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			{{Short description\|International military exercise and competition in Estonia}}
	The '''Erna Raid''' ({{lang-et\|Erna retk}}) is an annual international ] and competition held since ] every August in ] and organised by the Erna Society founded for this purpose. It commemorates the actions of ] ({{lang-et\|Erna luuregrupp}}) in the summer of ].
			{{Update\|date=September 2016}}

			]
	==Participation==
			'''Erna Raid''' ({{langx\|et\|Erna retk}}) was an annual international ] and competition, one of the longest and most difficult in the world, held every August from 1995 to 2011 in ]. It was organized by the Erna Society and commemorates the actions of the ] ] in the summer of 1941. <ref name="uk-emb-20062">] Embassy in ] August 5, 2006: {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002455/http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1046181016323&a=KArticle&aid=1156398966204\|date=2007-09-27}}</ref>
	Foreign teams have always been welcome to partake in the competition. In ] 28 teams from 9 different countries are scheduled for participation: ] (18 teams), ] (1), ] (1), ] (2), ] (1), ] (2), ] (1), ] (1) and ] (1), of which Portugal and Czech Republic are newcomers. Teams from ] have participated in earlier years (most recently, an ] team in ]) but will only be observing in ]. A team from ] will also be observing.

	==~~Composition~~==		==Background==
			{{Main\|Erna long-range reconnaissance group}}
	The traditional parts of the competition are:
	* landing, in ]s, to a "hostile" shore;
	* cross-country tactical movement and navigation, without nith ]down, over a distance of around 150 kilometres while avoiding and escaping from "hostile" security forces;
	* various (and varying over years) ]s during the course. These may involve grenade throwing, combat first aid and other military skills.

			The competition is named after the Erna long-range reconnaissance group ({{langx\|et\|Erna luuregrupp}}) and themed after its activities in the summer of 1941. In 1993, a group of enthusiasts followed the historical route of the Erna group of 1941 and came up with the idea of organizing a commemorative competition. A first try with only Estonian participants was held in 1994. In the autumn of 1994, the Erna society was founded, and in 1995, the first annual international competition was held.
	==History==
	The competition is named and themed after summer 1941 activities of the Erna long-range recce group.<ref name='uk-emb-2006'>] Embassy in ] ], ]: </ref>

			==Competition==
	The group was originally formed from (largely ethnic Estonian) ]s in Finland. Armed and uniformed by Finnish army, the Germans originally intended it to be a unit of the German army. However, ] ], in charge of the newly formed unit, strongly opposed this position<ref name="erna">{{cite web \|url=http://www.erna.ee/en/?Erna_History/Birth_of_the_ERNA-organization \|title=Birth of the ERNA organisation \|publisher=ERNA Society \|date=] \|accessdate=2007-08-08}}</ref>. Accordingly, a compromise was reached, and on ], ], the unit took an oath of allegiance to ], not to ] as the ] Reinhardt and ] Schwarz, German ]s, had originally insisted<ref name="erna"/>.
			The traditional parts of the competition were:
			* landing, in ]s, onto a "hostile" shore;
			* cross-country tactical movement and navigation, without night camp down, over a distance of around 150 kilometers while avoiding and escaping from "hostile" security forces;
			* various (and varying over the years) ]s during the competition. These may involve grenade throwing, combat first aid, and other military skills.

			Foreign teams were always welcome to partake in the competition. In 2007, 28 teams from nine different countries participated: ] (18 teams), the ] (one), ] (one), ] (two), ] (one), ] (two), ] (one), ] (one), and the ] (one), of which Portugal and the Czech Republic are newcomers. Teams from the ] have participated in earlier years (most recently, a British ] team in 2006), but only observed in 2007. A team from ] also observed. Teams from the ] have been traditionally successful in the competition and took 1st and 2nd place in 2002. Other successful teams have come from Finland and Norway.
	The group was active from summer of 1941 up to end of ] on ]n territory and ]. With the end of the war, it was officially demobilised; however, a number of factions continued ] activities, becoming ] (Baltic partisans).

			Due to the home advantage attributed to the intimate knowledge of the terrain by the local teams, changes to the competition were discussed in 2011. <ref>{{cite news \|date=2011-07-29 \|title=This Year's Erna Endurance Event Could Be Last in Current Location \|url=http://news.err.ee/Sports/fd9a84aa-79c8-4f51-8a3e-68dd18057cf3 \|accessdate=2011-08-14 \|publisher=ERR}}</ref>
	===Soviet revisionism===

	The ]'s official treatment of history considers the original Erna group "bandits", along with the ].
			In 2013, the competition was renamed the ] after the ] hero ] and is now held in different locations throughout Estonia each year. <ref>{{cite news \|date=2013-03-22 \|title=Erna Raid Renamed After Admiral Pitka \|url=http://news.err.ee/110743/erna-raid-renamed-after-admiral-pitka \|accessdate=2017-08-18 \|publisher=ERR}}</ref>

			==Past results==
			The table below records the final results for the year's competition. It does not include retired and disqualified teams. DL is the acronym for the Defense League.

			{\| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 80%"
			\|-bgcolor=#cccccc
			\|align=center\|'''Position'''
			\|align=center\|'''2011'''
			\|align=center\|'''2010'''
			\|align=center\|'''2009'''
			\|align=center\|'''2008'''
			\|align=center\|'''2007'''
			\|align=center\|'''2006'''
			\|align=center\|'''2005'''
			\|align=center\|'''2004'''
			\|align=center\|'''2003'''
			\|align=center\|'''2002'''
			\|align=center\|'''2001'''
			\|align=center\|'''2000'''
			\|align=center\|'''1999'''
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 1st
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Battalion
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Põlva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat. 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat. 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 2nd
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kirde KRK
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Battalion
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers / DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat. 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Recce Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kalev Inf. Bat.
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 3rd
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kuperjanovi Single Infantry Bn
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat. 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 4th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kuperjanovi Single Inf Bn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military School
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Recce Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Security Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Logistics Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} AA Battery
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 5th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat. 2
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Logistics Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 6th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 7th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Põlva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF Logistics Centre
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Viru Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Air Defence Div.
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} AA Battery
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 8th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Põlva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn / Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kalev Inf. Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 9th
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} NE Territorial Defence District
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Valga
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Pärnu Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF HQ
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 10th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Kuperjanovi Inf Bn
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Recce Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scout Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Security Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Security Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 1
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 11th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Nth. Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn Nõmme
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF HQ
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Logistic Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Rescue Service
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 12th
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF Log Centre CS Training Centre
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Viru Single Infantry Bn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju
			\| {{flagicon\|Canada}} Canada
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 13th
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Air Defence Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võrumaa
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military School
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Põlva
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 14th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tartu
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Border Guard
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnumaa
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võrumaa
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 2
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 15th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Women’s Corps Saaremaa
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Viru Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Signal Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 16th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Alutaguse Women’s Team
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Reserve Officers
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 17th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn Nõmme
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Valgamaa
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Scouts Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Austria}} Austria
			\| {{flagicon\|Romania}} Romania
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Põlva
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 2
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 18th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military Academy 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 2 (Toompea subunit)
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 1
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Engineering School
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} AA Battalion
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Italy}} Italy 2
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 19th
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Military School
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 20th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju Männiku
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Women’s Corps Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Single Guard Bn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} Great Britain
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Pärnu Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Germany}} Germany
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Järva
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} UK
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 21st
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn Kalevi
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Alutaguse Women's Team
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF HQ
			\| {{flagicon\|China}} China 2
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 22nd
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Harju 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden 2
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 2
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Artillery Group
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Pärnu
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Police
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} text
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Rescue Service
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 23rd
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 2
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|Portugal}} Portugal
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Belgium}} Belgium
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Tallinn
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Rescue Service
			\| {{flagicon\|Italy}} Italy
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA Maryland
			\| {{flagicon\|Italy}} Italy 1
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 24th
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 4
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} DL Women’s Corps Rapla
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 3
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL Võru
			\| {{flagicon\|Romania}} Romania
			\| {{flagicon\|Sweden}} Sweden
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} EDF HQ
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 25th
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 1
			\|
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Norway}} Norway 1
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Latvia}} Latvia
			\| {{flagicon\|Italy}} Italy
			\| {{flagicon\|Turkey}} Turkey
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Guard Bat.
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Rescue Service
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 26th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Prison Service
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Denmark}} Denmark 2
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Women's DL
			\| {{flagicon\|Lithuania}} Lithuania
			\| {{flagicon\|Italy}} Italy 1
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 27th
			\| {{flagicon\|Finland}} Finland 1
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|USA}} USA
			\| {{flagicon\|Poland}} Poland
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} Recce Battalion
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 28th
			\| {{flagicon\|Estonia}} 1.Infantry Bde Logistics Bat
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\|
			\| {{flagicon\|UK}} United Kingdom
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|align=center\| 29th
			\| {{flagicon\|Georgia}} Georgia
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|
			\|}

			==Russian accusations of glorifying Nazism==
			{{see also\|Erna long-range reconnaissance group#Aftermath}}
			Since the competition's initiation, sectors of the Russian media have claimed the competition's namesake was an attempt to glorify collaboration with ] Germany. <ref name="cir_ru2"> {{Webarchive\|url=https://archive.today/20120730195429/http://www.cir.ru/docs/http/www.budgetrf.ru/Publications/Magazines/VestnikSF/2006/VSF_NEW200702011802/VSF_NEW200702011802_p_002.htm\|date=2012-07-30}} {{in lang\|ru}}</ref> In 2007, high-ranking government officials sharply criticized the competition, calling it "the glamorization of Nazism" and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition. <ref name="rian2"> {{in lang\|ru}}</ref><ref></ref> Estonian officials attribute this recent development to the ongoing campaign for the 2008 ]. <ref>] 7 August 2007: </ref> Russian officials claim that the commemoration of the Erna group today is part of alleged efforts by the Estonian authorities to glorify the Nazi past (other parts of it being the relocation of ] and an official greeting from the Minister of Defense to veterans of a ] of Estonians conscripted into a division organized within the '']'' to defend Estonia). <ref name="rian2"> {{in lang\|ru}}</ref>

			An analyst of the US-based ] ] believes this view follows Soviet and post-Soviet Russia's official logic on two counts: first, that resistance to the ] was inherently ] and conflatable with "fascism" in an occupied country or one targeted for occupation; second, that Estonia should be criticized for remembering an act of national resistance and its casualties. <ref name="Jamestown2">{{cite web \|date=2007-08-03 \|title=PACE Chairman bending to the Kremlin wind against Estonia \|url=http://www.jamestown.org/print_friendly.php?volume_id=420&issue_id=4200&article_id= \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165258/http://www.jamestown.org/print_friendly.php?volume_id=420&issue_id=4200&article_id= \|archivedate=2007-09-30 \|accessdate=2007-08-09 \|publisher=Jamestown Foundation}}</ref>

			Estonia's Minister of Defense, ], called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group saved the lives of many civilians from the vengeful ], and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kutla. <ref>{{cite web \|date=2007-08-09 \|title=Erna Raid and NKVD Destruction Battalions \|url=http://www.kmin.ee/?op=news&id=1283&setlang=eng \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928131625/http://www.kmin.ee/?op=news&id=1283&setlang=eng \|archivedate=2007-09-28 \|accessdate=2007-08-10 \|publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|date=2007-08-09 \|title=Aaviksoo: Erna retk ei möödunud ilma Venemaa laimukampaaniata \|url=http://www.postimees.ee/100807/esileht/siseuudised/276283.php \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910102201/http://www.postimees.ee/100807/esileht/siseuudised/276283.php \|archive-date=2012-09-10 \|accessdate=2007-08-09 \|publisher=] \|language=et}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
			{{Reflist}}
	<references />

	==External links==		==External links==
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Latest revision as of 10:00, 10 November 2024

International military exercise and competition in Estonia

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2016)

Erna Raid (Estonian: Erna retk) was an annual international military exercise and competition, one of the longest and most difficult in the world, held every August from 1995 to 2011 in Estonia. It was organized by the Erna Society and commemorates the actions of the long-range reconnaissance group 'Erna' in the summer of 1941.

Background

Main article: Erna long-range reconnaissance group

The competition is named after the Erna long-range reconnaissance group (Estonian: Erna luuregrupp) and themed after its activities in the summer of 1941. In 1993, a group of enthusiasts followed the historical route of the Erna group of 1941 and came up with the idea of organizing a commemorative competition. A first try with only Estonian participants was held in 1994. In the autumn of 1994, the Erna society was founded, and in 1995, the first annual international competition was held.

Competition

The traditional parts of the competition were:

landing, in rubber boats, onto a "hostile" shore;
cross-country tactical movement and navigation, without night camp down, over a distance of around 150 kilometers while avoiding and escaping from "hostile" security forces;
various (and varying over the years) minigames during the competition. These may involve grenade throwing, combat first aid, and other military skills.

Foreign teams were always welcome to partake in the competition. In 2007, 28 teams from nine different countries participated: Estonia (18 teams), the Czech Republic (one), Denmark (one), Finland (two), Germany (one), Norway (two), Portugal (one), Sweden (one), and the United States (one), of which Portugal and the Czech Republic are newcomers. Teams from the United Kingdom have participated in earlier years (most recently, a British Territorial Army team in 2006), but only observed in 2007. A team from Cyprus also observed. Teams from the People's Republic of China have been traditionally successful in the competition and took 1st and 2nd place in 2002. Other successful teams have come from Finland and Norway.

Due to the home advantage attributed to the intimate knowledge of the terrain by the local teams, changes to the competition were discussed in 2011.

In 2013, the competition was renamed the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge after the Estonian War of Independence hero Johan Pitka and is now held in different locations throughout Estonia each year.

Past results

The table below records the final results for the year's competition. It does not include retired and disqualified teams. DL is the acronym for the Defense League.

Position

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1st

Scouts Battalion

DL Põlva

DL Tartu 1

DL Tartu 2

Reserve Officers

Scouts Bat. 1

Scouts Bat. 2

Finland 2

China 2

DL Järva

Border Guard

2nd

Kirde KRK

Scouts Battalion

DL Tartu 2

Reserve Officers / DL Tallinn

DL Tartu

Scouts Bat. 1

Recce Bat.

Reserve Officers

Scouts Bat.

China 1

Finland 2

Norway

Kalev Inf. Bat.

3rd

DL Harju 1

DL Tartu 2

Military Academy 2

Kuperjanovi Single Infantry Bn

Finland 2

Military Academy

Scouts Bat. 1

DL Järva

DL Harju

Border Guard

DL Harju

DL Pärnu

4th

Military Academy

Military Academy 1

Kuperjanovi Single Inf Bn

Border Guard

Police

DL Järva

Finland 1

Military School

Recce Bat.

Security Police

Logistics Bat.

AA Battery

China 2

5th

Border Guard

DL Järva 1

DL Tallinn 2

DL Tallinn 1

DL Järva

Scouts Bat. 2

China 2

DL Pärnu

China 2

Military Academy

China 2

Logistics Bat.

Finland 1

6th

DL Järva 2

DL Järva 1

Military Academy

Border Guard

DL Tartu

China 1

DL Järva

Military Academy

DL Järva

Reserve Officers

Finland 1

Guard Bat.

7th

DL Põlva

Border Guard

Military Academy 1

EDF Logistics Centre

Viru Bat.

Police

Air Defence Div.

Denmark 1

Border Guard

DL Tallinn

AA Battery

Reserve Officers

DL Võru

8th

DL Pärnu 2

DL Tartu 1

DL Põlva

DL Tartu 1

DL Tallinn / Reserve Officers

DL Tallinn

Sweden

Finland 2

China 1

Lithuania

China 1

Kalev Inf. Bat.

Denmark

9th

Finland 3

NE Territorial Defence District

DL Harju

DL Valga

Pärnu Bat.

Germany

Lithuania

Denmark

Reserve Officers

Guard Bat.

EDF HQ

DL Järva

10th

DL Pärnu 1

Kuperjanovi Inf Bn

Finland 2

Germany

Finland 1

Border Guard

Reserve Officers

Recce Bat.

DL Harju 2

Scout Bat.

Security Police

Norway 1

11th

Nth. Guard Bat.

DL Tallinn Nõmme

DL Järva 2

DL Järva

Germany

EDF HQ

DL Järva

Logistic Bat.

DL Tallinn 2

Border Guard

Rescue Service

Finland 2

Military Academy

12th

Finland 2

DL Harju 1

EDF Log Centre CS Training Centre

Viru Single Infantry Bn

DL Harju

Canada

Guard Bat.

China 2

DL Tallinn 1

Finland

DL Tallinn

Military Academy

Reserve Officers

13th

Denmark 2

DL Tallinn 2

Finland 1

Reserve Officers 2

Scouts Bat.

Guard Bat.

DL Tartu

Air Defence Bat.

DL Võrumaa

Military School

Norway 1

Sweden

DL Põlva

14th

DL Tartu

DL Harju 2

Border Guard

DL Pärnu

Guard Bat.

Finland 1

Denmark 2

Military Academy

DL Pärnumaa

DL Võrumaa

Norway 2

China 1

15th

DL Tallinn 2

Lithuania

DL Women’s Corps Saaremaa

Lithuania

USA

Viru Bat.

DL Tallinn

Denmark 2

DL Harju 1

Norway 1

Signal Bat.

DL Võru

Sweden

16th

DL Järva

Belgium

DL Võru

DL Alutaguse Women’s Team

Denmark

Finland 2

China 1

Reserve Officers

Norway 2

Military Academy

Germany

United Kingdom

17th

DL Tallinn Nõmme

DL Pärnu

Denmark 1

Military Academy

DL Valgamaa

Scouts Bat.

DL Võru

Austria

Romania

DL Põlva

DL Tallinn

Norway 2

18th

DL Pärnu 3

Military Academy 2

Denmark 2

DL Tallinn 2 (Toompea subunit)

Norway 1

USA

DL Võru

Finland 1

Engineering School

AA Battalion

Finland 1

Denmark 1

Italy 2

19th

Lithuania

Sweden 1

DL Tallinn 1

Denmark 3

Sweden

Denmark 1

Sweden

Military School

Denmark 1

Sweden

China 1

Women's DL

20th

DL Harju Männiku

DL Harju 3

DL Women’s Corps Võru

Single Guard Bn

Women's DL

Great Britain

Pärnu Bat.

Germany

Finland 1

Finland 2

DL Harju

DL Järva

21st

DL Tallinn Kalevi

DL Alutaguse Women's Team

DL Tallinn 3

Denmark 2

DL Võru

Belgium

USA

Guard Bat.

Lithuania

Sweden

EDF HQ

China 2

22nd

DL Harju 2

Sweden 2

USA

Norway 2

Artillery Group

DL Pärnu

Belgium

Police

text

Denmark

Rescue Service

23rd

Belgium

Finland 2

Belgium

Portugal

Women's DL Võru

Belgium

DL Tallinn

Rescue Service

Italy

USA Maryland

Italy 1

24th

Finland 4

Denmark

DL Women’s Corps Rapla

Denmark 3

Women's DL Võru

Romania

Sweden

EDF HQ

United Kingdom

25th

Denmark 1

Norway 1

Latvia

Italy

Turkey

Guard Bat.

Rescue Service

Women's DL

26th

Prison Service

Denmark 2

Women's DL

United Kingdom

Women's DL

Lithuania

Italy 1

27th

Finland 1

USA

Poland

United Kingdom

Recce Battalion

28th

1.Infantry Bde Logistics Bat

United Kingdom

29th

Georgia

Russian accusations of glorifying Nazism

Since the competition's initiation, sectors of the Russian media have claimed the competition's namesake was an attempt to glorify collaboration with Nazi Germany. In 2007, high-ranking government officials sharply criticized the competition, calling it "the glamorization of Nazism" and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition. Estonian officials attribute this recent development to the ongoing campaign for the 2008 Russian presidential election. Russian officials claim that the commemoration of the Erna group today is part of alleged efforts by the Estonian authorities to glorify the Nazi past (other parts of it being the relocation of a memorial to Red Army invaders and an official greeting from the Minister of Defense to veterans of a unit of Estonians conscripted into a division organized within the Waffen SS to defend Estonia).

An analyst of the US-based think tank Jamestown Foundation believes this view follows Soviet and post-Soviet Russia's official logic on two counts: first, that resistance to the Red Army was inherently illegitimate and conflatable with "fascism" in an occupied country or one targeted for occupation; second, that Estonia should be criticized for remembering an act of national resistance and its casualties.

Estonia's Minister of Defense, Jaak Aaviksoo, called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group saved the lives of many civilians from the vengeful Soviet paramilitary units, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kutla.

References

British Embassy in Tallinn August 5, 2006: ERNA RAID 2006 1–5 August Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
"This Year's Erna Endurance Event Could Be Last in Current Location". ERR. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
"Erna Raid Renamed After Admiral Pitka". ERR. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
Об участии эстонского легиона СС в военных преступлениях в 1941-1945 гг. и попытках пересмотра в Эстонии приговора Нюрнбергского трибунала Archived 2012-07-30 at archive.today (in Russian)
^ "Поход Эрна-2007". Часть истории или популяризация нацизма? (in Russian)
Russia complains about military competition
Eesti Päevaleht 7 August 2007: Paet: süüdistused on osa Vene valimiskampaaniast
"PACE Chairman bending to the Kremlin wind against Estonia". Jamestown Foundation. 2007-08-03. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
"Erna Raid and NKVD Destruction Battalions". Estonian Ministry of Defence. 2007-08-09. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
"Aaviksoo: Erna retk ei möödunud ilma Venemaa laimukampaaniata" (in Estonian). Postimees. 2007-08-09. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2007-08-09.

External links

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