The German advance on the Eastern Front developed dramatically. Demoralized Russian troops disrespected the authority of the officers and refused to follow orders. The democratization of the military, which started after the February Revolution, only worsened the military conditions and gave German forces momentum to gain. The first significant step in conquering Estonian territory was made in the middle of October 1917, when the German Army conducted Operation Albion. Albion was an amphibious operation that was aimed at taking control over the islands of Saaremaa (Ozel), Muhu, and Hiiu. By capturing the Western Estonian Archipelago, the German strategists expected to put Petrograd, the capital of Russia, under threat of being directly attacked from the sea. This operation was a success, and the German forces enjoyed impressive trophies, with thousands of Russian troops eventually surrendering. (1)
Map showing amphibious operations of Operation Albion, Baltic Islands, 10 - 20
October 1917
German troops prepare to land on the baltic sea island of Saaremaa in 1917 (DB).
The next wave of German advance began after Russia's Bolshevik Revolution. Using the chaos inflicted by the revolution, German forces landed on the continental part of Estonia in the middle of February 1918. By March 1918, the entire territory of Estonia was under German rule (2). According to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed between the Bolsheviks and the representatives of the Central Powers, Russia denounced its territorial possessions in the Baltics, meaning that the German Empire got to keep all its acquisitions, including the territories of modern-day Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (3). Shortly after German forces took control of the new land, Estonia followed the path of Ober Ost (Oberbefehlshabers der gesamten deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten) as the new authority explored the opportunities to exploit the local economy to support the war efforts.
Administrative map of the Ober Ost (7)
Several peculiar developments occurred during the period of German occupation. The local population was encouraged to assist the German Empire by all means available. Germans even introduced two new currencies to assimilate the local economy and make the region more appealing to potential investors from the mainland. Interestingly enough, they would try something similar thirty years later as well.
German Ost Mark, one of the currencies used in Ober Ost (territory occupied by the Germans)
Even though the war on the Eastern Front was officially over, the fighting was not over. One of the first decisions made by the German administration was to dismantle the military units formed by Estonian officers in 1917 (4). Despite not being loyal to the Russian government, these units could be mobilized and used against any foreign power. Hence, the new rulers decided not to play with fire. In addition, all the outstanding politicians involved in preparing the Declaration of Independence were prosecuted by the Germans, with Konstantin Pats and Konik eventually being imprisoned and Jüri Vilms tragically losing his life.
The parade of German troops in Tartu in 1918 (RA).
It seemed like the idea of independent Estonia did not entertain the Germans. It became evident on April 12, 1918, when the United Baltic Duchy was established by the Landeswersamlung in Riga (5). This attempt to turn Estonia and other Baltic land into a part of the German Empire was a manifestation of the desire of the local Baltic German nobility. Yet, those plans were never meant to remain fruitful in the long run since Germany was about to collapse, and the empire would not be saved even by the fresh reinforcements deployed to the Western Front after the Brest-Litovsk Peace.
Hypothetical map of the United Baltic Duchy 1918
In October 1918, German Military officers realized that their forces would soon be depleted. The autumn of 1918 was destined to become the fall of the remaining empires. At the beginning of November 1918, due to political changes within the German Empire caused by social unrest and desperate positions on the frontlines, the German Emperor, Wilhelm II, abdicated (2). As the result of the first stage of the German revolution, the monarchy was dismantled, and already on November 11, 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed, marking the end of fighting the bloodshed that took millions of lives over four years. Or so it would seem.
The photograph of the Compiègne Wagon taken in the forest of Compiègne after reaching an agreement for the armistice that ended World War I
For Estonia, the struggles were not over. With the German surrender, it seemed like all the new democracies in the Baltic Sea region finally gained a chance to claim the independence they declared. But the German defeat also meant that the Soviets were no longer obliged to follow the Brest-Litovsk treaty, so they changed their mind regarding the status of newly independent republics, and already in late November 1918, they were ready to attempt to restore the boundaries of the old empire by subjugating the "former provinces." (6) And that is where the War of Independence began.
References:
(1) Thiele, G. A. (2010) Operation Albion and Joint Amphibious Doctrine. Retrieved from: https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/jfq/jfq-59/jfq-59_147-151_Thiele.pdf?ver=UGiSa4fv-qt6aJEHICTwTA%3D%3D
(2) “Estonian independence” — a beautiful word, a splendid wish and a nice dream. Baltic German view on the independence of Estonia. (2018) Retrieved from: https://blog.ra.ee/estonian-independence-a-beautiful-word-a-splendid-wish-and-a-nice-dream-baltic-german-view-on-the-independence-of-estonia/
(3) Kiare, K. (2015) Ober Ost. Retrieved from: https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/ober_ost
(4) Estonian War Museum (n.d.) World War I and the War of Independence. Retrieved from: https://esm.ee/exhibition/permanent-exhibitions/wwi-war-of-independence
(5) German Occupation Of Estonia During World War I. (Feb.2024) Retrieved from: https://academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/german-occupation-of-estonia-during-world-war-i
(6) World War I and the War of Independence by Estonian War Museum (n.d) Retrieved from: https://esm.ee/exhibition/permanent-exhibitions/wwi-war-of-independence
(7) Administrative Map of Ober Ost. Retrieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OberOstMap.png
(DB) Besetzung der Insel Ösel, Truppenanlandung. (1917) Retreieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1970-074-34,_Besetzung_der_Insel_%C3%96sel,_Truppenanlandung.jpg
(RA) The parade of German troops in Tartu in 1918. RA, EAA.2073.1.25 Retrieved from: https://blog.ra.ee/estonian-independence-a-beautiful-word-a-splendid-wish-and-a-nice-dream-baltic-german-view-on-the-independence-of-estonia/
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