User:Kakahäda100/Strike Unit "Admiral Pitka"
| Strike Unit "Admiral Pitka" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 21 August 1944 - September 1944 |
| Country |  Estonia |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Up to 500 men |
| Nickname(s) | "Pitkapoisid" |
| Patron | Johan Pitka |
| Engagements | Battle of Kose Battle of Kehra Battle of Keila |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Johan Pitka Paul Laamann Evald Karutoom |
Strike Unit "Admiral Pitka" was an Estonian military unit formed by Estonian War of Independence veteran Johan Pitka in the autumn of 1944.
Johan Pitka returns to Estonia
[edit]Johan Pitka fled the Soviet occupation of Estonia and went into exile in Finland, while three of his sons were arrested and killed in 1941. In April 1944, Pitka returned to a now German-occupied Estonia to organize armed resistance and re-create the events that led to the Estonian victory in the Estonian War of Independence over two decades prior.
Formation of Strike Unit "Admiral Pitka"
[edit]On 21 August 1944, Pitka was granted permission by the German Sicherheitsdienst(SD), which was hesitant at first due to distrust between Estonians and Germans, to form his own military unit, which accepted everyone who wanted to defend their country. Since the unit lacked weapons, Pitka went to the German generals on the Narva front in hopes of acquiring some and the Germans agreed.
Formally, Pitka's unit was subordinate to the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) and limited to a small group of 50-60 men, but Pitka himself had no intentions of following these rules as his goal was to re-establish independent Estonian military units and then the Republic of Estonia.
Johan Pitka's call to arms
[edit]On 2 September 1944, Pitka's call to arms was published in the biggest Estonian newspaper at the time, Eesti Sõna.
"Estonians!
We live in a time when, in an unprecedentedly great struggle of nations for life and death, the fate of nations are decided. It is up to each nation to decide whether it wants to protect its right to life and fight for it, or face death and complete destruction with indolence and indifference. Certain laws govern nature, which is expressed by the axiom "he who tries to keep his life loses his life". Life is a struggle. If a nation tries to live without struggle, it will lose its life as an insignificant nation, with nothing left to remember for future generations.
A newspaper message from Tartu: "On 7 August 1944, two deserters from an Estonian border guard regiment were shot in front of their company by the decision of a military court." Instead of fighting with their lives to protect their homeland and relatives and ending the war as heroes, these two cowards tried to save their own lives by running away. They lost their life in vain, being disgraced even in death. Such fate awaits a nation, that wants to live without fighting. If we tried to avoid acknowledging the current danger and not face it, we would be like an ostrich that hides its head in the sand and thinks that the danger will pass. No. We must acknowledge the danger and face it. Only then will we reach the correct solution. If we had not fought in the last War of Independence, then the Estonian nation would not have existed at all. Our previous War of Independence cost the lives of 3,500 men at the front as fallen; another 12,000 were wounded. However we won the war, gained freedom and independence and enabled the youth to grow up as free Estonians. We enabled our people to demonstrate to the whole world during the years of peace your talents and abilities in science, art and also in international sports and trade. Our blue black-white flag became familiar in all the seas of the world. The previous War of Independence was not easier than the current one. To be fair, it was comparatively much harder and less hopeful than it is today. At that time, we had to start a war against the red colossus without weapons, equipment and alone, without allies. Foreign aid received later was more of a moral support than actual aid. All the hardships of the war rested entirely on us.
Our homeland is in danger again! The struggle is grim. The cruel gangs of the Bolsheviks have already invaded the most fertile area of our homeland, looting, destroying and murdering. Their agents, who have not been able to be destroyed, eagerly assist them in their bloody work. But our situation is no less hopeful than in the previous War of Independence, which we ended with victory. Then countless divisions of the enemy stopped in front of our firm and persistent front. Only have courage, spirit, faith in our right to live and faith in victory, and we will win this battle too. We still have strong, heroic brothers-in-arms who fight firmly against our common cruel enemy. We have a common fate with them in life and death. Feel the spirit of the War of Independence again! Everyone who can still carry a weapon to the front! If there is a lack of weapons, know that they can be taken from the enemy, just like in the previous War of Independence. Let's cleanse our homeland of murderous robbers. Let's unite with those currently on the front lines into a common invincible defense force! Whoever can't carry a gun, work in the rear! The women, with an even greater zeal for helping and equipping the wounded, communications and a thousand other jobs! Those who do not want to fight and work during the most dangerous days of their homeland, those who sit on the sidelines or flee, know that there is no homeland for them anymore. Contempt and shame be upon them!
Finishing these words, I take my weapon and join the ranks of the fighters. Actions must follow words. I can still carry a gun."
— Johan Pitka, Tallinn, 25 August 1944
Johan Pitka's relations with the Estonian national resistance movement
[edit]The Estonian national resistance movement, led mainly by the pro-Allied but anti-Soviet National Committee of the Republic of Estonia, was distrustful of Johan Pitka and his unit because he seemed too pro-German due to his frequent appearances and call to arms on German-controlled Estonian television, radio and newspapers where he couldn't express his own distrust towards Germany. Pitka also showed distrust towards the Allies as he believed that they wouldn't come to Estonia's aid, which further alienated him from the National Committee.
No real contact existed between the National Committee and Pitka or his unit, even in September 1944 when they fought their final battles, even though their end goals were the same.