*** picture depicts the situation of the war in 22.06.1919.
*Orange being the Baltic German duchy (Landeswehr and the Iron Divison)
*Pink are the communist (Russian) held territories
*Yellow is under Latvian control
*Purple under the temporary occupation if Estonia
Even in Estonia, the role of Estonian armed forces (including the North Latvian Brigade) in the Latvian war of independence is not really taught much. We usually like to talk about beating the Baltic Germans (Landeswehr in the battle of Cesis ) but not much is talked about, for example, the battle of Riga in 30.06-03.07. 1919. where the Estonian army lost over a 100 people dead and several hundres wounded, compared to the North Latvian brigade 5 dead and 15 wounded (and the Estonians were denied a parade in Riga because it was thought to be a bit inconsiderate).
A democratic Latvia would perhaps not have existed if the Estonian armes forces had not intervened in the summer of 1919. against the bolsheviks and the Baltic German Duchy (as it was proclaimed).
So it has caught my intrest, how is the Estonian role in the war taught or talked about in Latvia, if at all?
Thankyou for all the Anwsers. I look forward to seeing your perspectives.
– Your northern neighbour
https://i.redd.it/ddl7p67mvysg1.jpeg
Posted by Lilchicken_2473
11 Comments
Good
In Cēsis, where I live, the battle for Cēsis is commemorated every year on the 22 of june and Estonias role is never forgotten. I think most years an estonian delegation visits Cēsis as well.
From my perspective, Estonian help was crucial during the independence war. We also like to call Lithuanians as the brotherly nation, since we are both Baltic linguistically, but from what I know Estonians were a lot less selfish when providing help during the independence war. I’ve heard that Lithuania wanted to agree to some territorial concession from Latvia before providing military help while Estonia were more forthcoming without any deals.
I’m not a historian by any means, so that’s just my personal opinion from the things I learnt or heard over my life and might not be 100% accurate.
Very thankfull
as someone who studied history and wrote about period between 1919. and 1921. I can say that Estonian help was critically important. And i can also say that Latvian historians acknowledge this.
Normal trade deal. You help us, you get Ruhnu. If Russia takes Narva, we’ll help, and you keep Ruhnu.
Positive, how else? If shit ever hits the fan over there and they need help, I’m volunteering in a heartbeat.
as Estonian, I feel we should have taken Riga when we had a chance. Or Bauska, at least.
It is remembered very positively.
My children were taught about it, especially in the context of Cēsu battles. And that the Estonians had the cool armored trains that were strong.
I finished school a few years ago, and we were taught about Estonia helping us. It’s also present in pop culture – I watched Blizzard of Souls (a movie about WW1 and the war of independence) when it came out and the role of the Estonian army is also mentioned there