EESTI
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Estland |
Estonia |
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THE COAT OF
ARMS OF ESTONIA IS THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE PRINCES OR Junior Kings of Denmark: Or, three lions passant
guardant Azure. This coat of arms appeared for the first time on the seal of
King Waldemar II (1202-1241) on his seals of 1204/05 [1]. |
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Danish
Rule 1224 (1237) – 1346
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In the years
1219-1220 the Danes under King Waldemar II conquered all of Northern Estonia and
build a castle in Reval (today’s Tallinn). This castle is called Toompea in
estonian. In the
period after the construction of Toompea the Danes came in conflict with
Germans, organized in the Order of the Sword (Schwertbrüderorden),
founded by bishop Albrecht I of Riga in 1202. The Order conquered Toompea in
1227 and one year later was enfeoffed with Estonia by the Roman King Henry
VII (1220-’36). This implicated that henceforth Estonia had to be considered
as a part of the Holy Roman Empire. As a consequence the sovereign of Estonia
could fly the banner of the Holy Roman Empire which was a white cross on a
red field. The Danebrog It is said that at the Battle of Lyndaniz against
the Estonians in 1219, when the Danes were in great distress, the socalled
Danebrog, consisting of a white cross on a red field, fell from heaven. [2] The story reminds us of the Vision of Constantine
who, at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, saw the emblem of Christ
appear in the sky with the words: In Hoc Signo Vinces (under this sign you
will conquer). In fact, Waldemar II, as a vassal of Barbarossa and the Holy
Empire, could fly the banner of the Empire but the white cross on a red field
only appeared in the Danish context at the beginning of the 14th century. Logically, Waldemar II can not have used the banner
of the Holy Empire in the time from 1219 until 1227 because he was not a
vassal of the Holy Empire in Estonia. On the contrary, the Order of the Sword
would have been the first which was entitled to bear the banner of the Empire
in Estonia. The
Schwertbrüderorden |
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On the seal
of Master of the Schwertbrüderorden was a sword per pale and a greek
cross or crux quadrata in chief. [3] After the Battle
of Saule at which the Order suffered an annihilating defeat, the survivors of
the disaster were incorporated into the Teutonic Order. With the Treaty of
Stensby of the 7th of June 1237 Northern Estonia was ceded by the Grandmaster
of the Teutonic Order to King Waldemar II. He made the territory, which
consisted of the northern part of today’s Estonia with the city of Reval, a
duchy with the name ‘Estland’. For the time being the king of Danmark himself
bore the title ‘Duke of Estonia’ (DUX ESTONIÆ). |
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Initially
king Waldemar II bore a coat of arms with three lions passant. [4] On his later seals, used 1216-’41), however is the
royal Danish coat of arms with the three lions passant on a field strewn with
hearts. Of course the title of duke of Estland is not yet in the legend of
the seal. [5]
Contradictory to this fact in Estonia itself the statues of King
Waldemar, who is considered as the one who converted the estonians to
Christianity, always display the arms with the three lions passant only. [6] |
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Seal
of Otto, Lord of Denmark, duke of Estonia and Laaland, dated 06.10.1333. A.:
Three crowned lions passant guardant. L.: SECRETV X OTTONIS X DEI GRA X DOMICEL…..RVM. (Petersen n°
35). |
Seal
of Reval (Tallinn) used 1340-1390. A.: Three crowned lions passant guardant. As a supporter
or crest a crowned bust. L.: SIGILLUM : CIVIVM : DE : REVALIE:. No print of this seal seems to have been
preserved. |
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At the
end of the Danish rule, when the duchy had proven not to be very succesful,
and during the interregnum in Denmark of 1332 until 1340, the title of Duke
of Estland passed to Otto, the second son of Christoffer II. As a prince of
Denmark he bore the coat of arms with the three lions passant only. In fact
it is this coat of arms that came to be the coat of arms of Estonia because
it appears on the seal of the city of Reval used from 1340 until 1390. On
this seal the coat of arms is supported by duke Otto himself. When King
Waldemar IV Attertag (*1320-†1375,
King 1340) ascended to the throne he also adopted the title of Duke of
Estonia. In his first years as a king he still bore his arms as a prince of
Denmark which was identical with the arms of Otto but with a crest. After the
St. George’s Night Insurrection (1343-’45), Waldemar IV readopted the coat of
arms with the hearts and wrote himself explicitly ‘Duke of Estonia’ on his
seals. His title reads WOLDEMARUS, DANORUM SCLAVORUMQUE REX ET DUX ESTONIÆ. In the time
of the Danish Rule, apart of the coat of arms of the ruler, a crown was an
other symbol used in Danish Estonia. Thus a crown was printed on coins minted
in Reval in that era, and a seal with the title of the Duke of Estonia in the
legend [X SECT.]
WALD. DI G. DANOR’ SCLAVOR’ Q’ REG ET. DVC. EST[ON] also displays a crown. [7] In fact this means that Estonia was considered as
being ‘under the Danish crown’ and had no symbolic identity of itself.
Coins minted in Reval in the second half of the 13th
century: Crown [8] |
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Rule of the Teutonic- and the Livonian Order (1346-1561) |
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In 1346
Waldemar IV sold Estonia for 19 000 silver marks tot the Teutonic
Order. One year later the duchy was sold tot the Livonian Order,
subordinated to the Teutonic Order,
for 20 000 silver marks. The Livonian Order became a sovereign order
after the secularization of the Teutonic Order in 1525. The coat of
arms, both of the Teutonic Order and the Livonian Order, was a black cross on
a white field. [9]
Seal of the Marshal of
Livonia dd. 8.X.1348. [10] Knight with
pennon and shield with a cross . L.: X s(igillum) marscalci de livonia. On the seal
of the Komtur is the resurrection of Christ. We may supppose that the
banner of Christ is red with a white cross like on many other versions of the
Resurrection.[11]
Banner of the Landmaster
of the Livonian Order, captured at the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410. Jan Dlugosz: Banderia Prutenorum (1431) fol 44v°
(reverse of the banner on fol 43v°) Banner: St. Maurice of Africa (a Moor with a golden halo) in armour with
golden elbow- and knee protectors, vested in a blue tunica an white cloak.
Crowned with a golden ducal hat. In his right a spear with a white pennon and
at his feet a shield argent, a cross sable; and standing on a grassy ground
proper. In
sinister chief the arms of the
Teutonic Order. |
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In the Livonian
Order era coins were minted with the cross of the Order:
Coins minted in the era
of the Livonian Order: Arms with cross. 6-8: artigs from the second half of the 14th
and first quarter of the 15th c. 9. killing from the middle of the 15th c. 10-12: farthings from the time of Wolter von
Plettenberg Landmeister of Livonia (1494-1535) . |
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Swedish Rule 1561-1710 |
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In the
Livonian War (1558-’83) the knights and citizens of Tallinn pledged their allegiance
to the king of Sweden, Eric XIV, on the 1-3rd of May 1561. This oath was
repeated on the 6th of June and on the 8th of August King Eric recognized the
priviliges of the city. The King of
Sweden used the coat of arms of Duke Otto and the city of Reval for his title
of Duke of Estonia. The difference is that the lions are just passant and not
passant guardant. On the shield is a ducal crown.
Seal of king John III of Sweden (1568-1592). Royal achievement surrounded by the coats of arms of the Swedish
territories. Among them the coat of arms with the three lions passant for the
title of „Hertig af Esthen” .
Arms of the Hertig af Esthen/Landscape of Estonia In a Swedish manuscript of 1570 Arms: Or,
three lions passant Azure the upper one holding a leaf in its dexter claw (?) Below the
arms the title ‘Lifflandh’ (sic!).[12]
Coins of the Swedish
era: Arms with three lions passant 13. farthing of Erik XIV (1567); 14. farthing
of John III (1568-’92) 15-16. 4 and 2 rundstück of Charles XI (1668) |
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Russian Rule 1710-1918 |
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The
Swedish administration lasted for a century and a half. In 1710 Tallinn was besieged
by Russian troops and the city surrendered on the 29th of september 1710.
With the Peace of Nystad (1721) the loss was recognized by Sweden and the
territory was ceded to Russia. In the Russian Empire the duchy of Estonia was
changed into a government with the territorial reorganization of Catharina
the Great in 1775. The Russian Tsars nevertheless incorporated the title of
‘Duke of Estonia’ in their greater imperial title thereafter. ЭСТЛЯНСКОЙ
ГУБЕРНІИ (1775-1918)
On the 8th of
December 1856 a coat of arms was adopted for the Government of Estonia. It is
identical with the arms for the duchy of Estonia in the Swedish era. On the
shield is the Imperial Russian crown and around the shield is a garland of
branches of oak intertwined with the blue ribbon of the Order of Alexander
Newski (Russia, 21st of Mai 1725). [13] The title ‘Prince of Estonia’ in the greater title
of Alexander III (1881-1894): бoжiею поспђшествчющею милстію александрь третіи императоръ и самодержець всероссіискіи, московскіи, киевскіи, владимирскіи, новгородскіи, царь казанскіи, царь астраханскіи, царь полскіи, царь сибирскіи, царь херсониса таврическаго, царь грузинскіи, государь псковскіи и великіи князь смоленскіи, литовскіи, волинскіи, подолскіи и финляндскіи, князь естляндскіи, лифляндскіи, курляндскіи и семигалскі и самогитскіи, бђостокскіи, корелскіи, тверскіи, югорскіи, пермскіи, вятскіи, болгарскіи и иныхъ, государь и великіи княз новгорода низовскіи, земли, черниговскіи, рязанскіи, полотскіи, ростовскіи, ярославскіи, бђлозерскіи, удорскіи, обдорскіи, кондинскіи, витебскіи, мстис-лавскіи и всея съверныя страны повелитель и государь иверскія карталискія и кабардинскія земли и области арменскія черкасскихь и горскихь князей и иниыхь наслђдныи государь и обладатель государь туркестанскіи наслђдникь норвежскіи герцогь шлесвигь-голстинскіи, стормарскіи, дитмарскіи и олденбургскіи и прочая и про. и про.. |
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United Baltic Duchy |
15-03/22.09.1918-29.11.1918 |
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Under the
German military administration, Baltic Germans began forming provincial
councils between September 1917 and March 1918. On 8
March 1918, the local Baltic German-dominated Kurländische Landesrat declared the restoration of Duchy of
Courland (Herzogtum Kurland), which
was formally recognised by Emperor Wilhelm II on 15 March 1918. On 12 April
1918, a Provincial Assembly (Vereinigter
Landesrat) composed of 35 Baltic Germans, 13 Estonians, and 11 Latvians
passed a resolution calling upon the German Emperor to recognize the Baltic
provinces as a monarchy and make them a German protectorate. The
United Baltic Duchy was nominally recognized as a sovereign state by emperor Wilhelm
II only on 22 September 1918, half a year after Soviet Russia had formally
relinquished all authority over former Russian Imperial Baltic governorates to
Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. On 5 November 1918, a temporary
Regency Council (Regentschaftsrat)
for the new state led by Baron Adolf Pilar von Pilchau was formed on a joint
basis from the two local Land Councils. The capital of the new state was to be Riga. It was to be a confederation of
seven cantons: Kurland (Courland), Riga, Lettgallen (Latgale), Südlivland (South
Livonia), Nordlivland (North Livonia), Ösel (Saaremaa), and Estland (Estonia),
the four first cantons thus covering the territory corresponding to today's
Latvia and the latter three corresponding to today's Estonia.
The first
head of state of the United Baltic Duchy was to be Duke Adolf Friedrich of
Mecklenburg, not as a sovereign monarch, but as a subordinate to the German emperor,
similar to other princes of the German Empire. But Adolf Friedrich
never assumed office. The appointed Regency Council consisting of four Baltic
Germans, three Estonians and three Latvians functioned until 28 November
1918, without any international recognition, except Germany. In
October 1918, the Chancellor of Germany, Prince Maximilian of Baden, proposed
to have the military administration in the Baltic replaced by civilian
authority. The new policy was stated in a telegram from the German Foreign
Office to the military administration of the Baltic: "The government of
the Empire is unanimous in respect of the fundamental change in our policy
towards the Baltic countries, namely that in the first instance policy is to
be made with the Baltic peoples." Germany's
defeat in the First World War prevented the consolidation of the Baltic
Duchy. On 19 November 1918 the German Commissioner in the Baltic States
August Winning, confirmed Estonia's independence. On 26 November 1918, the
nobility of Estland decided to cooperate with the Provisional Government of
Estonia. This ended the existence of the Baltic Duchy. [14]
Flag of the Baltic Duchy Being the flag of the Teutonic Order |
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Sovereignty,
1918 - 1940 |
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EESTI VABARIK 24.02.1918 - 1940
(Foto Ebay) One Estonian Marka, 1922 After the
proclamation of independence on the 24th of Februari 1918, the three lions of
the coat of arms of the Government of Estonia were placed on the newly minted
coins of the Republic. The lions are passant guardant again like in the coat
of arms of Duke Otto, but not crowned.
On the 11th of June 1925 a new coat of arms was officially adopted.
The garland of golden branches of oak was maintained but the ribbon and the
crown are omitted.
The sections
of the law about the national coat of arms were published in Riigi Teataja,
1925 Nr. 117/118. They read: §
1. Eesti riigivapil on kaks kuju: 1)
suur vapp ja 2) väike vapp. §
2. Suureks riigivapiks on kuldse
pöhjaga kilbil kolm sinist leopardi. Kilp on kolmest küljest ümbritsetud kuld
tammepuulehtedest pärjaga. §
3. Väikeseks vapiks on eelmises (2)
paragrahvis kirjedatud vapp ilma ümbritseva pärjata.[15] That is: § 1. The Estonian national coat of arms has two shapes: 1) a large
coat of arms and 2) a small coat of arms. § 2. The large national coat of arms has three blue leopards on a
golden shield. The shield is surrounded
on three sides by a gold wreath of oak leaves. § 3. The small coat of arms
is the coat of arms described in the previous paragraph (2) without the
surrounding wreath.
State seal of the first Estonian Republic (after Oja) |
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Soviet
Vassalage 1940-1990 |
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EESTI NOUKOGUDA SOTSIALISTLIK VABARIIK
16.VII.1940-8.V.1990 As a
consequence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact the Sovjet Union invaded the
independent Republic of Estonia on the 16th of July 1940. Already on the 21th
of October of the same year a new coat of arms for the then called ‘Estonian
Socialist Peoples Republic’ was adopted. It
is of the usual Sovjet design:
Arms: A
rising sun, its rays charged with a hammer and sickle in saltire, Or. Crest: A
five-pointed star Gules, fimbriated Or. Garland: Branches of fir and ears of wheat proper. Motto:
Eesti NSV; KŎIGI
MAADE PROLETAARLASED, ŪHINEGE!; ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН СОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ! in white lettering on a red ribbon. § 115 of the
Constitution of 1940 about the coat of arms reads: Государственный
герб
Эстонской
Советской
Социалнстической
Републики
состоит из
изображения
в лучах
восходящего
солнца серпа
и молота,
окруженных
венком,
который
состоит
слева - из
хвойных
ветвей и
справа - из
ржаных колосьев.
Обе
половины
венка
перевиты
красной лентой
с надписями
на
естонском и
русском языках «Пролетарии
всех стран,
соединяйтесь!»
и ниже
инициалы «Eesti NSV». Наверху герба
находится
пятиконечная
звезда. Статнья
115 Контитуции
Этонской
ССР Published in: ENSV Teataja, nr 37 dd. 1.IX.1940 p. 421 and adopted 21 X 1940. |
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Sovereignty 1991 - present |
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EESTI
VABARIIK 08.05.1990 Independent
20.08.1991 In May 1990
the Estonian government abolished the Socialist Republic and established a
new (third) republic. By decree of 7th of August 1990 § 2.1, ratified by
chairman Arnold Rüütel on the 16th of October 1990, the flag and coats of
arms of the first republic were restored. [16] On the 20th
of August 1991 Estonia retired from the Soviet Union and declared itself a
sovereign state. As before,
the coats of arms were of two categories: the larger arms and the smaller
arms. The difference was that the larger arms consisted of the smaller arms
surrounded by a garland of branches of oak.
Smaller arms of the
Estonian Republic, 1990
Larger arms of the
Estonian Republic, 1990 |
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By National Coat of
Arms Act, Passed 13 June 2001 and ratified 1st of
January 2002, the coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia was officially
adopted. At this occasion the
colors of the coats of arms were officially fixed The act was published in RT1 I 2001, 65, 376, The act was amended on: 19.06.2002 (ratified 01.09.2002)
Published: RT I 2002, 63, 387 27.03.2002 (ratified 06.04.2002)
Published: RT I 2002, 34, 206. Section 3 of the act
reads: § 3. Riigivapi heraldiline kirjeldus (1) Riigivapil on kaks kuju: suur riigivapp ja väike riigivapp. (2) Suurel riigivapil on kuldsel kilbil kolm sinist sammuvat otsavaatavat
lõvi. Külgedelt ja alt ümbritsevad kilpi kaks kilbi allosas ristuvat kuldset
tammeoksa. (3) Väike riigivapp on käesoleva paragrahvi lõikes 2 kirjeldatud vapp
ilma tammeoksteta. That is tot say: § 3. Heraldic description of the national coat of arms (1) The national coat of arms has two forms: the larger national coat
of arms and the smaller national coat of arms. (2) The
larger national coat of arms consists of a golden shield with three blue
lions passant guardant. The shield is surrounded at the base and on both
sides by two golden oak branches which intersect at the base of the shield. (3) The smaller national coat of arms is the same as the coat of arms
described in subsection (2) of this section but without the oak branches. The act,
with the official colored and black-and-white versions of the coats of arms,
has been published on internet at: www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/ert.jsp?link=print...
Smaller
arms of the Estonian Republic, 2002
Larger arms of the Estonian Republic, 2002 |
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President |
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President Kertis Karjulaid, 2016- wearing the collar and jewel of the Order of the National Coat
of Arms The Order of the National Coat of Arms (Riigivapi teenetemärk) The Order
of the National Coat of Arms was instituted in 1936 to commemorate 24 February
1918, the day on which Estonian independence was declared. The Order of the
National Coat of Arms is bestowed only on Estonian citizens as a decoration
of the highest class for services to the state. The Order of the National
Coat of Arms comprises six classes.
Collar and star
Presidential Flag 1920-1940; 08-10-1992-present |
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The Estonian
Police (Eesti Politsei) was
the law enforcement agency of Estonia. It was subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. In 2010, the organization was superseded by the Police and Border Guard Board. The
Estonian Police was established on 12 November 1918, when police stations
were taken over from the German occupation forces Between 1918-1919, the
police was called militsiya, it was subordinate to the local
self-government and acted according to the Russian Provisional
Government law. During the Estonian War of Independence (1918-’20) the
police conducted joint operations with the Estonian Defence League. On 1
January 1919, the self-government based police became a national agency,
subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and lead by the Police
Directorate (Politsei Peavalitus).
The Police Directorate was called Politseivalitsus between
1929-1938, and Politseitalitus between
1938-1940. On 17
December 1919, the Estonian Constituent Assembly passed the Police Act. A field police
was established, to protect public safety and order. Police districts were formed based on
counties and cities, these were divided into divisions, which were further divided
into precincts. Criminal police was established
on 5 January 5, and the Estonian Internal Security Service on 12 April 1920. Furthermore,
police reserve was established in 1920. The police consisted of field police
and the Internal Security Service, which were subordinate to the Ministry of
the Interior, and criminal police, which was subordinate to the Ministry of
Justice. On May 1, 1924, the services were unified under the control of the
Police Directorate. On
January 1, 1926, police districts became prefectures and the Internal Security
Service was renamed political police. Police ranks were put in accordance
with the rest of Europe. By 1940, there were nine prefectures: Tallinn-Harju,
Tartu-Valga, Viljandi-Pärnu, Petseri-Võru, Saare, Lääne, Viru-Järva, Narva,
and Railroads prefecture. In 1940, the Soviets occupied Estonia and on August 28, the
institution was disbanded. |
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Police cap
badge adopted 15.11.1935
Police coat of
arms ancient
Police coat of arms Arms: Azure, a lion rampant Argent keeping an
escutcheon of the national arms of Estonia proper. Symbolism: Azure: Peace and stability The lion rampant: valor and courage and willingnes to act Argent: nobility and manhood The national coat of arms: commitment to protecting public
order and the interests of the state The design
is based on the Estonian Police badge from the 1930s. |
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Eesti Piirivalve
/ Estonian Border Guard |
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The Estonian
Border Guard (Eesti Piirivalve)
was the national security agency responsible for the border
security of Estonia. It was subordinate to
the Ministry of the Interior. The Border Guard also assisted with Search
and Rescue missions. It was founded on 21 November 1922. In 2010, the organization merged into
the Police and Border Guard Board.
The
emblem of the Estonian Border Guard was designed in 1932, ten years after the
establishment of the service by the artist Günther Reindorff (†1974). It is: Emblem: An Estonian border pole being bendy sinister
blue, black and white, its chief charged with an escutcheon Estonia, charged
with an eagle, wings expanded, holding a sword per fess in its dexter claw.
Surrounded by a garland of oak leaves with a listel in base with the date
1.XI.1922 all Argent.
Banner (ancient)
Banner (present) The
banner of the Border Guard is the national flag with a green triangle with a
yellow border, in the middle of which are placed large white Latin letters PV
at the mast end.
Sleeve patch |
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Police
and Border Guard 2010- present |
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Coat of arms
Police and Border Guard Banner proportions: 7 : 9
Police and Border Guard Shoulder patch adopted 19.01.2009
Emblem
Cap Badge adopted 19.01.2009 |
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Kaitsepolitseiamet
/ Estonian Internal Security Service |
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The Estonian
Internal Security Service (Kaitsepolitseiamet) was
first established on April 12, 1920. From 1925 to 1940 the institution was
known as Political Police (Poliitiline
politsei, abbreviated PolPol). The PolPol fought against subversive
activities of political extremists, espionage, desertion, smuggling and
terrorism. When the Soviet Union annexed Estonia on 17 June 1940 the PolPol
was one of the first institutions to be repressed. The Estonian
Internal Security Service was reestablished on March 1, 1991, as a part of
restoration of Estonian independence from the Soviet occupation. Until June
18, 1993, the Estonian Internal Security Service was a department of the
central police structure; then, it was reorganised as a distinct entity.
Coat of arms
Banner
Badge |
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Badges of Security service units |
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Ministry of Defence logo The command of the Estonian Defence Forces has
had several denominations in the course of history 1917-1920 Staff of the Estonian Division 1920-1924 Staff of Estonian Armies 1924-1929 General Staff 1929-1937 Staff of the Defence Forces 1937-1940 Staff of the Armies 1991 -2008 General Staff of the Defence
Forces From 2009 Headquarters of the Estonian
Defence Forces General Staff of the
Estonian Defence Forces (1991-2008) On 31
October 1991 the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces was set up with the
order no. 404-k of the Government of the Republic. The basic documents for
the work of the Headquarters were the temporary statutes adopted by the
Government of the Republic on 2 December 1991, other national defence
legislation, decrees of the Parliament and the Government of the Republic
prepared and adopted in 1992-1998. Since its
creation, the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces has used the names
of departments, structures and procedures corresponding to those at the
staffs of NATO and these are constantly being developed. In 1995 the Navy
Staff and the Air Force Staff were created as independent units on the basis
of the Navy and Air Force Department of the General Staff. In 2001 the Army
Staff was added to the former. The
General Staff of the Defence Forces is the working body of the Chief of the
Defence Forces. The General Staff is a joint staff engaged with operational
leadership, training and development of the Defence Forces. Operational
leadership is implemented by the Operational Staff, which plans and controls
operations and ensures defence readiness and mobilisation. The
departments for training and development are responsible for long-term and
mid-term planning, resource planning, organisation and control of the
planning of training and implementation of national defence activities. The
General Staff of the Defence Forces is headed by the Chief of the General
Staff.
General Staff (1991-2008) Headquarters
of the Estonian Defence Forces (2009-present)
Headquarters The
achievement of the Headquarters of the Estonian Armed Forces is: Arms: Or, three lions passant guardant Azure. Crest: A four-pointed star Or Garland: A crown of oak, Or Motto: VIRIBUS UNITIS (With United Forces) in black
lettering on a ribbon Or Supporters: A shield Azure charged with a sword and a
marshall’s baton in saltire Argent
General Staff Banner The
Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces received its flag on 29 October
2010. The flags blue field contains the emblem of the headquarters, with
"KAITSEVÄE
PEASTAAP" written in silver at the top, and two
silver datums at the bottom - one marking the formation date and the other
marking the restoration date of the headquarters. The flag
was designed by Margus Haavamägi.[17]
Eesti kaitseväe juhataja / Commander in Chief |
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Estonian Foreign
Intelligence Service |
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The
service dates back to 1992 when the
Information Agency of the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia was established.
In 1994, the Information Agency was subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. In 2001, the Estonian Information Board was established, which was
then subordinated to the Ministry of Defence, and was united with the signals
intelligence unit of the former Government Communications Agency. As of 1
July 2017, our organisation is named the Estonian Foreign Intelligence
Service to more clearly communicate our main task, which is the collection of
intelligence. It is
under the purview of the Ministry of Defence.
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ARMY
/ MAAVÄGI |
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The Army
is the main arm of the Defence Forces. The Army
development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the
national territory and the capability to perform operations to protect the
territory of Estonia, also in co-operation with the Allies. The Army
component of the operational structure consists of an infantry brigade and a
homeland security structure. Deployable infantry battalion tactical group and
some deployable CS, CSS units will developed in the Army structure in
accordance with NATO Force Proposals requirements. Infantry brigade will act
as a training and support frame for deployable units. Homeland security
structure units will have the capability to carry out territorial military
tasks and support civil structures.
Coat of arms
Banner
http://www.mil.ee/et/kaitsevagi/kaitsevae-symboolika/embleemid https://www.kra.ee/ajateenistus/ajateenistusest/vaeosad/ |
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NAVY
/ MEREVÄGI |
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Achievement\
Ensign
Jack Cap Badges |
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Admirals and Officers |
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Petty Officers |
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Seamen Ships |
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EML Ugandi (M315) (formerly HMS Bridport) |
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AIR FORCE / ÖHUVÄGI |
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The roots
of the current organization go back to the Russian revolution of February
1917, after which the Estonian state obtained a degree of autonomy within
Russia, which included the establishment of national armed forces. The
Estonian Declaration of Independence in early 1918 was not recognized by
Germany, which disbanded the Estonian armed forces. After the
armistice on 11 November 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government
immediately set about establishing a military aviation unit. The Aviation
Company of the Engineer Battalion began to establish air bases near Tallinn
for seaplanes and land planes, but it was not until January 1919 that the
first operational aircraft was acquired. After the
defeat of Poland in 1939 Estonia was forced to accept a Mutual Assistance
Pact with the Soviet Union, signed on 28 September 1939. On 17 June 1940 the
three Baltic States were invaded by Soviet forces. The air force became the
Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army in the
summer of 1940. The
Estonian Air Force was re-established on 16 December 1991 after the
restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia in 1991
Air Force Staff
Emblem
Flag (reverse and obverse)
Cocarde /
Roundel
Pilot Badge www.rathbonemuseum.com/ESTONIA/ESTMain.html |
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Estonian Defence
League / Eesti Kaitseliit |
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The
Estonian Defence League (Eesti
Kaitseliit) is the unified paramilitary armed force of the Republic
of Estonia. Its
aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of
the state, the integrity of its territory and its constitutional order. The
Defence League engages in military exercises, fulfilling the tasks given to
it by law. The organization is divided into 15 Defence League regional units,
called Malevs, whose areas of responsibility
mostly coincide with the borders of Estonian counties. History of Estonian Defence Leage Tallinn Unit (Malev) Naval Division (NAVDIV) reaches back to 1924, when enginer Eduard Avik started to organize defence for Harbour and Sea Industry building. Before the occupation NAVDIV had more than 240 members and was very active subunit. Unit was re-established in december 1994. Today NAVDIV is one of the four Defence League Tallinn Unit's (malev) exterritorial subunits and is strongly focust in co-operation with Estonian Navy. NAVDIV is currently the only naval reserve force unit in Estonia. In the beginning of 2010 unit had more than 160 members.
Emblem
Estonian Defence League Flag Obverse and reverse |
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Alutaguse |
Harju |
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Järva |
Jögeva |
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Lääne |
Pärnumaa |
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Pölva |
Rapla |
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Saarema |
Sakala |
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Talinna |
Tartu |
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Valgamaa |
Viru |
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Vörumaa Retrieved
from: http://www.kaitseliit.ee/et/malevate-lipud |
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Harjumaa Design of Güstav Reindorff, 1936 |
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Hiiumaa |
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Ida-Virumaa |
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Järvamaa |
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Jõgevamaa |
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Lääne-Virumaa |
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Läänemaa Design of Güstav Reindorff, 1936 |
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Pärnumaa |
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Petserimaa 1927-1930 |
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Petserimaa 1936-1944 |
Pechorsky District (Russia) 1944-present |
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Coat of arms and traditional costume (1944) |
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Põlvamaa |
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Raplamaa |
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Saaremaa, 1935
Saaremaa |
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Tartumaa |
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The arms of 1931 With garland and swords in saltire
Valgamaa |
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Viljandimaa |
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Võrumaa
Coat of arms and traditional costume (1944) |
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© Hubert de Vries 2008.05.28.
Updated 2015-09-22; 2018-08-13
Heraldry of the World