Today is Võidupüha, or Victory Day in Estonia. It's part of a long weekend called Jaani which combines Võidupüha together with St. John's Day (Jaanipäev), to create an orgy of meat grilling and beer consumption.Why Võidupüha? This is the interesting thing about living in a country that was founded in 1918. In the US, our country was founded in 1776, and so many of us are well acquainted with the political and social fabric of that time. Even today, you'll hear American politicians occasionally roll their tongues as if their speeches had been lifted from the works of Thomas Paine.
But in Estonia, the backdrop is the end of World War I and the Estonian Independence War that followed. Võidupüha commemorates the victory of the Estonian Liberation Army over the troops of the German Landeswehr at Võnnu (Cēsis, Latvia) on this date in 1919.
For a country that has been victorious in so few battles, they really savor this one. And by "savor," I mean play accordion music and load up on food supplies and alcohol. The line at the local supermarket was long; Estonians filled their carts with mind-boggling procurements of beer, jars of pickles, buckets of saslokk, all while generic accordion music set to an umpa rhythm called out from the speakers.
It seemed odd, really. Estonians? Festive? Not working? Going to a party? Why, that must mean that it's summertime. For my part, I bought a tub full of greasy juustu-sibulla leivad (cheese and onion bread), and two packs of A. Le Coq to ... celebrate the victory at Võnnu. I also made sure to put the sinine-must-valge up outside, just to remind any Germans that might happen to pass by who is boss in this land of umpa music and great beer.
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Not necessarily to put some water in the wine (or the AleCoq respectively), but to throw in some facts:
The Eestimaalased were not defeated, they had fought elsewhere under Estonian command:
"BALTENREGIMENT
Of note is that unlike in Latvia, where the Germans allowed ethnic Germans to
serve in Latvian units - the German 8th AOK in Tallinn (Reval) forbade German
Army officers and soldiers to serve in Estonian military units. This naturally
created many problems for the Germans in Estonia who were generally more
pro-Estonian than their cousins in Latvia were pro-Latvian.
On 11 November 1918, Estonia once again declared its sovereignty. A few days
later, on 16 November 1918, Estonia declared that it was creating an Estonian
Army whose aim it was to clear Estonia of all “aggressors”. Estonia also
declared that only bona-fide Estonian nationals were eligible to serve in the
Estonian armed forces. But the pragmatics of reality quickly replaced utopian
daydreams. The Red Army was close to the gates of Tallinn (Reval) and action had
to be taken immediately by Estonians and Germans alike.
In short, many Germans residing in Estonia elected to serve in a pro-Estonian
oriented “Baltenregiment”. Interestingly, the German manned “Baltenregiment” was
quickly placed at the disposal of the newly formed Estonian National Army. On 27
November 1918, a mounted MG company was established by the Germans; a small
infantry unit a short while later. Garde-Oberst Constantin von Weiss formed this
unit in Rakvere (Wesenberg).
Approximately 300 Germans served in the “Baltenregiment”; whereby it need be
noted that this was a very large number considering the pool of available
Germans in Estonia. German and Estonian units, augmented by Danish, Finnish and
Swedish volunteers, played an important role in the defense of Estonia from Red
Army attacks in late 1918 and early 1919."
So be kind enough to remember the Balti Pataljon as the unit of the loyal Estländer or Esthlanders when the Landeswehr is addressed ... (which - in the days of Võnnu - had suffered badly beforehand and was run down).
There is a memorial up on Toompea - whenever I am in Tallinn I never fail to drop some flowers there to honour vanaisa who fought for Estonia together with his uncles, cousins and nephews.
Don't worry, Frank. We will drink to your vanaisa, and reserve our darts for Rüdiger von der Goltz.
That´s the true spirit - I have been told stories that Kindral Laidoner met quite often (also) with his Estländer brothers in arms to raise a glass or more ... Enjoy the holiday! To live outside Estonia is always accompanied by a sense of loss or at least longing - especially so in late June and early July ~
...sinine-must-valge up outside, just to remind any Germans that might happen to pass by who is boss in this land of umpa music and great beer.
The owners and shareholders at Selver, Rimi and Prisma?
Thank God I was back in the land of the little green men. My plans of trimming my waist line weren't upset with lashings of Saku and pork.
Worth celebrating!!!
How many little countries can you name that defeated both Russia and Germany in the same war?
Any time you consider the alternative to fighting and establishing your own nation - no matter if it's as late as 1918 - you have to think of people like the Kurds and wonder why they never set up their own nation.
Worth celebrating!!!
How many little countries can you name that defeated both Russia and Germany in the same war?
Any time you consider the alternative to fighting and establishing your own nation - no matter if it's as late as 1918 - you have to think of people like the Kurds and wonder why they never set up their own nation.
i think.. at least for me and everyone i know this big celebration is more about st.john's eve, summer solstice and ancient customs (e.g. the bonfires) related to that. victory day is just an extra free day to prepare for the real thing :P
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