June 23: Victory Day

Võidupüha, or Victory Day, is an Estonian national holiday, which has been celebrated on June 23 every year since 1919. Victory Day recalls the decisive battle during the War of Independence in which the military forces sought to re-assert Baltic-German control over the region. Today, Võidupüha also marks the contributions of all Estonians in their fight to regain and retain their independence.

The War of Independence 1918-1920
and 23 June 1919

At the end of World War I, Estonia was engaged in a War of Independence with two former major powers. At the time of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government was forced to defend its declaration of independence against both the attacks by Soviet-Russian troops and a Baltic-German Landeswehr army under General von der Goltz. By the end of December 1918, the Soviet-Russian forces, in an effort to re-establish the borders of the Tsarist empire, had succeeded in occupying half of Estonia.

However, the tide began to turn in late December 1918 when Finnish volunteers, as well as British naval assistance, began to arrive in Estonia to support Estonia's defence. By the time the volunteers and equipment reached the front, the Soviet advance had been halted, and in less than a month, Estonia was virtually cleared of all Soviet forces.

The War of Independence was carried out by a multi-national force of 85,500 Estonians, 3,700 Finns, more than 5,000 Russians of the North West White Army (under the command of the Estonian Defence Forces General Staff), 9,800 Latvians, 3,000 British, 400 Swedes and 250 Danes and up to 700 Baltic Germans (who were Estonian citizens but had separate Baltic Battalion).

However, intermittent fighting continued on the eastern and southern fronts throughout 1919. In northern Latvia, a mixed Estonian-Latvian force under the Estonian command of General Johan Laidoner defeated the Red Army troops operating in Northern Latvia. However, half of Latvia was still occupied by the troops of General von der Goltz.

On June 5, 1919, General von der Goltz advanced and attempted to isolate the right wing of the Estonian Army. Despite his well-equipped and experienced troops, his army was defeated at Roopa (June 20) and Cēsis-Rauna (June 21-22). The final battle, at Cēsis (Võnnu) on June 23, saw the collapse of the von der Goltz's army. Following this victory, Estonian and Latvian forces co-operated to ensure the fall of the puppet regime that had been established in Riga. Latvia's freedom was regained and Estonia's borders were secured.

The defeat of the two invading forces in 1919 and the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty in 1920 between Estonia and Soviet Russia marked the successful achievement of Estonia's independence after centuries of struggle, and thus June 23 became a day to celebrate this victory.

Võidupüha Today
An Important National Day For All Who Have Supported Estonia's Quest For Independence

While the significance of the victory at Võnnu is not forgotten, Võidupüha is now a day in which the efforts of all those who have fought for Estonia’s independence throughout history are recalled.

Võidupüha is also a day of remembrance of the many thousands who fell fighting for an Estonia free from the crimes and deportations committed by both the Soviets and the Nazis.

During the second Soviet occupation, beginning in 1944, those who fought against the Soviets were sentenced to the infamous 25+5 prison sentences, which consisted of 25 years in the Gulag and five years in exile. Many of those who fought against the Soviet occupation therefore died from the harsh treatment they received.

Võidupüha recalls the Estonian tradition of fighting for democracy and freedom. And, since the end of Soviet occupation in 1991, Võidupüha's commemoration and celebrations have been important in the rebuilding of Estonian identity. For Estonia's defence forces, it is a particularly important event. The need to base its forces on Estonia’s traditional defence of liberty and freedom, as commemorated by Võidupüha, cannot be underestimated.