Estonian Army Uniforms and Insignia 1936-1944

Merriam Press Military Monograph Series

Fifth Edition 2012

Comprehensive details of the appearance of Estonian troops during the end of that nation’s period of independence prior to World War II, continuing through the occupations of World War II.

Provides extensive and detailed coverage of the variety of uniforms, rank insignia, badges, headgear, belts, swords, and other accouterments of the Estonian Army (including cavalry) during this period.

Also included is much data on the rank structure, in Estonian with (approximate) equivalents in English.

Most of the more than 150 drawings and illustrations are the work of noted militaria artist Ted Koppel; all have been executed to his usual high standards and are the major feature of this important work.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Uniforms and Rank Insignia

Chapter 2: Collar Badges

Chapter 3: The Cavalry and Miscellaneous Details

Chapter 4: The 1939/1940 Rank Changes

Chapter 5: The Estonian Army Organization in 1939

Appendix 1: The 1939/1940 Rank Changes

Appendix 2: The Estonian Army Organization in 1939

Addendum

Sources

21 photos

142 drawings;

14 illustrations

The Authors: Fred Limberg was born in the Vorumaa district in southeast Estonia in 1910, later being engaged in the legal profession during the period of Independence. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1949. Interest in Estonian military history led to extensive research resulting in some articles and finally a reference book in 1980, Isamaa Eest (“For the Fatherland”). A second book on the Estonian armed forces was in preparation for many years and may some day be published by another publisher. Resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until his death.

Ted Koppel was born in Tallinn, Estonia, in 1940 during the Soviet occupation. Escaped to Germany with his mother in 1944 and came to the U.S. in 1950. Served with a U.S. Army Advisory Team in Vietnam in the mid-1960s. Later worked as a freelance illustrator and in graphics production. Amateur military historian and collector, with articles and/or artwork appearing in over half a dozen enthusiasts’ publications. Ted now resides in Maryland.

Most of the drawings in this work are the result of examination of actual photos of Estonian soldiers. Some published works were consulted, which were not always accurate. Fred Limberg served in the Estonian Army and thus had personal knowledge of the topic, and spent most of his life researching and writing on the subject. He had written a massive work on the subject which was supposed to be published some years ago by a small British company, but as far as I and Ted Koppel, the other author of this work know, it has never been published. Fred did publish a massive Estonian language work on the subject which I understand can be difficult to find nowadays. Fred and Ted's work was originally published in 1984, before the fall of the Soviet Union and thus they had virtually no access to any potential resources in Estonia. The authors spent many years researching the subject, with a lot of input from exiled Estonians around the world who had served in the Estonian Army. A more comprehensive work on the subject could probably be done now that archives and other sources that were previously difficult or impossible to gain access to are more accessible to Western authors.

Merriam Press Military Monograph Series

Fifth Edition 2012

Comprehensive details of the appearance of Estonian troops during the end of that nation’s period of independence prior to World War II, continuing through the occupations of World War II.

Provides extensive and detailed coverage of the variety of uniforms, rank insignia, badges, headgear, belts, swords, and other accouterments of the Estonian Army (including cavalry) during this period.

Also included is much data on the rank structure, in Estonian with (approximate) equivalents in English.

Most of the more than 150 drawings and illustrations are the work of noted militaria artist Ted Koppel; all have been executed to his usual high standards and are the major feature of this important work.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Uniforms and Rank Insignia

Chapter 2: Collar Badges

Chapter 3: The Cavalry and Miscellaneous Details

Chapter 4: The 1939/1940 Rank Changes

Chapter 5: The Estonian Army Organization in 1939

Appendix 1: The 1939/1940 Rank Changes

Appendix 2: The Estonian Army Organization in 1939

Addendum

Sources

21 photos

142 drawings;

14 illustrations

The Authors: Fred Limberg was born in the Vorumaa district in southeast Estonia in 1910, later being engaged in the legal profession during the period of Independence. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1949. Interest in Estonian military history led to extensive research resulting in some articles and finally a reference book in 1980, Isamaa Eest (“For the Fatherland”). A second book on the Estonian armed forces was in preparation for many years and may some day be published by another publisher. Resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until his death.

Ted Koppel was born in Tallinn, Estonia, in 1940 during the Soviet occupation. Escaped to Germany with his mother in 1944 and came to the U.S. in 1950. Served with a U.S. Army Advisory Team in Vietnam in the mid-1960s. Later worked as a freelance illustrator and in graphics production. Amateur military historian and collector, with articles and/or artwork appearing in over half a dozen enthusiasts’ publications. Ted now resides in Maryland.

Most of the drawings in this work are the result of examination of actual photos of Estonian soldiers. Some published works were consulted, which were not always accurate. Fred Limberg served in the Estonian Army and thus had personal knowledge of the topic, and spent most of his life researching and writing on the subject. He had written a massive work on the subject which was supposed to be published some years ago by a small British company, but as far as I and Ted Koppel, the other author of this work know, it has never been published. Fred did publish a massive Estonian language work on the subject which I understand can be difficult to find nowadays. Fred and Ted's work was originally published in 1984, before the fall of the Soviet Union and thus they had virtually no access to any potential resources in Estonia. The authors spent many years researching the subject, with a lot of input from exiled Estonians around the world who had served in the Estonian Army. A more comprehensive work on the subject could probably be done now that archives and other sources that were previously difficult or impossible to gain access to are more accessible to Western authors.