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Malev (military unit)
Encyclopedia
A malev is an ancient Estonia
n military unit led by a senior officer
that is subordinate to an infantry
division
. A malev was originally based on a manpower of county
and was led by a county vanem
. Malev is bigger than a pataljon
(battalion) but smaller than a diviis
(division). It is currently the largest military formation among the Estonian Defence League
infantry units.
, a larger unit consisting of two or more malevs; however, some brigades are classified as a separate brigade and operate independently from the traditional division
structure. A malevs commanding officer
is commonly a major
or colonel
.
or battalion
s, depending on the area and available manpower of a given county
. Each malev can operate independently on a battlefield encompassing an area of 10 x 15 kilometres.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n military unit led by a senior officer
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...
that is subordinate to an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. A malev was originally based on a manpower of county
Counties of Estonia
A county is an administrative subdivision of Estonia.Estonia is divided into 15 counties. The government of each county is led by a county governor , who represents the national government at the regional level...
and was led by a county vanem
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
. Malev is bigger than a pataljon
Pataljon
Pataljon, is an average military unit led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. Pataljon is bigger than a kompanii but smaller than a brigaad...
(battalion) but smaller than a diviis
Diviis
Diviis, is a large military unit led by a superior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. Diviis is bigger than a brigaad but smaller than a korpus . There are currently no divisions among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.-Leadership:It usually consists of 20000 to 35000...
(division). It is currently the largest military formation among the Estonian Defence League
Estonian Defence League
The Estonian Defence League is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defence League is a paramilitary defence organization which aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its...
infantry units.
Leadership
Usually, a malev is a sub-component of a divisionDivision (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, a larger unit consisting of two or more malevs; however, some brigades are classified as a separate brigade and operate independently from the traditional division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
structure. A malevs commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
is commonly a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
or 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...
.
Organization
A modern malev is typically composed of three to five companiesCompany (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
or battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s, depending on the area and available manpower of a given county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. Each malev can operate independently on a battlefield encompassing an area of 10 x 15 kilometres.
See also
- Military scienceMilitary scienceMilitary science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
- PataljonPataljonPataljon, is an average military unit led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. Pataljon is bigger than a kompanii but smaller than a brigaad...
(Battalion) - BrigaadBrigaadA brigaad, is a military unit commanded by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry division. A Brigade is bigger than a pataljon but smaller than a diviis...
(Brigade) - DiviisDiviisDiviis, is a large military unit led by a superior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. Diviis is bigger than a brigaad but smaller than a korpus . There are currently no divisions among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.-Leadership:It usually consists of 20000 to 35000...
(Division)