Ants Kurvits

Ants Kurvits was born on 14 May 1887 in Mihkli-Aadu farm in Äksi, Tartu County, Estonia, then part of the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire.

In 1915, after passing a short officer course in Vladimir Military School in St Petersburg, he was promoted to the rank of ensign.

[1][2] On 16 November 1918, after the end of the Imperial German Occupation in Estonia, Kurvits became commander of the Estonian Defence League in Tartu County.

On 5 February 1919, Kurvits was assigned to head the 2nd Infantry Regiment, which he led during fighting on the Petseri front.

[1] On 1 November 1922, Kurvits was recalled to service and made head of the newly forming Estonian Border Guard, becoming its first commander.

[1] After the start of Soviet Occupation in 1940, Kurvits's family lost their flat in Tallinn and moved back to Mihkli-Aadu farm.

After Kurvits became head of the border guard, his family moved to Tallinn, where they lived up to Soviet Occupation period.

Estonian Border Guard badge
Ants Kurvits in Warsaw , 1939