German Army soldiers that volunteered to stay in Latvia motivated by prospects of acquiring properties in the Baltics. This was possible because under the terms of their armistice with the Western Allies, the Germans had been obliged to maintain their armies in the East to counter the Bolshevist threat. The Germans disrupted organization of Latvian national forces, and on 16 April 1919, Ulmanis government was toppled and replaced with the pro-German puppet government of Andrievs Niedra.[20][21] Ulmanis took refuge aboard steamship "Saratow" under Entente protection. The German-Latvian forces pushed Soviets back capturing Riga on 23 May, and continued advance to northwards and demanded that the Estonian Army end the occupation of parts of northern Latvia. The real intent of the Baltic-German army was to annex Estonia into a German-dominated state like the United Baltic Duchy that was proposed in 1918.

On 3 July, General Laidoner issued an ultimatum which demanded that the Baltic-German army must pull back southwards, leaving the broad gauge railway between Ieriķu and Gulbene under Estonian control. When Estonian armoured trains moved out on 5 July to check compliance with the Estonian demand, the Baltic-German army unsuccessfully attacked them.[22] On the next day, the Landeswehr captured Cēsis, Estonian counterattack on 8 June was repelled. First clashes demonstrated that Germans were stronger and better equipped than Soviets. On 10 July, ceasefire was made with Entente meditation. Despite the Entente demand for the Baltic-German army to pull behind the line demanded by Estonians, von der Goltz refused and demanded Estonian withdrawal from Latvia, threatening to continue fighting. On 19 July, fighting resumed with Iron Division assault on positions of the Estonian 3rd Division near Limbaži and Straupe, starting the Battle of Wenden. Intensive German attacks on Estonian positions continued up to 22 July without achieving breakthrough. On 23 July, the Estonian 3rd Division counterattacked recapturing Cēsis. The anniversary of the Battle of Wenden (Võnnu lahing in Estonian) is celebrated in Estonia as the Victory Day.

The Estonian 3rd Division continued their advance towards Riga. On 3 July, when the Estonian forces were at the outskirts of Riga, a ceasefire was made on the demand of the Entente and the Ulmanis government was restored in Riga. German forces were ordered to leave Latvia, the Landeswehr was put under the command of the pro-Entente Latvian Government and sent to fight against the Red Army. However, to circumvent Entente's orders, the troops of the Iron Division, instead of leaving, were incorporated into the West Russian Volunteer Army, officially hired by the puppet Government of Latvia and led by Pavel Bermondt-Avalov.[9] In October, fighting restarted when the West Russian Volunteer Army attacked Riga. Following the Latvian request to help, Estonia sent two armoured trains to aid repelling Bermondt's attack. Estonian army also remained to support the defence of Latvia against Soviets by defending the front north of Lake Lubāns.[23]

Final battles and peace negotiations

The Estonian Army High Command in 1920

Influenced by the success of the Estonian military, Soviet Russia had been attempting to conclude a peace since the spring of 1919. On April 25, 1919, Hungarian Communists offered to mediate a settlement between the Bolsheviks and the Estonians, but Admiral Cowan threatened withdrawal of support to the Estonians unless they rejected the Hungarian offer.[24] The Russians then publicly broached the subject of peace talks in a radio broadcast on the 27th and 28 April. On 5 June Estonian Commune was abolished. A subsequent broadcast by the Russians on July 21 led to the British journalist Arthur Ransome sounding out the Commissar for Foreign Relations Georgy Chicherin on the subject of peace talks. As a result the Soviet government made a formal offer for peace talks on August 31, 1919. The Estonians accepted this offer on September 4 and first talks took place on 16 September. Estonia then proposed to stop negotiations until Latvia, Lithuania and Finland have agreed to participate in joint negotiations.[25]

On autumn 1919, White Russian Northwestern Army decided to make a major effort to capture Petrograd. With the arms provided by Britain and France, and the operational support by the Estonian Army, Estonian Navy, and Royal Navy, the Northwestern Army began the offensive operation White Sword on 28 September 1919.[26] Estonia supported Northwestern Army due demands of Entente.[27] The Estonian forces made joint naval and land attack against Krasnaya Gorka fort, while 2nd Division made several attacks to destroy bridges over Velikaya River and 3rd Division made attacks towards Pytalovo. The Northwestern Army approached to ten miles (16 km) from the Petrograd, but the Red Army repulsed the White Russian troops back into Estonia.[9] Distrustful of the White Russians, the Estonian High Command disarmed and interned the remains of Northwestern Army that retreated behind Estonian lines.[28]

The 7th and 15th Soviet Armies advancing behind collapsing White Russian forces continued to attack fortified positions at the Estonian border near Narva, first clashes took place on Luga River on 16 November, starting the conclusive battles with 120,000 Soviets facing 40,000 Estonians.[3] After repeated attacks on fortified Estonian positions, the 7th Red Army managed to achieve some limited success. At the end of November situation on front calmed as Soviets needed to replenish their forces. For exerting pressure on Estonia in peace talks, intensive Soviet attacks restared on 7 December.[29] On 16 December, the situation became critical as the 15th Red Army crossed the Narva River. On the next day, an Estonian counterattack pushed Soviets back. The Estonian high command actively reinforced the 1st Division at Narva during the battles, sending in the headquarters of the 3rd Division. General Tõnisson became commander of the Viru Front. After suffering 35,000 casualties in heavy battles, the Red Army was completely exhausted by the end of December.[3]

On 19 November new government of Jaan Tõnisson had decided to restart talks with Soviet Russia even without participation of other Baltic States.[30] Negotiations started on 5 December, with main point of dispute being territorial issues. Talks continued through December with both sides pressing their territorial demands while heavy fighting continued at Narva. The peace treaty was finally concluded on 31 December 1919. A ceasefire came into effect on January 3, 1920.[31]

Foreign assistance

Finnish volunteers arrive in Tallinn Estonia in December 1918

Substantial British involvement in the struggle in the Baltic region in 1918-19 as part of the Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War took several forms:

While the British navy provided considerable support, the historian William Fletcher concludes that "the British naval force would have had little effect on the outcome of Baltic affairs had not the Estonians and Latvians provided a vibrant and disciplined land and sea force".[28]

Tartu Peace Treaty

Signatures on the Peace Treaty of Tartu

On February 2, 1920, the Peace Treaty of Tartu was signed by the Republic of Estonia and RSFSR. At this point, the Bolshevist regime had not been recognized by any Western power. The terms of the treaty stated that Russia renounced in perpetuity all rights to the territory of Estonia. The agreed frontier corresponded roughly with the position of the front line at the cessation of hostilities. In particular, Estonia retained a strategic strip to the east of the Narva river (Narvataguse) and Setumaa in the southeast, areas which were lost in early 1945 - shortly after Soviet troops had taken control of Estonia, when Moscow transferred the land East of the Narva River and most of Petseri County to the RSFSR.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Facts about the War of Independence". Tallinn: The Estonian War Museum. http://www.laidoner.ee/projektid/4/. 
  2. ↑ Lieutenant Colonel Jaan Maide (1933). "VI" (in Estonian). Ülevaade Eesti Vabadussõjast (Overview of Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920). Estonian Defence League. http://www.ksk.edu.ee/file.php?ID=1208. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kaevats, Ülo: Eesti Entsüklopeedia 10, page 123. Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, 1998, ISBN 5899000546
  4. ↑ Kaevats, Ülo: Eesti Entsüklopeedia 5, page 396. Valgus, 1990, ISBN 5899000090
  5. ↑ Estonian Declaration of Independence 24 February 1918 at www.president.ee
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lieutenant Colonel Jaan Maide (1933). "II" (in Estonian). Ülevaade Eesti Vabadussõjast (Overview of Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920). Estonian Defence League. http://www.ksk.edu.ee/file.php?ID=1204. 
  7. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 10. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  8. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 98. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Estonian War of Independence 1918-1920. Jyri Kork (Ed.). Esto, Baltimore, 1988 (Reprint from Estonian War of Independence 1918-1920. Historical Committee for the War of Independence, Tallinn, 1938)
  10. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 115. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  11. ↑ "Kaitseväe ajalugu". Archived from the original on 2009-09-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5k4FwJ6oL. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  12. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, pages 126-127. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  13. ↑ Miljan, Toivo: Historical dictionary of Estonia , page 140. Scarecrow Press, 2004, ISBN 0810849046
  14. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 131. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  15. ↑ O'Connor, Kevin: The history of the Baltic States, page 88. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003, ISBN 9780313323553
  16. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, pages 137-138. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  17. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 11. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 141. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  19. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 142. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  20. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 149. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  21. ↑ Liulevicius, Vejas G.: War land on the Eastern Front: culture, national identity and German occupation in World War I, page 231. Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0521661579
  22. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 150. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  23. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 162. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  24. ↑ Rushton, James A. (June 2006). "OPERATIONALIZING DISSUASION (Thesis)" (PDF). NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, Monterey, California. http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/theses/rushton06.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
  25. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 174. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  26. ↑ Операция «Белый меч» /28 сентября — 23 октября 1919 года/
  27. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 180. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Fletcher, William A. The British navy in the Baltic, 1918-1920: Its contribution to the independence of the Baltic nations, Journal of Baltic Studies, 1976, pp134 - 144
  29. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 200. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  30. ↑ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, pages 223-224. Olion, 1992, ISBN 5450013256
  31. ↑ Georg von Rauch, The Baltic States: The Years of Independence 1917-1940, Hurst & Co, 1974, p70
  32. ↑ WAR IN RUSSIAN BOLSHEVIK WATERS
  33. ↑ Lt Col A J Parrott RLC British Army. With Lieutenant Colonel Hope Carson in Estonia and Russia, Baltic Defence Review, February, 1999