Achievement of Sovereignty by the United Kingdom and Estonia

Title: The Timeless Bond: The Birth of the Estonia-UK Alliance in 1918

Let's take a leap back to 1918, when history was unfolding in unexpected ways. On the 24th of February, Estonia celebrated its initial Independence Day with a firm grip on its ancestral homeland, despite seeming doomed to foreign rule just a couple of months prior. The odds were stacked against them, with scant modern weaponry, an absent navy or air force, and a Red Army camped a mere 34 kilometers from Tallinn. But, it wasn't their fate to succumb to foreign powers.

Enter the brave British fleet. On the 12th of December, a British naval force, led by Rear-Admiral Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair, stormed the shores of Tallinn, bearing essential supplies - weaponry, food, fuel, and, most importantly, hope. It was in those moments that the seeds of the Estonia-UK alliance were sown.

General Johan Laidoner, a legendary Estonian war hero, later declared that the arrival of the British fleet was the turning point for Estonia. If they hadn't shown up, he believed that the nation, along with its people, would have been swallowed up by the Bolsheviks. However, the admiration for the Estonian soldiers, who fought valiantly to liberate their land, should never overshadow their newfound spirit. The British provided the Estonians with crucial resources, such as 20 cannons, approximately 700 machine guns, and 26,500 rifles, to bolster their resolve and strengthen their war efforts.

But, as with any nation's foreign policy, selflessness was not the sole motivation for the British actions. After a meeting with Estonian diplomats, the British government declared that the Republic of Estonia was stable, resolute, and firmly based on democratic principles in its fight against the Bolsheviks.

Not only did the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia turn an ally into an enemy, but Britain was also compelled to thwart the violent spread of the communist revolution. But, fresh from the horrors of World War I, Britain could not spare its soldiers for a new conflict. Instead, they sought local partners to aid them in their mission, discovering potential allies in the struggling Estonia and the lingering remnants of the Tsarist White Russian Army.

Interestingly, Britain was a maritime nation and was focused on ensuring free navigation of the seas. With their extensive naval operations against the Soviet Baltic Fleet, they managed to secure future access to the Baltic and effectively create the Estonian Navy by handing over captured Soviet ships.

The British intervention, however, did not ensure a swift victory for Estonia. The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day marked a victorious moment for the army but did not signal the end of the country's struggle. A new Soviet counteroffensive was looming, and new enemies would soon surface in the form of the Baltic-German Landeswehr and the Estonian Red Army.

But, when the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed on the 2nd of February 1920, Estonia had successfully repelled the Soviet westward expansion, making history as the first state to do so. The defense forces had swelled to over ten times their original size, employing innovative tactics like armored trains.

The British were not the only allies who lent a helping hand during the War of Independence; Nordic allies, particularly the Finns, Danes, and Swedes, also played crucial roles in aiding Estonia's journey towards self-determination. But, the importance of the British fleet's presence cannot be overstated. Not only did they defend Estonia's military operations and coastal territories from the threat of Bolshevik ships, but their naval mission also carried considerable risks.

Naval operations against the heavily defended Soviet Baltic Fleet, with ships boasting guns larger than those of the British vessels, were hazardous. Re-supply ports were located in Copenhagen, and for repairs, ships had to sail to Portsmouth. Additionally, the Baltic Sea was choked with over 60,000 mines, making their mission a treacherous one.

As Estonia celebrates its centenary, let's pause and remember the heroes who made this momentous occasion possible. The Estonian volunteers who risked their lives to fend off invaders shouldn't be the only ones we honor. We must reflect on the 112 British soldiers who gave their lives in a foreign land, ensuring the Estonian nation could claim sovereignty for the first time in a long time. Though their loss pales in comparison to the casualties of World War I, their actions and the political willpower behind them deserve eternal gratitude.

In the modern day, the UK remains one of Estonia's closest allies. The earliest Estonia-UK defense cooperation is as crucial as the recent decades of cooperation, providing valuable insights into the reasons for and the longevity of this strong partnership.

*This article was originally published on 24 February 2014

The people of Estonia in 1918 were staunch in their pursuit of independence, bravely defying seeming odds that had them under foreign rule just a couple of months prior.
Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, saw the arrival of a British naval force on the 12th of December, bringing essential supplies and hope to the Estonian struggle.
The government of the United Kingdom, moved by the Estonian cause and the threat of the spread of communism, declared the Republic of Estonia stable and democratic, subsequently offering significant military assistance.
The Estonian-UK alliance, initially forged in 1918 under the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil, continues to be meaningful, as the UK remains one of Estonia's closest allies to this day.
The Estonians, underestimated for their size and resources, managed to fend off enemies such as the Bolsheviks, the Baltic-German Landeswehr, and their own Estonian Red Army, securing their independence in the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920.
In remembering the heroes of Estonia's War of Independence, we should not forget the significant contributions made by the British fleet, risking their lives to secure a stable future for Estonia, both in military operations and in the pursuit of political willpower - a bond that remains vital and linked to current Estonian politics and general news.