Immediately following the end of World War I, amid the collapse of the German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires, bitter fighting broke out in the Baltic region as Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania struggled for their independence, and Red and White Russian armies began their civil war. There were also German forces still active in what had been the northern end of Germany's Eastern Front. This book offers a concise but detailed introduction to this whole theatre of war, focusing on the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and relevant German and Russian forces, plus Finnish, Danish and Swedish contingents. For each region there is a detailed map as well as meticulous orders-of-battle and insignia charts. Detailed for the first time in the English language, this fascinating book concisely tells the story of the birth of these Baltic nation states.

NIGEL THOMAS PhD is an accomplished linguist and military historian, formerly at Northumbria University, now a freelance military author, translator and military uniform consultant. His interests are 20th-century military and civil uniformed organizations, with a special interest in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe. He has written widely for Osprey with titles such as MAA 518 Polish Legions 1914-19 and Elite 227 Armies of the Baltic Independence Wars 1918-20. He was awarded a PhD for the study of the Eastern enlargement of NATO.

Introduction: overview of conflicts. * Russian Red Army: command; organization; Estonian and Latvian Rifles units; campaign against Russian White Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Estonian Forces: command; organization; foreign volunteers; campaign against Russian Red Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Latvian Forces: command; organization; campaign against Russian Red Army and German forces; uniforms and insignia. * Lithuanian Forces: command; organization; campaigns against Russian Red Army, German and Polish forces; uniforms and insignia. * German Forces (ex-Eighth Army, Iron Division, Baltic Defence Force, German Legion ): command; organization; campaigns against Russian Red Army, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian forces; uniforms and insignia. * White Russian Forces (Northern Corps/NW Army, Western Volunteer Army): command; organization; campaign against Russian Red Army; uniforms and insignia.
Throughout:
* Battle orders: Russian Red Army, Estonian People's Army, Latvian Army, Lithuanian Army, German forces in Baltic, White Russian Army.
Rank insignia charts: Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian armies, and German Baltic Defence Force
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