Estonian Defence League
Kaitseliit
Active1918–1940
1990–present
Country Estonia
TypeLight infantry, Militia
SizeDefence League: 17,000 (2023)[1]
Affiliate organizations: 11,000 (2023)
Anniversaries11 November (formed)
17 February (restored)
EngagementsEstonian War of Independence
Websitewww.kaitseliit.ee/en
Commanders
CommanderMajor general Ilmar Tamm
Chief of StaffColonel Eero Rebo

The Estonian Defence League (Estonian: Kaitseliit, 'Defence League') is a voluntary organization of the Republic of Estonia, under management of the Ministry of Defence. Its aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its constitutional order.

The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises, fulfilling the tasks given to it by the law. The organization is divided into 4 Territorial Defence Districts that consist of 15 Defence League regional units, called malevs, whose areas of responsibility mostly coincide with the borders of Estonian counties.

Mission

Defence League troops in joint exercise with US marines in 2010

The Defence League is a voluntary military national defence organisation, which acts in the area of government of the Ministry of Defence. The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises. The main goal of the Defence League is, on the basis of the citizens’ free will and initiative, to enhance the readiness of the nation to defend its independence and its constitutional order, including in the event of military threat.

The Defence League plays an important role in supporting the civil structures. Its members aid in putting out wildfires, volunteer as assistant police members, and ensure safety at various events. Units, consisting of voluntary members of the Defence League, also participate in international peace support operations such as in the Balkan states. The Defence League and its affiliated organisations have positive relations with partner organisations in the Nordic countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

History

Estonian Defence League troops at the parade in Tartu (1925)
Estonian Defence League troops at the parade during interwar period

[2]

In 1999 the Estonian Parliament adopted the EDL Law, which provided the position of the Kaitseliit in society and national defence and also described its main tasks, structure, legal basis for operations and control and co-operation with the Defence Forces, Police, and other state organizations.

Organization

The organisation is divided into 4 Territorial Defence Districts (maakaitseringkond) that consist of 15 Defence League regional units (malev) whose areas of responsibility mostly coincide with the borders of Estonia's counties.[4]

In case of mobilization, each of the districts will form a battalion sized maneuver unit.

Today, the Defence League has over 15,000 reservists. The affiliated organisations of the Defence League combine more than 25,000 volunteers, in all, and include the Estonian Defence League's women's corps (Naiskodukaitse), the Estonian Defence League's boys’ corps (Noored Kotkad), and the Estonian Defence League's girls’ corps (Kodutütred).

Affiliated organisations

Women's Corps members from Järva County
Women's Voluntary Defence Organization (WVDO)

WVDO – Women's Home Protection [et] (Estonian: Naiskodukaitse (NKK)) is an organisation within Kaitseliit. Every member of WVDO has a function/task in a case of crises (civilian or armed)

  1. Military defence - every member has the option to contribute in a military unit as a combatant
  2. Comprehensive national defence - evacuation units civil defence affairs (courses, app), We Salute! campaign to support veterans, youth work, co-operation with MoI (Rescue Board, Police and Border Guard, Emergency Response Centre, etc.)
  3. Community member - Member of WVDO with skills and knowledge of basic training is able to cope in all situations and different crises. Willing to take initiative and responsibility in all stages of crises. Empowerment of women!
Defence League's girls’ corps – "Home Daughters"

The Defence League's girls’ corps – Kodutütred was established to increase patriotic feelings and readiness to defend the independence of Estonia among young girls; to enhance the love for home and fatherland; to encourage respect for the Estonian language and ways of thinking; to be honest, enterprising, responsible, and capable of decision-making; to respect nature; and to respect one's parents and others.

Defence League's boys’ corps – "Young Eagles"

The Defence League's boys’ corps – Noored Kotkad. The objective of the organisation is to raise these young people as good citizens with healthy bodies and minds. In addition to numerous interesting activities, such as parachute jumping, flying gliders, orienteering, shooting weapons, etc., the boys’ corps also participates in numerous events, the most popular but also the most difficult being the Mini-Erna 35 km reconnaissance competition.

Culture

White Cross of Defence League medal

The Estonian Victory Day (1919) has been celebrated until WWII with military parades, organized by the Kaitseliit. Since 2000, Victory Day parades have been organized by Kaitseliit again every June 23. The 2015 parade also saw a rising number of military contingents from NATO countries take part: Latvia, the United States, Finland, Poland and Sweden, while 2016, aside from the US and Latvian troops also featured new contingents from Lithuania and Denmark.

In 2006, the first Fleet Review in Estonian history was conducted by Kaitseliit in June in Saaremaa.

In 2016, the Sakala subdivision of Estonian Defence League formed the first Estonian military pipe band and their first performance was during the yearly Victory Day parade the same year.[5][6] Band uses 4 sets of drums and 12 special sets of "war pipes"[5] made by Andres Taul.[5][7] Idea for such a unit originally came from President Lennart Meri in 2001 whilst he was visiting the Viljandi Folk Music Festival.[5][7] The idea was later revived by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in 2010 and Ando Kiviberg, notable local piper and head of Viljandi's folk festival, was assigned to form the band.[5][7] According to Kiviberg one of the goals of the band is also to promote bagpipes amongst males, as Estonia is lacking male pipers.[5][6][7]

Personnel

Leadership

The Commander of Defence League (Estonian: Kaitseliidu ülem) is the highest-ranking officer of the Defence League; though he may not be the senior officer by time in grade. The Commander has the responsibility to man, training, equip and develop the organization. He does not serve as a direct battlefield commander. The Commander is a member and head of the Chief of Staff which is the main organizational tool of the Commander. The Commander is appointed by the Commander of the Defence Forces or by the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces[clarification needed].[8] The current Commandant is major general Riho Ühtegi, who assumed the position in 2019. As of 2020, Colonel Eero Rebo is the Defence League Chief of Staff.[9]

Ranks and insignia

Main article: Military ranks of Estonia
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student officer
 Estonian Land Forces[10]
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Brigaadikindral Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
Estonian:
Lühend 		kin kin-ltn kin-mjr brig-kin kol kol-ltn mjr kpt ltn n-ltn lpn
English:
Ranks 		General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Ensign
NATO rank scale OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Estonian Land Forces[10]
Ülemveebel Staabiveebel Vanemveebel Veebel Nooremveebel Vanemseersant Seersant Nooremseersant Kapral Reamees
Estonian:
Lühend 		ü-vbl st-vbl v-vbl vbl n-vbl v-srs srs n-srs kpr rms
English:
Ranks 		Command Sergeant Major[11] Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Sergeant First Class Staff Sergeant Sergeant (Senior) Sergeant Sergeant (Junior) Corporal Private

Uniforms

Standard uniforms of the Estonian Defence Forces are the ESTDCU issued to Defence League personnel. On some festive occasions (such as parades), white armbands with the insignia of the given territorial unit are worn. Civilian uniforms are worn by the women's division during parades and ceremonies.

Armbands have also previously been worn on civilian clothing to distinguish members of the Defence League from civilians during periods when Defence League units did not have sufficient inventories to supply every member with a uniform (during World War I; and in the beginning of the 1990s).

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Estonian Defence League
Defence League's mortar platoon in NATO exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013

The basic infantry weapon of the Defence League is the 5.56mm LMT R-20 Rahe, but the majority of the memberbase is equipped with the 7.62mm G3 rifle and its variants. The G3-based rifles are being phased out in favour of the R-20 Rahe in Territorial Defence (Maakaitse) maneuver units while backline units will retain the G3.

Suppressive fire is provided by the Ksp 58, MG3 machine guns and M2 Browning heavy machine guns. Squad level anti-tank capabilities are provided with 84mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifles. In addition, indirect fire is provided by 81mm and 120mm mortars on battlegroup level.

Defence League battlegroups also include dedicated anti-tank units equipped with 90mm Pvpj 1110 anti-tank guns and FGM-148 Javelin ATGMs.[12] The Defence League utilizes a variety of tactical transport vehicles and a small number of BTR-80 armoured personnel carriers.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Estonian Defence League". kaitseliit.ee. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  2. ^ History of the Defence League Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine at www.mil.ee
  3. ^ "Relvade peitmisest 1940. aastal" (PDF). Tuna. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Maakaitseringkonnad - mida sa neist teadma peaksid" (in Estonian). Kaitse Kodu!. 8 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Ivar Jõesaar (October 2016). "Sõjatorupilli saamislugu: nüüd, kui Eesti torupill on astunud riigikaitseteenistusse" (in Estonian). Delfi. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Võidupüha paraad Võrus: pärast Ilvese kõnet toovad tunnustatud noorkotkad ja kodutütred pühadetule kõigisse maakondadesse" (in Estonian). Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d Raba, Rannar (23 July 2016). "Viljandi mehed viisid võidupüha paraadil Lennart Meri mõtte ellu" (in Estonian). Sakala. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. ^ Estonian Defence league: The leadership Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Kolonel Jaak Mee andis Kaitseliidu peastaabi juhtimise üle kolonel Eero Rebole". EDL. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  10. ^ a b "Sümboolika: Maaväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Sõnaveeb".
  12. ^ Estonian Defence League: Equipment Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Estonia articles
Eesti Kaitsevägi (Estonian Defence Forces)
Categories