NATION’S OWN FORCE: Estonian National Defence 1920–1940 and from 1991

Estonia has had to rebuild its national defence twice. In 1918, the young country had to immediately defend its independence with arms in the War of Independence. In 1940, the Soviet occupation interrupted the development of Estonia’s national defence, so in 1991 it had to start again from scratch. The exhibition looks at the two periods in parallel, with different themes: how it was ‘before’, before the World War II, and ‘now’, after regaining independence.

The exhibition gives an overview of the development and nature of the conscription and reserve forces, uniforms, equipment and weaponry, military education and training, cooperation with allies, the Estonian defence industry and, of course, military life. A dark chapter in the history of Estonian national defence has also not been forgotten: the Soviet occupation and the liquidation of the Defence Forces, which ended with the imprisonment and death of many Estonian officers in Siberia.