Estonian Defence League
| Estonian Defence League Eesti Kaitseliit |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Active | 1918–1940 1991–present |
| Country | Estonia |
| Type | Army |
| Size | Members: 15,500 Volunteers: 24,500 |
| Engagements | War of Independence |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Brigadier General Meelis Kiili |
| Chief of Staff | Colonel Ilmar Tamm |
| Boys’ Corps / Noored Kotkad | |
|---|---|
| Country | Estonia |
| Allegiance | Kaitseliit |
| Size | 3,200 |
| Girls’ Corps / Kodutütred | |
|---|---|
| Country | Estonia |
| Allegiance | Kaitseliit |
| Size | 3,537 |
| Women’s Corps / Naiskodukaitse | |
|---|---|
| Country | Estonia |
| Allegiance | Kaitseliit |
| Size | 1,676 |
The Estonian Defence League (Estonian: Eesti Kaitseliit) is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defence League is a paramilitary defence organization whose aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its constitutional order.
The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises, fulfilling the tasks given to it by the 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.
The Defence League is a voluntary military national defence organisation, which acts in the area of government of the Ministry of Defence. The Defence League possesses arms and engages in military exercises. The main goal of the Defence League is, on the basis of the citizens’ free will and initiative, to enhance the readiness of the nation to defend its independence and its constitutional order, including in the event of military threat.
The Defence League plays an important role in supporting the civil structures. Its members aid in putting out wildfires, volunteer as assistant police members, and ensure safety at various events. Units, consisting of voluntary members of the Defence League, also participate in international peace support operations such as in the Balkan states. The Defence League and its affiliated organisations have positive relations with partner organisations in the Nordic countries, the United States and the United Kingdom.
In 1999 the Estonian Parliament adopted the Law of Kaitseliit, which provided the position of Kaitseliit in society and national defence and also described its main tasks, structure, legal basis for operations and control and co-operation with other persons.
The organisation is divided into 15 Defence League regional units whose areas of responsibility mostly coincide with the borders of Estonia’s counties; Alutaguse, Saaremaa, Jõgeva, Lääne, Pärnumaa, Põlva, Rapla, Tartu, Tallinn, Harju, Järva, Viru, Sakala, Valgamaa and Võrumaa.
Today, the Defence League has over 13,000 members. The affiliated organisations of the Defence League combine more than 21,000 volunteers, in all, and include the Estonian Defence League’s women’s corps Naiskodukaitse, the Estonian Defence League’s boys’ corps Noored Kotkad, and the Estonian Defence League’s girls’ corps Kodutütred.
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Wikipedia