The history of the armed forces of the three Baltic republics, as well as the history of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, has much in common. Period of independence between the two world wars, accession to the USSR, German occupation, re-incorporation into the Soviet Union, declaration of independence in the early 1990s. All these small states have rather weak military forces and prefer to rely on their NATO allies. Latvia The Latvian National Armed Forces can be considered the heirs of the armed forces that existed before 1940 and included four land divisions, a technical division, the Navy and various auxiliary formations. After the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR, units of the Latvian army were transformed into the 24th Latvian Rifle Corps of the Red Army, which was under operational control of the 27th Army. In August 1991, a law was passed in Latvia on the creation of the first paramilitary unit - the "Zemmessardze", and after the declaration of independence of Latvia, the government began the creation of the armed forces. Since 1994, Latvia has actively participated in the NATO Partnership for Peace program. And in March 2004, the republic joined the North Atlantic Alliance. Latvian military personnel participated in various international missions in hot spots: in the peacekeeping contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the KFOR contingent (Kosovo), in the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. In mid-2005, the concept of standard small arms was adopted in Latvia, which provided for the gradual rearmament of the Latvian army for weapons of the NATO standard. At the same time, first of all, the formations participating in the missions of the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as units that are intended to participate in international operations, were to be equipped with new weapons. In November 2006, the first batch of HK G36 assault rifles entered service with the Latvian army. In January 2007, general conscription was abolished and a transition to a professional army took place. The Latvian Armed Forces number about 5,000 servicemen and 10,000 reservists. Including more than 900 - in the Ground Forces, 552 - in the Navy, 250 - in the Air Force. There are also more than 1,200 civilian employees in the armed forces. The military budget for 2012 was 370 million euros. The Latvian Land Forces include the following units and subunits: Land Forces Infantry Brigade, Special Forces Unit, Armed Forces Headquarters Battalion, Military Police, Territorial Defense Forces, Logistics Administration, Training Administration. In 2015, several CVRT tracked armored personnel carriers were delivered to Latvia, designed to improve the combat capability and mobility of the infantry brigade of the ground forces. By 2020, the Latvian military should receive 123 of these tracked armored personnel carriers purchased from the UK. The Latvian army is also armed with American army all-terrain vehicles Humvee, which have high maneuverability and are suitable for air transportation and landing. Active negotiations are underway with Germany regarding the purchase of Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery mounts and infantry fighting vehicles. And in the summer of 2015, the commander of the Latvian armed forces told the press that his country would buy Stinger man-portable air defense systems from the United States. As expected, these MANPADS will be located at the largest military training ground in the Baltic States - the Adazi military base. The Latvian air force is small. In the early 2000s, two new Mi-8MTV helicopters were purchased, equipped with rescue and search equipment, but also used to transport manpower, evacuate and support special forces. Then two more Mi-8MTVs were purchased. Previously, the Air Force was armed with the Polish training and sports aircraft PZL-104 Wilga, the Czechoslovak universal twin-engine aircraft Let L-410 Turbolet, the Soviet An-2 light multi-purpose aircraft, and the Mi-2 helicopter. It is not surprising that Latvia, which has a very modest air force arsenal ( as well as Lithuania and Estonia) is forced to use the services of "colleagues" in NATO, who alternately patrol the airspace of the Baltic republics. Since January 2016, this mission has been carried out by Belgian and Spanish warplanes flying from the NATO military base in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai. The Latvian navy has 587 servicemen and several ships, the main task of which is to clear territorial waters, as well as patrolling. The reserve of the armed forces is made up of Latvian citizens who have completed military service (5,000 people). In the event of general mobilization, the army will receive another 14 light infantry battalions, one air defense battalion, one artillery battalion and several auxiliary units. small patrol boats, four motor boats, two trucks, four buses, 11 off-road minibuses, 22 SUVs, 60 minibuses, 131 cars, 30 ATVs, 17 motorcycles and seven tractors. Lithuania Until 1940, the Lithuanian armed forces were called the Lithuanian Army. After the inclusion of the republic into the USSR, it was reorganized into the 29th Territorial Rifle Corps of the Red Army. In January 1992, the Ministry of Regional Protection began its activities. At the same time, the first call for active military service was announced. In November 1992, the restoration of the Army of the Republic of Lithuania was proclaimed. Continuing the traditions of the Lithuanian Army of the interwar period, many battalions of the modern Lithuanian army were given the names of regiments of the 1920s-1930s and their symbols. The modern armed forces of Lithuania consist of the Ground Forces, the Navy, the Air Force and the Special Operations Forces. In September 2008, conscription for military service was canceled in Lithuania, and now the recruitment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is carried out on a professional basis. However, in 2015, the conscription was "temporarily" restored - under the pretext of the "Russian threat" and the fact that many units were understaffed. At the same time, young people aged 19 to 26 are called up, selected using a computer draw. As of 2011, the military budget of Lithuania was 360 million US dollars (later it increased several times, approaching 500,000 dollars), the total number of armed forces consisted of 10,640 regular military personnel, 6,700 reservists, another 14,600 served in other paramilitary formations. The Ground Forces include more than eight thousand military personnel (a brigade of rapid reaction forces, two motorized infantry battalions, two mechanized battalions, an engineering battalion, a military battalion police, a training regiment and several units of territorial defense). There are 187 M113A1 armored personnel carriers in service; ten BRDM-2; 133 105mm field artillery guns; 61 120 mm mortars, up to 100 84 mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, 65 anti-tank systems, 18 anti-aircraft guns and 20 RBS-70 man-portable air defense systems, as well as over 400 anti-tank grenade launchers of various systems. The Lithuanian Air Force has less than one thousands of military personnel, two L-39ZA aircraft, five transport aircraft (two L-410s and three C-27Js) and nine Mi-8 transport helicopters. More than 500 people serve in the Lithuanian Navy. The navy is armed with one Project 1124M small anti-submarine ship, three Danish Flyvefisken-class patrol ships, one Norwegian Storm-class patrol boat, three other types of patrol boats, two British-built Lindau minesweepers (M53 and M54), one Norwegian-built minesweeping command ship, one survey vessel and one tug. There is also a coast guard (540 people and three patrol boats). Like other Baltic republics, Lithuania began cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance in 1994 under the Partnership for Peace program, which continued until joining NATO in March 2004. The Lithuanian military took part in missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. After Lithuania joined NATO, the integration of the country's armed forces with the armed forces of other countries of the alliance began. In particular, the Lithuanian Iron Wolf motorized brigade was included in the Danish division, and in 2007 an agreement was signed on the creation of an infantry battalion by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania NATO First Engagement Force. In September 2015, a NATO headquarters was opened in Vilnius (similar ones are also open in Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania), which employs 40 military from the countries - members of the alliance (primarily Germany, Canada and Poland). One of its main tasks is the coordination of the rapid reaction forces of the North Atlantic Alliance in the event of an international crisis in the region. Estonia The modern Estonian armed forces (Estonian Defense Army) in peacetime number about 5.5 thousand people, of which about two thousand are conscripts. The reserve of the armed forces is about 30,000 people, which makes it possible to fully equip one infantry brigade, four separate battalions and organize four defensive regions. In addition, there are more than 12 thousand people who are members of the Defense League (the so-called Defense League, a volunteer paramilitary formation). The Estonian armed forces are recruited on the basis of universal military service. Young men from 18 to 28 years old who are not exempt and who are Estonian citizens are required to do eight or 11 months of service (individual specialists). The largest part of the armed forces are the Ground Forces. The ability to participate in missions outside the national territory and carry out operations to protect the territory of Estonia, including in cooperation with allies, has been declared a priority for their development. Along with a certain amount of Soviet-made armored vehicles, the Estonian army is armed with several dozen Swedish Strf 90 infantry fighting vehicles, Finnish armored personnel carriers Patria Pasi XA-180EST and Patria Pasi XA-188. The main functions of the Estonian Navy are the protection of territorial waters and coastlines, ensuring the safety of maritime navigation, communications and maritime transport in territorial waters and cooperation with the NATO Navy. The navy includes patrol ships, minesweepers (minesweepers are Sandown type minesweepers), support ships, and coast guard units. Separately, it is worth mentioning the voluntary military organization Defense League, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. It consists of 15 territorial divisions, the areas of responsibility of which basically coincide with the borders of the Estonian districts. This organization takes part in the exercises of the Estonian army, in addition, its activists participate in ensuring public order as volunteer assistants to the police, in extinguishing forest fires and performing some other public functions. Like other Baltic states, Estonia is a member of the North Atlantic Alliance and entrusts their allies high hopes. Thus, in the spring of 2015, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves called for the permanent deployment of NATO forces (at least a brigade) in the country. And the Estonian Air Force participated in joint exercises with the US Air Force several times over the past year: American attack aircraft flew in the Estonian sky and a training airborne landing was carried out. A small Estonian contingent took part in the war in Afghanistan as part of the international ISAF forces, as well as in the American occupation of Iraq. A small number of Estonian representatives have taken part in UN, EU and NATO peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, Mali, Kosovo and the Middle East.

10.04.2016 - 11:16

The history of the armed forces of the three Baltic republics, as well as the history of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, has much in common.

Period of independence between the two world wars, accession to the USSR, German occupation, re-incorporation into the Soviet Union, declaration of independence in the early 1990s. All these small states have rather weak armed forces and prefer to rely on their NATO allies.

Latvia

The national armed forces of Latvia can be considered the heirs of the armed forces that existed before 1940 and included four land divisions, a technical division, a navy and various auxiliary formations. After the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR, units of the Latvian army were transformed into the 24th Latvian Rifle Corps of the Red Army, which was under operational control of the 27th Army.

In August 1991, a law was passed in Latvia on the creation of the first paramilitary unit - the "Zemessardze", and after the independence of Latvia, the government began the creation of the armed forces.

Since 1994, Latvia has actively participated in the NATO Partnership for Peace program. And in March 2004, the republic joined the North Atlantic Alliance. Latvian servicemen participated in various international missions in "hot spots" - in the peacekeeping contingent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the KFOR contingent (Kosovo), in the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In mid-2005, the concept of standard small arms was adopted in Latvia, which provided for the gradual re-equipment of the Latvian army with weapons of the NATO standard. At the same time, first of all, the formations participating in the missions of the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as units that were intended to participate in international operations, were to be equipped with new weapons.

In November 2006, the first batch of HK G36 assault rifles entered service with the Latvian army. In January 2007, general military duty was abolished, and a transition to a professional army took place.

The armed forces of Latvia have about 5,000 servicemen and 10,000 reservists. Including more than 900 - in the ground forces, 552 - in the Navy, 250 - in the Air Force. There are also more than 1,200 civilian employees in the armed forces. The military budget for 2012 was 370 million euros.

The Latvian Land Forces include the following units and subunits: Land Forces Infantry Brigade, Special Forces Unit, Armed Forces Headquarters Battalion, Military Police, Territorial Defense Forces, Logistics Department
technical support, management training.

In 2015, several CVRT tracked armored personnel carriers were delivered to Latvia, designed to improve the combat capability and mobility of the infantry brigade of the ground forces. By 2020, the Latvian military should receive 123 of these tracked armored personnel carriers purchased from the UK.

The Latvian army is also armed with American army all-terrain vehicles Humvee, which have high maneuverability and are suitable for air transportation and landing.

Active negotiations are underway with Germany regarding the purchase of Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery mounts and infantry fighting vehicles. And in the summer of 2015, the commander of the Latvian armed forces told the press that his country would buy Stinger man-portable air defense systems from the United States. As expected, these MANPADS will be deployed at the largest military training ground in the Baltic States - the Adazi military base.

The Latvian Air Force is small. In the early 2000s, two new Mi-8 MTV helicopters were purchased, equipped with rescue and search equipment, but also used to transport manpower, evacuate and support special forces. Then two more Mi-8 MTVs were purchased. Previously, the Air Force was armed with the Polish training and sports aircraft PZL-104 Wilga, the Czechoslovak universal twin-engine aircraft Let L-410 Turbolet, the Soviet An-2 light multi-purpose aircraft, and the Mi-2 helicopter.

Not surprisingly, having a very modest air force arsenal, Latvia (as well as Lithuania and Estonia) is forced to use the services of "colleagues" in NATO, who alternately patrol the airspace of the Baltic republics. Since January 2016, this mission has been carried out by Belgian and Spanish military aircraft flying from a NATO military base in the Lithuanian city of Siauliai.

The Latvian navy has 587 servicemen and several ships, the main task of which is mine clearing of territorial waters, as well as patrolling. The reserve of the armed forces is made up of Latvian citizens who have completed military service (5,000 people). In case of general mobilization, the army will receive 14 more light infantry battalions, one air defense battalion, one artillery battalion and several auxiliary units.

As of 2012, the strength of the State Border Guard of Latvia was 2500 people, there were three helicopters, three patrol boats, 12 small patrol boats, 4 motor boats, 2 trucks, 4 buses, 11 off-road minibuses, 22 off-road vehicles, 60 minibuses, 131 cars, 30 ATVs, 17 motorcycles and 7 tractors.

Lithuania

Until 1940, the Lithuanian armed forces were called the Lithuanian Army. After the inclusion of the republic into the USSR, it was reorganized into the 29th Territorial Rifle Corps of the Red Army. In January 1992, the Ministry of Regional Protection began its activities. At the same time, the first call for active military service was announced. In November 1992, the re-establishment of the Army of the Republic of Lithuania was proclaimed.

Continuing the traditions of the Lithuanian Army of the interwar period, many battalions of the modern Lithuanian army were given the names of the regiments of the 1920–1930s and their symbols. The modern armed forces of Lithuania consist of ground forces, naval forces, air forces and special operations troops.

In September 2008, military conscription was abolished in Lithuania, and now the Lithuanian armed forces are recruited on a professional basis.

However, in 2015, the conscription was "temporarily" restored - under the pretext of the "Russian threat" and the fact that many units were understaffed. At the same time, young people aged 19 to 26 are called up, selected using a computer draw.

As of 2011, the military budget of Lithuania was 360 million US dollars (later it increased several times, approaching half a billion dollars), the total number of armed forces was 10,640 regular military personnel, 6,700 reservists, another 14.6 thousand served as part of other paramilitary formations.

The ground forces include more than 8,000 military personnel (a brigade of rapid reaction forces, 2 motorized infantry battalions, 2 mechanized battalions, an engineering battalion, a military police battalion, a training regiment and several territorial defense units).

There are 187 M113A1 armored personnel carriers in service; 10 BRDM-2; 133 105 mm field artillery guns; 61 120-mm mortars, up to 100 recoilless 84-mm Carl Gustaf guns, 65 ATGMs, 18 anti-aircraft guns and 20 RBS-70 portable anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as over 400 anti-tank grenade launchers of various systems.

The Lithuanian Air Force has less than 1,000 troops, two L-39ZA aircraft, five transport aircraft (two L-410s and three C-27Js) and nine Mi-8 transport helicopters. More than 500 people serve in the Lithuanian Navy.

The Navy is armed with one Project 1124M small anti-submarine ship, three Danish Fluvefisken-class patrol ships, one Norwegian Storm-class patrol boat, three other types of patrol boats, two British-built Lindau minesweepers (M53 and M54), one Norwegian-built minesweeping command ship, one survey vessel and one tug. There is also a coast guard (540 men and three patrol boats).

Just like the other Baltic republics, Lithuania in 1994 began cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance under the Partnership for Peace program, which continued until joining NATO in March 2004. The Lithuanian military took part in missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. After Lithuania joined NATO, the integration of the country's armed forces with the armed forces of other countries of the alliance began.

In particular, the Lithuanian Iron Wolf motorized brigade was included in the Danish division, and in 2007 an agreement was signed on the creation by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania of an infantry battalion of NATO priority engagement forces.

In September 2015, a NATO headquarters was opened in Vilnius (similar ones are also open in Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania), which employs 40 military from the countries - members of the alliance (primarily Germany, Canada and Poland). One of its main tasks is the coordination of the rapid reaction forces of the North Atlantic Alliance in the event of an international crisis in the region.

Estonia

The modern Estonian armed forces (Estonian Defense Army) in peacetime number about 5.5 thousand people, of which about 2 thousand are conscripts. The reserve of the Armed Forces is about 30,000 people, which makes it possible to fully equip one infantry brigade, four separate battalions and organize four defensive regions.

In addition, there are more than 12 thousand people who are members of the Defense Union (the so-called Kite-seliyat, a volunteer paramilitary formation).

The Estonian Armed Forces are recruited on the basis of universal conscription. Young men from 18 to 28 years old who are not exempt and who are Estonian citizens are required to do 8 or 11 months of service (individual specialists).

The largest part of the armed forces are the ground forces. The ability to participate in missions outside the national territory and carry out operations to protect the territory of Estonia, including in cooperation with allies, has been declared a priority for their development.

Along with a certain amount of Soviet-made armored vehicles, the Estonian army is armed with several dozen Swedish Strf 90 infantry fighting vehicles, Finnish armored personnel carriers Patria Pasi XA-180EST and Patria Pasi XA-188.

The main functions of the Estonian Navy are the protection of territorial waters and coastlines, ensuring the safety of maritime navigation, communications and maritime transport in territorial waters, and cooperation with the NATO Navy.

The navy includes patrol ships, minesweepers (sweepers are mine-searchers of the Sandown type), support ships and coast guard units. Separately, it is worth mentioning the voluntary military organization Defense League, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.

It consists of 15 territorial divisions, the areas of responsibility of which basically coincide with the borders of the Estonian districts. This organization takes part in the exercises of the Estonian army, in addition, its activists participate in ensuring public order as volunteer assistants to the police, take part in extinguishing forest fires and perform some other public functions.

Like other Baltic states, Estonia is a member of the North Atlantic Alliance and has high hopes for its allies. Thus, in the spring of 2015, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves called for the permanent deployment of NATO forces (at least a brigade) in the country.

And the Estonian Air Force has participated in joint exercises with the US Air Force several times over the past year: American attack aircraft flew in the Estonian sky and a training airborne landing was carried out.

A small Estonian contingent took part in the war in Afghanistan as part of the international ISAF forces, as well as in the American occupation of Iraq. A small number of Estonian representatives have taken part in UN, EU and NATO peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, Mali, Kosovo and the Middle East.

Andrey Yashlavsky

The Latvian authorities are fanning fears about a possible invasion from the East. The Ministry of Defense regularly conducts population surveys on this topic. Armed resistance to Russia is ready to provide 15% of the citizens of the republic. / Latvijas armija / Flickr

In the spring of 2017, 450 Canadian soldiers, 140 Italians and 400 soldiers from Albania, Poland and Slovenia will be deployed to Latvia. According to the terms of the Warsaw Summit in 2016, the NATO contingent should be about 1,000 people. / Reuters

Riga plans to achieve the deployment of 5,000 foreign troops on a permanent basis. Also, the Latvian authorities are going to allow up to 30 thousand NATO soldiers to be quickly transferred to their territory. / Victor Lisitsin / Russian Look / globallookpress.com

The Latvian Navy consists of 18 ships: 6 minesweepers and 11 patrol and patrol boats. Almost all ships of the Latvian fleet are second-hand navies of the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The photo shows the minelayer M 04 Imanta (former Dutch M854 Harlingen). / Latvijas armija / Flickr

There are three naval bases in Latvia with headquarters in Riga. There are less than a thousand people in the Navy. Officers work under a contract, and sailors are recruited for one year. / Reuters

Since 2007, the Latvian Land Forces have been formed exclusively on a contract basis. The structure of this type of armed forces includes three infantry battalions, three companies, one special forces unit and military police. / Latvijas armija / Flickr

The national armed forces of Latvia include the ground forces, the National Guard, reservists and the Navy. In the ranking of the military power of Global Firepower, the Latvian troops occupy the 103rd place, ahead of the Estonian ones. / Latvijas armija / Flickr

The Latvian army received combat experience in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. On March 29, 2004, Latvia joined NATO and got rid of Soviet weapons thanks to the import of used military equipment. The photograph shows a fighter at the Adazi military base.

The ground forces of Latvia are not armed with tanks and any heavy armored vehicles. The photo shows a Soviet tank of Polish production T-55AM2. In the Latvian troops, these machines are used for training purposes. / Reuters

On the balance of the armed forces of Latvia there are four An-2T transport aircraft ("Kukuruznik"), four Mi-17 multi-purpose helicopters and two Mi-2T transport aircraft. / Reuters

The military budget of Latvia is growing at a gigantic pace. In 2016, €367.86 million was spent on defense, and in 2017 - €449.57 or 1.7% of GDP. Riga plans to annually increase the military budget by €100 million and eventually cross the NATO bar of 2% of GDP. / Latvijas armija / Flickr

Despite the growth in military spending, there is practically no new military equipment in Latvia. Riga is a recipient of gratuitous military aid from the United States. All that the Latvian army has is repaired or outdated Western equipment. / Latvijas armija / Flickr

Latvia intends to conclude a contract with Austria for the supply of 47 M109 self-propelled howitzers for €14 million. In 2003-2007, the artillery systems were modernized and then were in storage. The photo shows the Swedish Pvpj 1110 recoilless rifle. / Reuters

Flag of the Latvian Armed Forces. 1918 - 1940

Latvian Armed Forces ( Latvijas Bruņotie spēki) began to form in November 1918 on a voluntary basis and at that time consisted of eight Latvian, five German and three Russian rifle companies. In 1919 general conscription was declared in Latvia. The command staff was formed from former officers of the Russian and German armies.

In 1918 - 1920. the Latvian army fought against the Red Army of the Latvian SSR, the Red Army of the RSFSR, the White Western Volunteer Army (Russian and German volunteers) Major General Pavel Rafailovich Bermond-Avalov and the German Iron Division (German volunteers) General Count Rüdiger von der Goltz (Rudiger Graf von der Goltz) .

Over the next 20 years, the Latvian army did not participate in hostilities.

In 1940, there were 30,843 people in the Latvian Armed Forces - 2013 officers, 27,655 soldiers, and 1275 civil servants.

For the rank and file, the active service period was 10.5 months, after which the rank and file were credited to the reserve. In 1940, the service life was extended to 18 months.

The officer corps in the 1920s were represented mainly by commanders who received military education in the Russian Empire and Germany. Volunteer officers from Great Britain, the USA and Sweden also served in the Latvian army.

The structure of the Latvian Armed Forces was as follows:

Higher military administration. The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Latvia was the President of the Republic Karlis Ulmanis ( Karlis Augusts Vilhelms Ulmanis). The budget of the army and its economic sphere were the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense, headed by General Kristjanis Berkis (Krišjānis Berķis).

The Chief of the General Staff was General Mārtiņš Hartmanis ( Mārtiņš Hartmanis).

local military administration. The territory of Latvia was divided into four military districts: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale and Zemgale, which corresponded to four infantry divisions. Divisional commanders were also commanders of military-territorial districts.

Ground Army. The infantry units of the Latvian army were combined into four divisions. The 1st Kurzeme division included four infantry and one artillery regiment. In the other three - three infantry and one artillery regiments. One more cavalry regiment was included in the 4th Zemgale division.

Latvian infantry. 1936

In turn, each infantry regiment consisted of four battalions.

The Latvian army was armed with 129,951 rifles, 11,241 pistols and revolvers, 2,611 light and 1,196 heavy machine guns.

The artillery regiments had 16 guns each.

In the early 1930s Latvia tried to equip its army with modern tanks. As a result, in 1935, a British firm vickers she bought 18 light tanks, six of which were armed with 40-mm cannons, and the rest with machine guns. By the summer of 1940, all the armored vehicles of the Latvian army were part of the Technical Division, commanded by General Janis Kurelis ( Janis Kurelis) and which included:

Tank regiment (520 people) - two tanks Mk.V, two tanks Mk.V, six tanks Fiat 3000B", 18 tanks Vickers-Carden-Loyd M.1936/1937, one wedge Vickers Carden Loyd, armored vehicles - Ford-Vairogs "Zemgalietis", Pierce-Arrow Viesturs, Sheffield-Simplex "Imanta", 2 Putilov-Garford M1916 "Kurzemnieks" and "Lāčplēsis", two Fiat-Izhora "Staburags", 12 trucks Albion, 18 trucks Ford-Vairogs, 15 motorcycles and 10 cars;

Motorized units of the Latvian army. 1939

Heavy artillery regiment (446 people) - two 114.3 mm howitzers, four 106.7 mm guns Schneider, four 83.8 mm guns vickers, two 150-mm howitzers mod. 1913, two 152.4 mm howitzers vickers, eight 76.2 mm guns mod. 1902, four 75 mm guns, six 119 mm howitzers mod. 1920, four 40 mm guns Bofors;
- sapper regiment (717 people);
- communications battalion (286 people);
- anti-aircraft artillery regiment (420 people) - 74 guns, including 30 40-mm guns Bofors;
- coastal artillery regiment (363 people) - 4 76.2-mm guns mod. 1902, 12 152.4 mm howitzers Canet-Schneider, 4 107 mm guns mod. 1877, four armored trains (393 people).

Latvian armored train. 1938

The only regular cavalry unit in Latvia was located in Daugavpils - the First Latvian Cavalry Regiment (1376 people) under the command of Colonel Alberts Liepins ( Alberts Fricis Liepins). Organizationally, he was part of the 4th Zemgale Infantry Division.

Latvian cavalry in formation

Air Force. The military aviation of Latvia was consolidated into an aviation regiment (796 people), which included aircraft of various designs and manufacturing countries - 25 GlosterGladiatorMk.I, six BristolBulldogMk.IIA, 12 DH89A, three hawkerHind, 10 LetovS.16LSmolik, 10 S.V.5, one He-4, one SA-10"Pirates", five faireySeal, as well as an aviation school (one milesmaster, six " Udet(AS)U-12BFlamingo».

Latvian Gloster Gladiator Mk.I. 1937

The commander of the Latvian Air Force was General Iosif Stanislavovich Bashko. The regiment was directly commanded by Colonel Rudolfs Kandis ( Rudolphs Kandis).

Naval Forces. On August 10, 1919, the Naval Department was established at the General Headquarters of the Latvian Army. This date is officially considered the founding day of the Latvian Naval Forces, which since 1924 have been called the Marine Coast Guard Squadron. In 1938, the defense squadron was renamed the Latvian Navy. Admiral Theodor Spade was appointed commander of the fleet ( Teodors Spade).

Theodore Spade

By 1940, the Latvian navy included: a patrol ship Virsaitis, two minesweepers - Viesturs and Imanta, two submarines - Spidola and Ronis, four icebreakers - Krisjanis Valdemars, Lacplesis, Perkons and Zibens.

Acquisition. Recruitment for military service took place in accordance with the law on universal military duty with a term of service of 15-18 months. In accordance with the plans for mobilization at the end of the 1930s. 160,000 trained reservists could be put into service, including 17,000 instructors and 4,000 reserve officers.

Latvian submarine. 1940

paramilitary formations. Border Guard Brigade ( robežsargu brigāde) consisted of five battalions (100 officers and 1200 soldiers). It was subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior of Latvia, it was headed by General Ludwig Bolsteinis ( Ludvigs Bolsteins).

General Bolsteinis at the review of the border brigade

Paramilitary militia "Defenders" ( Aizsargi) was formed according to the territorial principle in 19 regiments (according to the number of counties).

Mobile unit of the Latvian militias. 1930

Its members had their own cavalry, aviation and motorcycle units, systematically underwent military-sports and ideological training. The militias were involved in police actions. In 1934, all non-Latvians were removed from this organization. On January 1, 1940, there were 31,874 men, 14,810 women and 14,000 teenagers in the organization.

The militias were armed with 30,831 rifles, 33 machine guns and 290 light machine guns. From them, the Latvian army planned to mobilize four bicycle (reconnaissance) battalions and three separate cavalry squadrons.

After the annexation of Latvia to the USSR on August 17, 1940, the Latvian army was reduced and reorganized into the 24th Latvian Territorial Rifle Corps (181st and 183rd rifle divisions with a separate artillery regiment and air squadron) under the command of Lieutenant General Roberts Klavins ( Roberts Jura Kļaviņš).

On June 22, 1941, Lieutenant General Klyavins was arrested by the NKVD on charges of espionage. His post was taken by Major General Kuzma Maksimovich Kachanov. In connection with the mass desertion of Latvian military personnel, the 24th Latvian Territorial Rifle Corps was disbanded on September 1, 1941.

See: Bērziņš V., Bambals A. Latvijas armija. Riga, 1991.

Spring. Forests of the Baltic. Office clerks, factory workers, teachers and doctors, dressed in NATO military uniforms, knead the April mud with their berets, along with the youths of the first year of service. Everything is serious. There are maneuvers. Code name "Spring Storm". Estonia prepares for war with Russia

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania began to prepare for a war with Russia long ago and in detail. It can be said from the moment of obtaining the long-awaited independence. Realistically assessing their chances in the battle with the "oriental bear", none of the politicians had even a doubt that they would not be able to cope with such an enemy on their own. And then small, but proud and already independent countries crowded into NATO. The North Atlantic Alliance understood the value of the strategic location of the Baltic countries, and their membership in NATO was only a matter of time.

And then ... Then the countries themselves had to solve their pressing strategic problems, develop military doctrines and drill elite and not so elite units. In addition, membership in the Alliance obliged the armies of these countries to send units to participate in the peacekeeping missions of Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, and also to do everything to ensure that all military personnel of the dwarf armies fully comply with the standards adopted in the bloc.

But all these activities turned out to be very costly, and the money had to be taken from the budget. How to explain to taxpayers where millions go? You can tell the truth, which most ordinary citizens will not like. And you can come up with a mythical enemy.

The Minister of Defense of Estonia (and concurrently the leader of the ruling national-patriotic party) Mart Laar has surpassed everyone in political profanation. Thanks to his jingoistic speeches and political intrigues, the minister managed to get the country a multi-million dollar contract for the supply of Dutch Leopard tanks from Europe. Of course, in order to create their own armored forces.

Later, the President of the country, Toomas-Hendrik Ilves, stubbornly assured everyone that Estonia was not waiting for an attack from Russia. But the Minister of War was persistent and inexorable. And he even created a group of saboteurs who will have to blow up bridges and roads if Russian tanks move towards Tallinn.

Mr. Laar, he said, was inspired by the example of Georgia, which did not allow Russian troops to go all the way from Tskhinval to Tbilisi. At the same time, he prudently kept silent about the fact that if Russia really waged a real war with Georgia, the fate of its armed forces would be, to put it mildly, sad. In the process of re-equipping Mr. Laar's army, he suffered a stroke, after which he recovered for many months. Nevertheless, he retained the post of Minister of Defense. And no one noticed that throughout the entire period of rehabilitation, the formidable Estonian war machine was, in fact, decapitated. The insidious "Russian bear" then did not have to make such a brilliant blitzkrieg ...

Oil was added to the fire by British journalists who decided to have some fun and fantasize about what will happen when the global financial crisis finally finishes off Europe. According to one version, a civil war will begin in Greece, which will have to be stopped by the government of the two most stable countries - France and Germany. Along the way, they will have to occupy Italy and Spain, which will inevitably sink, following the dwarf states. At this point, the single economic space will collapse, and the Baltic countries will return to their original status of "banana republics".

The civil war close to Russia will not suit Vladimir Putin, who by 2015 will order tanks to enter Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. The Europeans, busy saving national identity, will not pay attention to their eastern neighbors, and small countries will be enslaved by Putin's bloody regime.

Such a horror story still haunts the minds of many progressive citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Nevertheless, membership in NATO does not guarantee that the armies of the countries of the bloc will immediately rush to the defense of the warring allies. The Alliance only undertakes to provide all possible assistance, which does not at all imply the conduct of real hostilities.

If you look at the real alignment of forces, the picture is unimportant. In addition to the companies of the guard of honor, which should be kept in every self-respecting state, the army units of these countries are small.

In Estonia, where conscription is still in force today, almost 300 million euros are spent annually from the budget for the training of recruits. The total number of the army does not exceed 5000 people, half of which are conscripts serving only 9 months. In fact, the Estonian armed forces are a big training camp. Real resistance can be provided by one brigade and four battalions. There are also engineering and howitzer units, and an air defense company. The country also has its own Navy - three minesweepers. Perhaps this is all that Estonia has now.

Latvia completely refused conscripts, recruiting 5 thousand contract soldiers, replenishing the army ranks with reservists. This army periodically performs military maneuvers with one motorized infantry brigade, three battalions and a detachment of combat swimmers.

Lithuania limited itself to 4,000 contract servicemen, but acquired serious weapons - Stingers, aviation and air defense. There are also special units that even participate in special operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In total, the Baltic states can put up more than 20 thousand people against a potential aggressor (which is half the size of the Georgian army of the August 2008 model). These are the facts and figures.

In conclusion, I would like to recall a phrase from the monologue of our satirist Mikhail Zadornov: “I once talked with our guys in Riga. They tell me, well, NATO will attack Russia, well, they will draft us into the army, give us machine guns and put us on the front line. Who do you think we're going to shoot at?"