Armies of the Baltic Independence Wars 1918–20 (Elite)

This fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of three Baltic nation states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Immediately following the end of World War I, amid the collapse of the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires, bitter fighting broke out in the Baltic region as Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania struggled for their independence, and Red and White Russian armies began their civil war. There were also German forces still active in what had been the northern end of Germany's Eastern Front. This book offers a concise but detailed introduction to this whole theater of war, focusing on the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and relevant German and Russian forces, plus Finnish, Danish, and Swedish contingents. For each region there is a detailed map as well as meticulous orders-of-battle and insignia charts. Detailed for the first time in the English language, this fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of these Baltic nation states. Cover 1 Contents 3 Background 4 Red Army 7 Organization (see Table 1) 7 The Red Army’s Baltic Campaigns 7 Estonian War of Independence, 28 Nov 1918–2 Feb 1920 7 Latvian War of Independence, 1 Dec 1918–11 Aug 1920 8 Lithuanian–Bolshevik War, 12 Dec 1918–12 July 1920 10 Estonia 12 Estonian People’s Army 13 Organization (see Table 2) 13 Uniforms and insignia 15 Rank insignia (see Table 7, page 62) 18 Branch & unit distinctions 18 Equipment and weapons 19 Estonia’s Allies 20 Baltic Germans 20 Denmark 20 Finland 22 Great Britain 23 Ingria 24 Sweden 26 Estonian Independence War, 22 Nov 1918–2 Feb 1920 27 The great retreat, Nov–Dec 1918 27 Reorganization and counterattack, Nov 1918–Feb 1919 27 Failed Red Army offensive, Feb–May 1919 30 Incursions into Russia and Latvia, May–June 1919 30 The Landeswehr campaign, May–June 1919 31 Defending the borders, July–Aug 1919 32 Second advance into Russia, Oct–Nov 1919 32 The last battles, Nov–Dec 1919 33 Conclusion 34 Latvia 37 Latvian Army 38 Organization (see Table 3) 38 Uniforms and insignia 38 Rank insignia (see Table 8, page 62) 39 Branch distinctions 40 Latvian Independence War, 1 Dec 1918–11 Aug 1920 42 An uncertain beginning 42 Southern Front, Jan–March 1919 42 The Landeswehr campaign, Apr–July 1919 43 Northern Front, Jan–July 1919 44 Final campaigns, Oct 1919–July 1920 44 Lithuania 46 Lithuanian Army 47 Organization (see Table 4) 47 Uniforms and insignia 47 Rank insignia (see Table 9, page 63) 49 Branch distinctions 49 Lithuanian Independence Wars, 12 Dec 1918–29 Nov 1920 49 Lithuanian‐Bolshevik War, 12 Dec 1918–12 July 1920 49 Lithuanian‐Bermontian War, 26 July–15 Dec 1919 50 Polish‐Lithuanian War, Apr 1919–29 Nov 1920 51 Germany And The Baltic 52 Organization (see Table 5): Ober Ost 52 VI Reserve Corps (Freikorps) 53 Baltic Landeswehr 54 White Russian Forces 56 Organization (see Table 6): Pskov Volunteer/Northern Corps 56 Northern/North‐Western Army 58 Western Volunteer Army 59 Tables of rank insignia 62 Imprint 65 Immediately following the end of World War I, amid the collapse of the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires, bitter fighting broke out in the Baltic region as Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania struggled for their independence, and Red and White Russian armies began their civil war. There were also German forces still active in what had been the northern end of Germany's Eastern Front. This book offers a concise but detailed introduction to this whole theatre of war, focusing on the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and relevant German and Russian forces, plus Finnish, Danish and Swedish contingents. For each region there is a detailed map as well as meticulous orders-of-battle and insignia charts. Detailed for the first time in the English language, this fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of these Baltic nation states.