Estonian War of Independence animated
Summary
TLDRIn November 1918, amidst the chaos of the Russian Civil War, Estonia fought for its independence against the Bolsheviks and Red Army. Despite initial setbacks, Estonian forces, aided by British arms and Finnish support, managed to push back the Red Army, eventually signing the Treaty of Tartu with Soviet Russia in 1920, securing Estonia's independence.
Takeaways
- 🏳️ November 1918 marked the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence amidst the backdrop of Russia's defeat and internal turmoil, with the Bolsheviks gaining control and civil war ensuing.
- 🛡 The Western Borderlands, including Estonia, were initially under German occupation but were left vulnerable as Germany faced defeat and began to withdraw its forces.
- 🔴 The Red Army, including pro-Bolshevik elements, assembled near Estonia's borders, leading to the attack on Narva and the start of the war for Estonian independence.
- 📈 Estonia faced challenges with a weak and newly formed government, low morale, and a lack of faith in victory among its troops, leading to desertions and early defeats.
- 🛳 The British Navy's intervention in December brought much-needed arms and support, including the capture of Red Fleet ships, bolstering Estonia's naval capabilities.
- 🔄 Despite initial setbacks and retreats, Estonian forces gradually improved in morale and strength, eventually halting the Red Army's advance near Tallinn.
- 🤝 International support played a crucial role in Estonia's resistance, with aid coming from the British Navy and neighboring Finland, helping to balance the forces on the front.
- 🛤️ The Estonian forces, with better equipment and strategic advantages, began a counterattack, pushing the Red Army back and retaking key territories like Voru and Valga.
- 🔄 The war saw a series of back-and-forth battles, with both sides experiencing advances and retreats, highlighting the fluctuating fortunes of war.
- 🏰 The Northern Corps, comprised of former officers of the Russian Imperial Army, executed a successful offensive, penetrating deep into Soviet lines and causing significant disruption.
- ✍️ The Tartu Peace Treaty, signed in February 1920, officially ended the Estonian War of Independence, bringing a close to the conflict and establishing Estonia's sovereignty.
Q & A
What was the situation in Russia in November 1918?
-In November 1918, Russia had been defeated in the Great War and had suffered two revolutions. The Bolsheviks had taken control of most of the country, but their power was being contested by political opposition and remnants of the Russian Imperial Army, who formed the White Guard. Many areas of the country were engulfed in a brutal Civil War.
What was the status of the Western Borderlands of the Russian Empire during this time?
-The Western Borderlands of the Russian Empire had been taken over by Imperial Germany. However, with Germany's defeat in the west, they were forced to abandon these territories. The German Army was preparing to leave the occupied territories as the Red Army gathered its forces to take over.
What challenges did Estonia face during the Estonian War of Independence?
-Estonia faced numerous challenges during the Estonian War of Independence. The Estonian government had been in power for only a couple of weeks and was struggling to gather its forces. The Red Army, including pro-Bolshevik Red Estonian Riflemen and the Red Fleet, was assembling near the border. Estonian forces were weak and morale was low, with many men deserting the ranks.
How did the British Navy support Estonia during the war?
-On December 12, the British Navy arrived in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, bringing much-needed arms, including Lewis and Maxim guns, which were unfamiliar to the Red Army. They also captured two Red Fleet destroyers and transferred them to the Estonian Navy.
What was the significance of the battle at Narva?
-The battle at Narva marked the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence. The Red Army attacked Narva, and despite Estonian forces being weak, they managed to hold the line initially. This battle was crucial in setting the stage for the conflict that would follow.
How did the Red Army's strategy evolve during the war?
-The Red Army initially relied on its numerical superiority to push the Estonian forces back. However, as the war progressed, they faced challenges due to low morale, desertions, and the strengthening of the Estonian forces. The Red Army also attempted to reassign units from Estonia to other fronts, but the balance of power slowly shifted in favor of the Estonian side.
What role did Finland play in supporting Estonia during the war?
-Finland provided significant support to Estonia during the war. By the start of January, the numbers of the Estonian forces and Red Army troops had become equal on the front, and Estonian forces were better equipped, partly due to help from their northern neighbor, Finland.
What was the outcome of the battles at Yandova and Narva?
-The Estonians and Finnish volunteers pushed the Soviets back in heavy fighting at Yandova and managed to retake the town. Meanwhile, the Finnish volunteers broke into the town of Narva, leading to the surrender of the encircled Soviet units at the front.
How did the conflict between Estonia and Germany affect the war?
-The conflict between Estonia and Germany was significant as it saw the Estonians, who had high morale and numbers, face off against the well-equipped but less motivated German forces. The Estonians managed to repel the German advance and eventually forced them to sign an Armistice, restoring the nationalist government in Latvia and securing a more advantageous border.
What were the terms of the Tartu Peace Treaty that concluded the Estonian War of Independence?
-The Tartu Peace Treaty, signed on February 2, 1920, officially concluded the Estonian War of Independence. The treaty established peace between the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia, marking the end of the fighting in northeastern Europe.
Outlines
🏰 The Struggle for Independence in Estonia
In November 1918, Russia was in turmoil following the Great War and two revolutions, leading to the Bolsheviks seizing control. The Red Army clashed with the White Guard and other opposition forces in a brutal Civil War. Estonia, having just established its government, faced the Red Army's advance. Despite initial setbacks and low morale, Estonian forces, bolstered by British aid and Finnish support, managed to hold their ground and eventually push back the Red Army. The Estonians' strategic use of light machine guns and armored trains, along with naval support, played a crucial role in their defense and counteroffensive.
🛡️ The Battle for Estonia and Latvia
As the Red Army continued its push into Estonia, the Estonians, with the help of Finnish volunteers, managed to establish a defensive line and eventually counterattack. The Red Army's numerical superiority was countered by the Estonians' strategic maneuvers, including landing troops behind enemy lines and utilizing armored trains. The battle for Volga and the recapture of Tartu marked significant victories for Estonia. Meanwhile, Latvia faced its own challenges with the Red Latvian Riflemen advancing almost unopposed, leading to the Latvian forces retreating and seeking German support. The Estonians and Latvians fought fiercely, with the Estonians eventually reaching their national border and pushing into Latvian territory.
🔥 The Northern Corps and the Battle for Petrograd
The Northern Corps, comprised of former officers of the Russian Imperial Army, played a pivotal role in the conflict. They executed a well-planned offensive, penetrating deep behind Red Army lines and threatening Petrograd. The Estonians, in support, aimed to capture the naval fortress at Kronstadt. Despite initial success, the Red Army managed to regroup and push back the Northern Corps. The Estonians, facing a lack of will to fight abroad, retreated to their territory. The conflict escalated as the Red Army gathered strength and pushed back the Northern Corps, leading to a stalemate along the Estonian border.
🕊️ The Peace of Tartu and the End of the Estonian War of Independence
The final stages of the Estonian War of Independence saw the Red Army attempting to capture Narva, but the Estonians had established extensive fortifications. Despite the Red Army's efforts, they were unable to break through the well-prepared defenses. Peace negotiations between Soviet Russia and Estonia culminated in the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty on February 2, 1920, officially ending the war. The Estonians successfully repelled numerous Red Army assaults and held their ground, securing their independence. The peace also extended to other nations in the region, with Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Poland signing peace treaties in the following months.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Red Army
💡Estonian War of Independence
💡Bolsheviks
💡White Guard
💡Narva
💡Latvian Riflemen
💡British Navy
💡Armistice
💡Northwestern Army
💡Tartu Peace Treaty
Highlights
November 1918 marked a tumultuous period in Northeastern Europe, with Russia defeated in the Great War and experiencing two revolutions leading to Bolshevik control.
The Western Borderlands of the Russian Empire were initially occupied by Imperial Germany, but Germany's defeat forced them to abandon these territories.
The Red Army began assembling near the Estonian border, including pro-Bolshevik forces, initiating the Estonian War of Independence on November 28.
Estonia's struggle for independence was characterized by a weak initial defense and low morale among its forces.
The Estonian Army was bolstered by new recruits but faced challenges such as desertions due to a lack of faith in victory.
The Red Army's advance was initially successful, capturing key towns like Rockville, but faced resistance from Estonian forces at Konda River.
Tartu fell to the Bolsheviks without resistance, highlighting the initial disarray in Estonian defense.
Despite setbacks, Estonian forces began to gain strength and morale improved, leading to a shift in the balance of power.
The British Navy's arrival in December brought crucial support to Estonia, including arms and the capture of Red Fleet destroyers.
Estonia's strategic advantage was further enhanced by the support from Finland and the mobilization of new units.
The Estonian counterattack was marked by the use of armored trains and amphibious landings, forcing the Red Army to retreat.
The Red Army's overextension and lack of coordination allowed Estonian forces to achieve significant victories, such as the recapture of Valga.
The Latvian situation was dire, with the Red Latvian Riflemen advancing almost unopposed and Latvian forces retreating to the west.
The Red Army's attempts to establish a defense at Yuhi were thwarted by Estonian forces, leading to further retreats.
The Estonians and Finnish volunteers managed to break the Red Army's entrenched positions at Narva, leading to a significant turning point in the war.
The Red Army's southern offensive was initially successful, pushing Estonian forces back, but ultimately they lacked the reserves for a decisive follow-up.
The emergence of the Northern Corps, composed of former Russian Imperial Army officers, brought a new dynamic to the conflict, executing a successful offensive on the Narva front.
The signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty on February 2, 1920, officially ended the Estonian War of Independence, marking the conclusion of the conflict.
Transcripts
November 1918
Northeastern Europe
Russia has been defeated in the Great
War and has suffered two revolutions
that have led to the Communist
Bolsheviks taking control of most of the
country their power is being contested
by the political opposition and remnants
of the Russian Imperial Army who have
formed the white guard many areas of the
country are engulfed in a brutal Civil
War the Western Borderlands of the
Russian Empire have been taken over by
Imperial Germany but now Germany has
been defeated in the west and is forced
to abandon its conquests German Army
prepares to leave the occupied
territories as the Red Army Masters its
forces to begin the Takeover meanwhile
many of the Nations freed from the
occupation don't want to be ruled by
Bolsheviks and they prepare to resist
the raids lacking Armed Forces Effective
Government and having politically
divided populations these new States
attempt to hold back raid Army's Advance
one of them is Estonia all of Estonian
territory had fallen under German
occupation in the end of November the
Estonian government had only been in
power for a couple of weeks and was
struggling to gather its forces
meanwhile Red Army was assembling near
the border among them were pro-bolshevik
red Estonian Riflemen and the red Fleet
soon most of the German troops had left
and the weak Estonian forces were unable
to hold the line on November 28 the Red
Army attacked narva with this battle the
Estonian war of independence began
supported by the fleet thousands of Red
Army soldiers overran natural defensive
positions in the forests of Northeast
Estonia Estonian Army was constantly
strengthened by new recruits but morale
was low and many men lacked the faith in
Victory and deserted the ranks the next
line of defense was established on kunda
River by this time the Estonian forces
had grown in Manpower but the raids
broke through and captured the town of
Rockville
at the same time the Estonian forces
were preparing to defend the town of
tarto on that part of the front the Red
Army was numerically inferior but
Estonian troops were plagued by low
morale Bolshevik agitators managed to
incite some units to rebel and Estonian
command lost the control of the
situation tartu fell to the Bolsheviks
without any resistance and the Estonian
troops retreated to the north
having witnessed the lackluster
performance of the Estonian forces the
Red Army command came to the conclusion
that the Estonian Army would soon be
defeated and they began reassigning
units from Estonia to other fronts
however the balance of power was slowly
shifting in favor of the Estonian side
despite of constantly being in Retreat
the morale of the troops began to
improve Red Army continued to rely on
its numerical superiority to push the
Estonian forces back but the strength of
the Estonian troops was on the rise and
the resistance intensified day by day on
the 12th of December the British Navy
had arrived in the Estonian Capital they
brought much needed arms including
Louise and Matt's and light machine guns
a weapon unfamiliar to the Red Army the
Royal Navy also captured two red fleets
destroyers and transferred them to
Estonian Navy when the Red Army units
reached only 40 kilometers from Estonian
Capital thailin they had exhausted their
strength and dystonian forces put an end
to their advance mean while the
government of the Estonian Southern nape
and Latvia had far greater difficulties
Latvia had declared its independence
under a nationalist government but the
Bolsheviks enjoyed a far greater degree
of support among the local population
therefore the red Army's elite units the
red Latvian Riflemen Advanced through
the country almost unopposed the Latvian
forces abandoned the capital city of
Riga and retreated towards the West in
the westernmost corner of the country
they managed to establish a defensive
line and were soon reinforced by German
troops on the other hand Estonia was
able to successfully mobilize and now
many new units were arriving at the
front Estonian forces had also received
help from its northern neighbor Finland
by the start of January the numbers of
the Estonian forces and Red Army troops
had become equal on the front however
the Estonian forces were better equipped
in addition to possessing light machine
guns they had several armored trains and
had gained the command of the sea
Estonian Army began a counter attack a
strong Push by the armored trains
coupled within amphibious Landing forced
The Raid Army Frontline troops into a
retreat their attempts to set up a
defense near rockware failed when
Estonian troops landed behind their
lines at kunda the raid army forces
became overextended while attempting to
counter the threat from both sea and
land many of their units became
scattered or were captured during the
retreat however soon the front reached
terrain more suitable for defense the
raids managed to hold off the Estonian
frontal Advance at yuhi but their
position was flanked by a Cavalry unit
from the south and they were forced to
withdraw further now the Red Army
occupied heavily entrenched positions at
cinemat Heights which were impossible to
bypass Estonian forces broke the
deadlock by Landing more than a thousand
Men Behind The Red Army lines at utria
The Finnish volunteers broke into the
town of narva and the encircled Soviet
units at the front surrendered now
Estonian forces established the
defensive line on whatever during the
following months the Red Army made
several attempts to go on an offensive
in this sector but they didn't achieve
much success meanwhile their Stone and
high command was gathering forces to
recapture tartu the armored train
formations and Lieutenant Julius
coprano's parties and Battalion decided
not to wait for reinforcements and
retook the town with a surprise night
attack now the Estonian forces were in
position to expel the raids from
Southern Estonia they directed the main
attack towards the important Railway
Junction of Volga the Soviets had sent
the red Latvian Riflemen against them
and here the best units of Estonia and
the raid Army faced each other with
heavy fighting the Estonian forces and
Finnish volunteers pushed the Soviets
back and after a costly battle at payo
they retook Volga meanwhile other units
crossed their Estonian Latvian border
and took up defensive positions along
their strategic riena Volga narrow Gorge
Railroad on the eastern part of the
front estonians were faced with
demoralized Red Army troops mobilized
from the war where Russian peasants
these units disintegrated before the
Estonian Army's advance and soon the
Estonian forces reached Petri deep
behind Red Army's lines this threatened
the red Army's units with encirclement
and they were forced to withdrawal now
the Estonian forces had reached their
National border and their next goal was
to establish forward defensive positions
on Latvian territory in the middle of
February they continued their advance
The Raid Army had received large
reinforcements and repelled the Estonian
troops back into their territory after
the initial defeats the red Army's
forces had been greatly strengthened and
now they were preparing to launch a
large-scale offensive however the raid
Army formations in Latvia and on the
scoff front lacked coordination which
allowed Estonian forces to defeat them
one by one the Soviets in the East began
their offensive first by launching
attacks from the front and over the
frozen lake ilamir after their Advance
had been fought to a standstill in March
they were joined by their Latvian
comrades who achieved some success in
the South fighting against the Estonian
troops stretched the Latvian raid Army's
resources and this allowed the Latvian
white forces and German troops to
recapture most of Western Latvia
after having stopped the Reds Estonian
forces counter-attacked and redook most
of the Lost land in the south then with
a concentrated assault carried out by
armored trains they recaptured Petri and
stabilized the front lines then the
fighting was interrupted by the spring
Thor during the winter the Soviets had
been preparing for a major attack on
Estonia and had organized new units now
they were deployed on the front all red
Estonian Latvian and Russian troops on
that part of the front were organized
into a formidable Estonian Red Army on
April 17th the raids embarked on their
most serious attempt to conquer Estonia
due to the lack of ice cover the Red
Army was unable to attack over the Lakes
and their attacks in the East were
channeled in a small Corridor and
repelled however in the South the
Soviets numeric superiority pushed the
Estonian forces slowly back the Estonian
Army had used up most of its reserves
and their defenses were stretching to a
Breaking Point only some kilometers from
Little the advancing rates were
temporarily stopped now the raids
attempted to break the stalemate by a
diversionary attack in the west there
the Soviets lacked numerical superiority
but the morale of the Estonian soldiers
was low Estonian troops were deployed in
Latvian territory but they didn't have
the will to fight abroad and were also
exposed to propaganda by local
Bolsheviks the red Latvian Rifleman
attacked and pushed the Estonian forces
back over the national border but they
lacked the reserves for a follow-up
attack eventually the discipline in
Estonian units was restored and they
counter-attacked recapturing all of the
Lost territory meanwhile the onslaught
of the Reds under burrow continued
several weeks of unceasing fighting
along with intensive Bolshevik
propaganda took the Estonian soldiers
fighting Spirit to its critical low it
was likely that soon the Red Army would
overrun Estonian defenses that's when a
new Force emerged
since the beginning of the war many
former officers of the Russian Imperial
Army had been gathering in Estonia with
the goal of fighting the Bolsheviks by
the beginning of may they had organized
themselves into the northern core an
elite formation of three thousand men on
May 13 they executed the thoroughly
planned offensive on the narva front
their forces penetrated deeply behind
Red armies lines through unfavorable
terrain and broke into the rare of main
Soviet formations in support of their
offensive Estonian Navy landed the
Ingrid Battalion behind Red Army's lines
the Soviet units being threatened with
encirclement played in disarray and the
resistance to the whites collapsed now
the northern Corps reached into Striking
Distance from Battle rat the old
imperial capital the Soviet command
could not afford to lose petrograd under
any circumstances reserves and forces
from other fronts were scrambled
together and thrown against the whites
however many of these units had mixed
loyalties and defected to the northern
Corps ultimately the Soviets must
mastered large amounts of troops and
stopped the white forces many of these
units were taken from Estonian fronts
and so the red Army's position there
became dangerously weak after the
northern Corps offensive into Russia
some commanders of the red Estonian
Riflemen were coming to the conclusion
that the raids were going to lose the
war they decided to defect to the
Estonian side Estonian command decided
to use this opportunity to capture scoff
the defectors paralyzed the red Army's
command which allowed units to advance
quickly into the raid Army's rare many
Soviet units got the false impression
that most of the red Estonian Riflemen
had defected and fearing encirclement
they fled without offering resistance
the Estonian white troops ended scoff
the Red Army in Latvia had also been
overextended the German and Latvian
forces exploited this by taking Riga
with a surprise attack then the
estonians broke through the Reds front
near varu and advanced deep into red
Army's rare threatening to got a bulk of
the Latvian Soviet Army off from
Bolshevik Russia on dog of a river they
linked up with Lithuanian troops cutting
off the Red Army units in central Latvia
the Latvian raid Army had suffered a
major defeat and lost much of its
strength
however a new danger was emerging from
the south the German forces operating in
Latvia had deposed the Latvian
nationalist government and set up a
puppet government consisting of the
local Baltic German nobility Estonia
continued to support the previous
Latvian government many Latvian units
loyal to the Nationalist government were
already serving on the Estonian command
Estonian and German forces met near the
Latvian town of chesis the German forces
consisted of Baltic Landes where a unit
of flat ven Baltic Germans and the iron
division consisting of volunteers from
Germany they were well equipped but
estonians had the numbers and very high
morale this conflict was seen by many
Estonian soldiers as the high point of
the Century's long power struggle
between the local Baltic German
landowners and estonians and they were
eager to take part in the fight the
Germans attacked a lot when nationalist
unit and pushed it out of the town after
the initial clashes the military
missions of the Anton countries
attempted to broker a peace between
estonians and Germans but the talks
failed on July 19th the Germans
continued the offensive and the Baltic
London Square broke through the Estonian
lines however the advance of the iron
division was repelled and then the
estonians counter-attacked at stasis the
German forces went into full Retreat
their attempt to regroup at Goya River
was thwarted and only on the entrenched
positions before Riga did they managed
to stop the Estonian Advance however the
arrival of Estonian Fleet in the mouth
of dog of a river threatened to cut off
the German's path of retreat under the
pressure of the military missions of the
Anton countries they were forced to sign
an Armistice and abandon their positions
the Nationalist government in Latvia was
restored and continued to be allied with
Estonia until the end of the war
meanwhile the Red Army had gathered a
strong force and began pushing the
northern Corps troops back along the
whole front the situation was especially
critical nearskov where the raids had
large superiority after defeating the
Germans Estonian units began to arrive
to prop up the white Army's defense
Estonian command ordered its forces to
push the Red Army deeper into Russia in
order to create the buffer zone between
Estonia and the Soviets the attack was
initially successful but Estonian
soldiers lacked the will to fight abroad
and their performance suffered the
advance of the Estonian and white Army
was stopped short of their objectives
the Red Army counter-attacked directing
its main effort towards the Estonian
Army's Communications and its path of
retreat at the same time the Soviets
pushed the estonians and whites back
from the front when the threat of being
cut off became too real the Estonian
forces abandoned scoff and retreated to
the 45 positions on Estonian territory
for the rest of the war this part of the
front became stable and the only attacks
of diversionary character were attempted
here the Final Act of the war took place
in the north here the northern Corps had
fought off the Soviets and increased
their strength the corpse now consisted
of 16 000 men and was renamed to
Northwestern Army despite the increase
in strength the situation was becoming
desperate for the Russian whites they
were in danger of losing their base of
Supply as Estonia was in the process of
making peace with Soviets and the Allies
were about to stop delivering the
supplies the only Fighting Chance for
them was conquering petrograd with an
army that wasn't fully prepared first
They carried out the divisionary attack
towards scoff thus diverting some Soviet
troops defending petrograd then the main
forces of the Northwestern Army launched
an all-out attack on petrograd the raids
defenses collapsed and the whites closed
their distance to the city Estonian Army
had its own goal in this offensive their
units were tasked with the capture of
cross nagorca Naval Fortress in order to
trap the Russian Fleet at petrograd it
seemed that the city was about to fall
but then Leon drotsky arrived there and
began feverishly organizing a defense as
the Red Army reinforcements were
trickling to petrograd by rail the white
armies Advance became broke down and
finally ground to a halt on the
approaches to petrograd now the Soviets
counter-attacked and began pushing the
whites back the Northwestern Army
exhausted by continuous combat and
having lost their hope for victory began
to lose its ability to fight their
troops retreated towards the stone and
Border meanwhile peace negotiations were
being held between Soviet Russia and
Estonia in order to secure a more
advantageous border the Red Army was
ordered to capture the Estonian city of
narva however the Estonian forces had
established extensive fortifications
along the national border Red Army
attacked these positions in strength but
the defenses were well prepared the
battles here resembled the ones in the
Great War on the Western Front the raids
lacked artillery to achieve a
breakthrough and took large casualties
while pushing slowly forward during
November and December estonians and
remaining Northwestern Army units
repelled numerous Red Army assaults on
their positions and were able to hold
their ground
after the Red Army had exhausted its
strength a truce was finally signed on
January 3rd 1920. the Estonian War of
Independence was over it was officially
concluded on February 2nd 1920 with the
signing of tart to peace treaty between
the Republic of Estonia and Soviet
Russia with the Peace of tartu the
fighting in northeastern Europe started
to come to an end Lithuania made peace
in July Latvia in August and Finland in
October 1920. Poland followed in March
1921. so finally peace came to Eastern
Europe it lasted for 20 years and then
the region was engulfed in another War
we'll look into it in our next video
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