The Estonian Land Forces (), unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. The Estonian Land Forces is currently the largest Estonian military branch, with an average size of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers during peacetime.
The Maavägi development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the national territory and perform operations to protect the territory of Estonia, also in co-operation with the Allies. The Maavägi 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 develop in the Army structure in accordance with NATO Force Proposals requirements. The infantry brigade will be a training and support frame for deployable units. Homeland security structure units can carry out territorial military tasks and support civil structures.
The Land Forces are structured according to the principle of a reserve force, which means that the main part of the State's defence forces are units in a trained reserve. The reserve units are formed on the territorial principle, i.e. conscripts from one area are called up at one time to one unit and after service, they are sent to the reserve as one unit.
History The 1st and 2nd Divisions were created during the Estonian War of Independence; the 1st Division in December 1918 and the 2nd Division in January 1919. The Scouts Single Infantry Battalion was formed on 21 December 1918.
Eight 'Single Infantry Battalions' were formed on 21 November 1928. The battalions were created to train conscripts during peacetime. In wartime, the battalion would reorganize itself into a regiment with a similar order of battle as the two initial reaction force regiments covering the eastern and southern borders. Each battalion's peacetime strength was a total of 237 soldiers in a regimental staff, a Signal Platoon, an Engineering Platoon, a Ski-Bicycle Platoon, a Building Platoon, and three infantry companies.
The wartime order of battle would have transformed the battalion into a regiment-sized unit with the same unit number. It would have included 3 infantry battalions, Signal Company, Engineering Company, Ski-Bicycle Company, Cavalry Company, Building Company, Commandant Commando, and a CB Commando; all in total of 3,153 men.
The 2nd Single Infantry Battalion was located at Tartu, the 3rd Single Infantry Battalion was located at Valga, the 4th at Jõhvi, the 5th at Rakvere, the 6th Single Infantry Battalion was located at Pärnu, the 8th Single Infantry Battalion at Valga, the 9th at Pärnu, and the 10th Single Infantry Battalion was located at Tallinn.
A reorganisation took place on 1 February 1940 and a fourth division was created. The 4th Division staff was based in Viljandi. The division was made up by the Pärnu-Viljandi Military District and Valga Military District. The division's commander was Colonel Jaan Maide. The four divisions were active until the Soviet occupation of Estonia.
On 17 August 1940, after Estonia was occupied by the Soviets, the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps of the Red Army was formed at Tallinn. The Army was created as a territorial Estonian body based on military units and institutions of the Estonian army. All soldiers and officers kept the Estonian Army 1936-spec uniforms but with Soviet insignia. The first commander of the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps was a former major general of the Estonian army, Gustav Jonson, who was later arrested by the NKVD and shot. Most of the corps' officer posts were occupied by former officers of the Estonian Army. By the middle of June 1941, before the German invasion of the Soviet Union; most of the Estonian Army officers were arrested and replaced by newcomers from the Soviet Red Army officers.
Many of the Estonian officers of the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps body were arrested and died in 1941 and 1942 in camps in the Soviet Union; many were shot. The former commander of the 180th Rifle Division, 22nd Corps, Richard Tomberg, survived after dismissal only because from 1942 He was claimed by the Frunze Military Academy as a teacher. He was arrested in February 1944 (He was later released from the camp and rehabilitated in 1956). Some officers of the 22nd Rifle Corps, among them Alfons Rebane, managed to escape from the authorities in the period between dismissal from the army and the plan for their arrest. Some managed to escape abroad, others came out of hiding only after the arrival of German troops in July and August 1941, some of them volunteered for the Estonian units that fought on the side of Nazi Germany or enlisted in Estonian organisations controlled by the Germans.
The 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps was part of the 'operational army' during World War II from 22 June 1941 to 31 August 1941. On 22 June 1941, the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps headquarters was stationed in the village of Rev.
Organization Military units
Fire and maneuver team A fire-and-manoeuvre team () is a small Estonian military unit led by a soldier that is subordinate to an infantry fireteam. The fire and maneuver team is bigger than an individual soldier but smaller than a fireteam. The fire and maneuver team is the smallest military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units. Estonian Defence Forces formations
The fire and maneuver team usually consists of two soldiers. The more experienced soldier leads a fire and maneuver team in the pair.
One fire and maneuver team is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other fire and maneuver teams on a landscape no greater than 20 x 50 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a fire and maneuver team.
Fireteam
A fireteam () is a small military unit led by a senior soldier that is subordinate to an infantry squad. The fireteam is bigger than a fire and maneuver team () but smaller than a squad (). A fireteam is one of the smallest military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.
A fireteam usually consists of three to five soldiers, and may be further subdivided into fire and maneuver teams. A fireteam is composed of two fire and maneuver teams of two soldiers each, as well as a fireteam leader (; in Defence League ) who is usually a corporal (). Eesti relvajõudude ametikohtade tunnused
One fireteam is meant to operate on a battlefield along with others on a landscape no greater than 50 x 100 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a fireteam.
Squad A squad () is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer (NCO) that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. A squad is bigger than a fireteam () but smaller than a platoon (). A squad is one of the smallest military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.
A squad usually consists of six to ten soldiers, and may be further subdivided into fireteams. A squad is composed of two fireteams of five soldiers each, as well as a squad leader (; in Defence League ) who is usually a sergeant (). His second in command is known as an assistant squad leader (; in Defence League ). Eesti relvajõudude ametikohtade tunnused
One squad is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other squads on a landscape no greater than 100 x 200 metres. There are no logistical support elements in the structure of a squad. The formation transport is usually made up by one tactical transport vehicle such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.
Platoon A platoon () is a small military unit led by a commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry company. A platoon is bigger than a squad () but smaller than a company (). A platoon is one of the smallest military formations among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units. Estonian Defence Forces formations
A platoon usually consists of thirty to fifty soldiers, and is further subdivided into squads. A platoon is composed of five squads of ten soldiers each, as well as a platoon leader (; in Defence League ) who is usually a junior lieutenant (). His second in command is known as a platoon sergeant (; in Defence League ).
One platoon is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other platoons on a landscape no greater than 300 × 400 metres. There is no logistical support element in the structure of a platoon. The formation transport is usually made up by three to five tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.
Company A company () is a medium military unit led by a junior officer that is subordinate to an infantry battalion. A company is bigger than a platoon () but smaller than a battalion (). A company is one of the most basic military formation among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.
A company usually consists of 180 to 250 soldiers, and is further subdivided into platoons. A company is composed of five platoons of thirty to fifty soldiers each, as well as a company leader () who is usually a captain (). His second in command is a lieutenant and he/she acts as an assistant of the company commander ().
One company is meant to operate on a battlefield along with other companies, on a landscape no greater than 500 x 500 metres. There is a logistical support element in a company's structure based on a reserve platoon and it is at company level one finds the first integral logistic support within a formation. The formation transport is usually made up by twenty tactical transport vehicles such as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435.
Battalion A battalion () is a military unit led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry brigade. A battalion consists of several companies (), with several battalions forming a brigade (). A battalion is one of the most basic military formations among the Estonian Ground Force infantry units.
A battalion usually consists of 900 to 1,250 soldiers. A battalion is composed of five companies of 180 to 250 soldiers each, the majority of the companies being infantry, with one or two companies providing logistical and special weapons support. The commander is usually a lieutenant colonel (). His second in command is a major and acts as a deputy to the battalion commander ().
One battalion is meant to operate on a battlefield landscape no greater than 1,500 x 3,000 metres. There is a logistical support element in a battalion's structure based on a reserve company. The formation transport is usually made up of tactical transport vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Unimog 435, the number assigned varying according to roles assigned.
Regional unit
Above battalion, a regional unit () is a county milita led by a senior officer that is subordinate to an infantry division; the formation functions similar to how a brigade in many western armies functions. The term malev is historical. It was originally based on the manpower of a county and was led by a county leader (). A malev was bigger than a battalion () and smaller than a division (). A malev was the largest military formation among the Estonian Defense League infantry units.
A malev is usually a sub-component of a division, 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 modern malev is typically composed of three to five companies or battalions, depending on the area and available manpower of a given county. Each malev can operate independently on a battlefield encompassing an area of 10 km × 15 km. A malevs commanding officer is commonly a colonel, but shortage of personnel and/or resources may see some malev's commanded by majors.
Division A division () is a large military unit led by a general that is subordinate to a corps (). The division is bigger than a brigade () but smaller than a corps.