1st Division (Estonia)
Encyclopedia
The 1st Division was one of the four Estonian divisions created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Since the restoration of independence in 1991 there are no divisions currently among the Estonian Defence Forces.
Aleksander Tõnisson
was assigned commander of the division, with Colonel
Jaan Rink as chief of staff. However, when the Estonian War of Independence started on 28 November 1918 with the Soviet attack on Narva
, the Estonian Army numbered only 2,200 to 2,300 men, with the bulk of the fighting actually conducted by the paramilitary Defence League.
Soviet forces included the 6th Red Rifle Division at Narva and the 2nd Novgorod Division south of Lake Peipus
. After losing at Narva a period of retreat began for the 1st Division. Advancing against weak Estonian defences the Red Army captured Valga on 18 December, Tartu
on 22 December, and Tapa
on 24 December. In order to conduct a more flexible defence of South Estonia, a separate 2nd Division
was formed on 24 December under command of Colonel Viktor Puskar
. By the end of the year the Soviets had advanced to with in 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) of the capital, Tallinn
.
By the beginning of 1919 the Estonian Army had been increased to 13,000 men, with 5,700 on the front facing 8,000 Soviets. The strengthened Estonian Army stopped the 7th Red Army's advance on 2–5 January 1919, and went on the counter-offensive on 7 January. Tapa was liberated two days later with the support of armoured trains, followed by Rakvere on 12 January. With the aim of capturing Narva, a 1,000 strong Finnish-Estonian force was landed at Utria on 17 January, in the rear of the 6th Rifle Division, cutting off the Soviet forces west of them. On 18 January Narva was liberated. Subsequently, the north eastern front stabilized along the Narva river. Over the course of 11 days the 1st Division had advanced 200 kilometres (124.3 mi).
After repulsing the Soviet forces in North Estonia the 1st Division was involved in active combat near Narva. During spring the Red Army made several unsuccessful attacks against 1st Division positions. By April 11,000 Estonians of the 1st Division were facing 16,000 Soviets near Narva, during which the main Soviet effort was concentrated in South Estonia. After the White Russian
Northern Corps' (later renamed to Northwest Army) offensive against Soviet forces began to fail in June at the hands of the 7th Red Army, the front was stabilized on Luga River
and Saba River with support of the 1st Division. In July and August the 1st Division was involved in heavy fighting with Soviet forces in that area.
At the end of September 1919, the Northwest Army had initiated a new attack on Petrograd, but was repelled by the Red Army in November. The 7th and 15th Soviet Armies advancing behind the collapsing White Russian forces continued to attack fortified positions along the Estonian border near Narva. The first clashes took place on the Luga River on 16 November, starting the final battles of war with 120,000 Soviets facing just 40,000 Estonians. After repeated attacks on the fortified Estonian positions, the 7th Red Army managed to achieve limited success. At the end of November the situation on front calmed as the Soviets needed to replenish their forces. In order to exert pressure on Estonia in the peace talks, intensive Soviet attacks resumed on 7 December.
On 16 December there was critical breakthrough, with the 15th Soviet Army crossing the Narva River
, however the Estonian counter-attack the following day successfully pushed the Soviets back. The Estonian high command actively reinforced the 1st Division at Narva during the fighting, dispatching the 3rd Division command, while general Tõnisson became commander of whole Viru Front. He was replaced as 1st Division commander by Colonel Otto Heinze
. After suffering 35,000 casualties in the heavy battles, the Red Army was completely exhausted by the end of December. A ceasefire came into effect on 3 January 1920.
Post war 1st Division staff was based in Rakvere
. Since 1 February 1940, the division was made up by the Narva Military District and Viru-Järva Military District.
The unit order of battle in 1939:
History
On 16 November 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government made the decision to create an armed force of volunteers. It was decided that army would consist of a single division which would have six infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, one artillery regiment, and one engineering battalion. Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Aleksander Tõnisson
Aleksander Tõnisson
Aleksander Tõnisson VR I/1 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
was assigned commander of the division, with Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Jaan Rink as chief of staff. However, when the Estonian War of Independence started on 28 November 1918 with the Soviet attack on Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
, the Estonian Army numbered only 2,200 to 2,300 men, with the bulk of the fighting actually conducted by the paramilitary Defence League.
Soviet forces included the 6th Red Rifle Division at Narva and the 2nd Novgorod Division south of Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus, ) is the biggest transboundary lake in Europe on the border between Estonia and Russia.The lake is the fifth largest in Europe after Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega in Russia north of St...
. After losing at Narva a period of retreat began for the 1st Division. Advancing against weak Estonian defences the Red Army captured Valga on 18 December, Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
on 22 December, and Tapa
Tapa, Estonia
Tapa is a town in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. Located at the junction of the country's Tallinn-Narva and Tallinn-Tartu-Valga railway lines, it is an important centre of transit for freight as well as rail passengers...
on 24 December. In order to conduct a more flexible defence of South Estonia, a separate 2nd Division
2nd Division (Estonia)
The 2nd Division, was one of the four Estonian divisions created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Since the restoration of independence in 1991 there are no divisions currently among the Estonian Defence Forces.-History:The 2nd...
was formed on 24 December under command of Colonel Viktor Puskar
Viktor Puskar
Viktor Puskar VR I/1 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
. By the end of the year the Soviets had advanced to with in 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) of the capital, Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
By the beginning of 1919 the Estonian Army had been increased to 13,000 men, with 5,700 on the front facing 8,000 Soviets. The strengthened Estonian Army stopped the 7th Red Army's advance on 2–5 January 1919, and went on the counter-offensive on 7 January. Tapa was liberated two days later with the support of armoured trains, followed by Rakvere on 12 January. With the aim of capturing Narva, a 1,000 strong Finnish-Estonian force was landed at Utria on 17 January, in the rear of the 6th Rifle Division, cutting off the Soviet forces west of them. On 18 January Narva was liberated. Subsequently, the north eastern front stabilized along the Narva river. Over the course of 11 days the 1st Division had advanced 200 kilometres (124.3 mi).
After repulsing the Soviet forces in North Estonia the 1st Division was involved in active combat near Narva. During spring the Red Army made several unsuccessful attacks against 1st Division positions. By April 11,000 Estonians of the 1st Division were facing 16,000 Soviets near Narva, during which the main Soviet effort was concentrated in South Estonia. After the White Russian
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
Northern Corps' (later renamed to Northwest Army) offensive against Soviet forces began to fail in June at the hands of the 7th Red Army, the front was stabilized on Luga River
Luga River
The Luga River -See also:* Shum Gora, an archaeological site near the banks of the river...
and Saba River with support of the 1st Division. In July and August the 1st Division was involved in heavy fighting with Soviet forces in that area.
At the end of September 1919, the Northwest Army had initiated a new attack on Petrograd, but was repelled by the Red Army in November. The 7th and 15th Soviet Armies advancing behind the collapsing White Russian forces continued to attack fortified positions along the Estonian border near Narva. The first clashes took place on the Luga River on 16 November, starting the final battles of war with 120,000 Soviets facing just 40,000 Estonians. After repeated attacks on the fortified Estonian positions, the 7th Red Army managed to achieve limited success. At the end of November the situation on front calmed as the Soviets needed to replenish their forces. In order to exert pressure on Estonia in the peace talks, intensive Soviet attacks resumed on 7 December.
On 16 December there was critical breakthrough, with the 15th Soviet Army crossing the Narva River
Narva River
The Narva is a river flowing into the Baltic Sea, the largest river in Estonia. Draining Lake Peipsi, the river forms the border of Estonia and Russia and flows through the towns of Narva/Ivangorod and Narva-Jõesuu into Narva Bay. Though the river is only 77 km long, in terms of volume...
, however the Estonian counter-attack the following day successfully pushed the Soviets back. The Estonian high command actively reinforced the 1st Division at Narva during the fighting, dispatching the 3rd Division command, while general Tõnisson became commander of whole Viru Front. He was replaced as 1st Division commander by Colonel Otto Heinze
Otto Heinze
Otto Heinze VR I/2, VR II/3 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
. After suffering 35,000 casualties in the heavy battles, the Red Army was completely exhausted by the end of December. A ceasefire came into effect on 3 January 1920.
Post war 1st Division staff was based in Rakvere
Rakvere
Rakvere is a town in northern Estonia and the county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd-5th centuries AD have been found on the present theatre hill. Probably to protect that settlement, a wooden...
. Since 1 February 1940, the division was made up by the Narva Military District and Viru-Järva Military District.
Order of battle
The unit order of battle in 1918:- 1st Infantry Regiment1st Infantry Regiment (Estonia)The 1st Infantry Regiment, was one of the two fast deployment border covering Estonian regiment created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia...
(Major-General Ernst PõdderErnst PõdderErnst Põdder VR I/1 was a famous Estonian military commander in the Estonian War of Independence....
) - 2nd Infantry Regiment (Colonel J. Unt)
- 3rd Infantry Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel E. Kubbo)
- 4th Infantry Regiment (Colonel Aleksander Seiman)
- 5th Infantry Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Nikolai ReekNikolai ReekNikolai Reek VR I/2, VR II/2, VR II/3 was Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
) - 6th Infantry Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel Viktor PuskarViktor PuskarViktor Puskar VR I/1 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
)
- Cavalry Regiment (RittmeisterRittmeisterRotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
Gustav Jonson)
- Engineering Battalion (Captain Voldemar Riiberg)
The unit order of battle in 1939:
- 1st Infantry Regiment1st Infantry Regiment (Estonia)The 1st Infantry Regiment, was one of the two fast deployment border covering Estonian regiment created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia...
- 4th Single Infantry Battalion
- 5th Single Infantry Battalion
- Armoured Train Regiment
- 1st Artillery Group
- 2nd Artillery Group
See also
- 2nd Division2nd Division (Estonia)The 2nd Division, was one of the four Estonian divisions created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Since the restoration of independence in 1991 there are no divisions currently among the Estonian Defence Forces.-History:The 2nd...
- 3rd Division3rd Division (Estonia)The 3rd Division of the Estonian Army, was one of the four Estonian divisions created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active till the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Since the restoration of independence in 1991 there are no divisions currently among the Estonian Defence...
- 4th Division
- 1st Infantry Brigade1st Infantry Brigade (Estonia)The 1st Infantry Brigade is an infantry brigade of the military of Estonia. The brigade is stationed in Harju County, North Estonia and is a made up by the Ground Force reservists.-Peacetime Organization :* 1st Infantry Brigade...