The national defence policy aims to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state and maintain the integrity of its land area, territorial waters, airspace, and constitutional order.

The USSR's forces were stopped, in part, because of the timely arrival of a shipment of arms brought by a British naval squadron.

[citation needed] In January 1919, the Estonian armed forces launched a counteroffensive, the May Offensive, under Commander-in-Chief Johan Laidoner.

After winning the Estonian Liberation War against the USSR and German Freikorps volunteers, Estonia maintained its independence for twenty-two years.

[citation needed] In August 1939, just prior to the start of World War II, Stalin and Hitler secretly decided the fate of the Republic of Estonia.

[tone] The two leaders agreed to divide Eastern Europe into "spheres of special interest" as outlined by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact in its Secret Additional Protocol.

[10][11] Given the overwhelming Soviet force, in order to avoid the bloodshed of entering a futile and hopeless war, on 17 June 1940 the Estonian government decided not to resist.

As the Red Army brought in additional reinforcements supported by armoured fighting vehicles, the battle lasted several hours until sundown.

[16] In the Second World War, many Estonians joined Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht auxiliary units, as well as eventually contributing volunteers and conscripts for the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, which fought against the Allies' USSR.

[citation needed] In peacetime, the main tasks of the EDF are to monitor and maintain control over territorial borders and airspace, maintain combat readiness, train conscripts, develop reserve units, participate in NATO and UN-led international missions, and to provide assistance to civilian authorities in case of a national emergency.

[citation needed] In wartime, the main tasks of the EDF are to defend the territorial integrity of the state, to facilitate the arrival and deployment of forces from other countries and co-operate with them, to maintain control over national airspace, and to facilitate the air defence of strategic assets in co-operation with forces from other countries.

[citation needed] The national defence of Estonia is conducted on the principles of civilian control, being inherently bound with the democratic organization of the state.

The implementation of the principles of civilian control is guaranteed by defence-related rights, obligations, and responsibilities legislated by parliament, the President, and the government of the republic.

[17] The Army component of the operational structure consists of the Estonian Division, which includes the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, as well as an artillery battalion and support units.

The main functions of the naval force are the defence of the territorial waters and coast line, ensuring maritime security, maintaining and managing communications and sea traffic, and co-operation with NATO and the navies of other friendly countries.

In case of a crisis situation, the Merevägi must be ready to defend sea access points, harbour areas, maritime lines of communication, and to co-operate with coalition units.

[19] Since 1995, numerous mine clearance operations have been carried out in Estonian waters in close co-operation with other navies of the Baltic Sea region in order to find and dispose ordnances and contribute to safe seagoing.

The Independence War gave great impetus to the development of the Estonian Air Force, which had, by the middle of the 1930s, more than 130 modern aircraft.

[23] The airfield and garrison at Ämari are focused on preparing for and facilitating cooperation with NATO and the air forces of partner nation.

The unit deals with security incidents that occur in Estonian networks, are started there, or which they have been notified of by citizens or institutions in Estonia or abroad.

On June 14, 2007, defence ministers of NATO members held a meeting in Brussels, issuing a joint communiqué promising immediate action.

The main goal of the Defence League is, on the basis of the citizens’ free will and initiative, to enhance the readiness of the nation to defend its independence and constitutional order, including in the event of military threat.

Units, consisting of voluntary members of the Defence League, also participate in international peace support operations such as in the Balkan states.

Around 3200 conscripts, including a small number of women, enter military units of the Estonian Defence Forces every year.

Conscripts are serving in infantry, artillery, air defence, engineering, communications, naval, and combat service support units as well as antitank, recce, mortar, and military police subunits.

[37] According to the National Defence Development Plan, the annual number of conscripts should reach 4000 by 2022 after a revision of medical and physical requirements.

The Estonian military employs STANAG (NATO interoperable) weapons and equipment acquired from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, the United States and Israel.