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	== History ==		== History ==

	On ] and ] ] the local ]-dominated '']'' and the '']'' of ], ], ], and ] had declared themselves independent states, known as the ] (''Herzogtum Kurland'') and ] (''Baltischer Staat''), respectively. Both states proclaimed themselves to be in personal union with the ], although the German government never responded to acknowledge that claim. These Baltic lands were nominally recognized as a sovereign state by ] ] only on ], ], half a year after ] had formally relinquished all authority over its former ] ] to Germany in the ]. On ], ], a temporary Regency Council (''Regentschaftsrat'') for the new state led by Baron ] was formed on a joint basis from the two local Land Councils.		On ] and ] ] the local ]-dominated '']'' and the '']'' of '']'', '']'', ], and '']'' had declared themselves independent states, known as the ] (''Herzogtum Kurland'') and ] (''Baltischer Staat''), respectively. Both states proclaimed themselves to be in personal union with the ], although the German government never responded to acknowledge that claim. These Baltic lands were nominally recognized as a sovereign state by ] ] only on ], ], half a year after ] had formally relinquished all authority over its former ] ] to Germany in the ]. On ], ], a temporary Regency Council (''Regentschaftsrat'') for the new state led by Baron ] was formed on a joint basis from the two local Land Councils.

	The capital of the new state was to be Riga. It was to be a confederation of seven ]s: Kurland (]), Riga, Lettgallen (]), Südlivland (South ]), Nordlivland (North Livonia), Ösel (]), and Estland, the four first cantons thus covering the territory corresponding to today's Latvia and the latter three corresponding to today's Estonia.		The capital of the new state was to be Riga. It was to be a confederation of seven ]s: ''Kurland'' (]), Riga, ''Lettgallen'' (]), ''Südlivland'' (South ]), ''Nordlivland'' (North Livonia), ''Ösel'' (]), and ''Estland'' (Estonia), the four first cantons thus covering the territory corresponding to today's Latvia and the latter three corresponding to today's Estonia.

	The first ] of the United Baltic Duchy was to be ], not as a ] ], but as a subordinate to the German Kaiser, similar to other dukes and grand dukes of the ]. Adolf Friedrich never assumed office, however. The appointed Regency Council consisting of four ], three ] and three ] functioned until ], ], without any international recognition, except from Germany. The '']'' was formed by the government of the United Baltic Duchy as its national defense force. Upon taking command of the ''Baltische Landeswehr'', Major ], with the backing of the ] ]s, began dismissing native ]n elements and replacing them with ] and ] troops. Concurrently, German officers assumed most of the command positions. In his book ''Vanguard of Nazism: The Free Corps Movement in Postwar Germany, 1918-1923'', author ] notes: “By mid-February 1919, Latvians composed less than one fifth of their own army.” Britain backed down after recognizing the gravity of the military situation, and the White Russian units and the Freikorps moved on and captured Riga on ], ]. After the ], the ] were accused of killing 300 Latvians in ], 200 in ], 125 in ], and over 3,000 in Riga. After taking part in the capture of Riga on ] 1919, in June 1919 General von der Goltz ordered his troops not to advance east against the Red Army, as the ] had been expecting, but north, against the Estonians. On ] the Iron Division and ''Landeswehr'' units launched an attack to capture areas around ] (Wenden), the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' continued its advance towards the Estonian coast preparatory for a push on ], ]. However, the Baltic plans were thwarted when the ] attacked and defeated the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' at the ], ]-] 1919. However, in the battles over the following few days they were defeated by the Estonian army (lead by ]) and national Latvian units. On the morning of ], the Germans began a general retreat toward Riga. The Allies again insisted that the Germans withdraw their remaining troops from Latvia and intervened to impose a ceasefire between the Estonians and the Freikorps when the Estonians were about to march into Riga. In the meantime, an ] composed of ] troops under General Sir ] had arrived in the ] with the task of clearing the Baltic Germans from the region and organizing native armies for the ]. The defeat of Germany in World War I in November 1918, followed by the defeat in 1919 of the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' and German ''Freikorps'' units of General ] in Latvia by the Estonian army and national Latvian units, rendered the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.		The first ] of the United Baltic Duchy was to be ], not as a ] ], but as a subordinate to the German Kaiser, similar to other dukes and grand dukes of the ]. Adolf Friedrich never assumed office, however. The appointed Regency Council consisting of four ], three ] and three ] functioned until ], ], without any international recognition, except from Germany. The '']'' was formed by the government of the United Baltic Duchy as its national defense force. Upon taking command of the ''Baltische Landeswehr'', Major ], with the backing of the ] ]s, began dismissing native ]n elements and replacing them with ] and ] troops. Concurrently, German officers assumed most of the command positions. In his book ''Vanguard of Nazism: The Free Corps Movement in Postwar Germany, 1918-1923'', author ] notes: “By mid-February 1919, Latvians composed less than one fifth of their own army.” Britain backed down after recognizing the gravity of the military situation, and the White Russian units and the Freikorps moved on and captured Riga on ], ]. After the ], the ] were accused of killing 300 Latvians in ], 200 in ], 125 in ], and over 3,000 in Riga. After taking part in the capture of Riga on ] 1919, in June 1919 General von der Goltz ordered his troops not to advance east against the Red Army, as the ] had been expecting, but north, against the Estonians. On ] the Iron Division and ''Landeswehr'' units launched an attack to capture areas around ] (Wenden), the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' continued its advance towards the Estonian coast preparatory for a push on ], ]. However, the Baltic plans were thwarted when the ] attacked and defeated the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' at the ], ]-] 1919. However, in the battles over the following few days they were defeated by the Estonian army (lead by ]) and national Latvian units. On the morning of ], the Germans began a general retreat toward Riga. The Allies again insisted that the Germans withdraw their remaining troops from Latvia and intervened to impose a ceasefire between the Estonians and the Freikorps when the Estonians were about to march into Riga. In the meantime, an ] composed of ] troops under General Sir ] had arrived in the ] with the task of clearing the Baltic Germans from the region and organizing native armies for the ]. The defeat of Germany in World War I in November 1918, followed by the defeat in 1919 of the ''Baltische Landeswehr'' and German ''Freikorps'' units of General ] in Latvia by the Estonian army and national Latvian units, rendered the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.

Revision as of 04:37, 28 May 2007

United Baltic DuchyVereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum

1918–1919

Flag Coat of arms of Herzogtum Baltikum Coat of arms

The United Baltic Duchy was located on the future territory of Latvia (brown) and Estonia (green).

Capital

Riga

Common languages

German

Government

Monarchy

Duke of Balticum

• 1918 - 1919

Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg

Regent

• November 5 - November 28, 1918

Adolf Pilar von Pilchau

Legislature

Baltischer Landesrat

Historical era

World War I

• Established

April 12 1918

• Recognized by German Empire

September 22, 1918

• German Revolution

November 9, 1918

• Collapse

July 3 1919

Currency

German papiermark

Preceded by

Succeeded by

File:Cur-f.gif	Duchy of Courland
	German Empire

Estonia
Commune of the Working People of Estonia
Latvia

The United Baltic Duchy (Template:Lang-de) was a short-lived duchy constructed in 1918. It was made possible through the German Empire's occupation of Courland, Livonia (Latvia did not yet exist), and Estonia (established only one day before the occupation: February 24, 1918) before the end of World War I.

History

On March 8 and April 12 1918 the local Baltic German-dominated Kurländische Landesrat and the Vereinigter Landesrat of Livland, Estland, Riga, and Ösel had declared themselves independent states, known as the Duchy of Courland (Herzogtum Kurland) and Baltic State (Baltischer Staat), respectively. Both states proclaimed themselves to be in personal union with the Kingdom of Prussia, although the German government never responded to acknowledge that claim. These Baltic lands were nominally recognized as a sovereign state by Kaiser William II only on September 22, 1918, half a year after Soviet Russia had formally relinquished all authority over its former Imperial Baltic provinces to Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. On November 5, 1918, a temporary Regency Council (Regentschaftsrat) for the new state led by Baron Adolf Pilar von Pilchau was formed on a joint basis from the two local Land Councils.

The capital of the new state was to be Riga. It was to be a confederation of seven cantons: Kurland (Courland), Riga, Lettgallen (Latgale), Südlivland (South Livonia), Nordlivland (North Livonia), Ösel (Saaremaa), and Estland (Estonia), the four first cantons thus covering the territory corresponding to today's Latvia and the latter three corresponding to today's Estonia.

The first head of state of the United Baltic Duchy was to be Adolf Friedrich, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, not as a sovereign monarch, but as a subordinate to the German Kaiser, similar to other dukes and grand dukes of the German Empire. Adolf Friedrich never assumed office, however. The appointed Regency Council consisting of four Baltic Germans, three Estonians and three Latvians functioned until November 28, 1918, without any international recognition, except from Germany. The Baltische Landeswehr was formed by the government of the United Baltic Duchy as its national defense force. Upon taking command of the Baltische Landeswehr, Major Alfred Fletcher, with the backing of the Baltic German land barons, began dismissing native Latvian elements and replacing them with Baltic Germans and Reichsdeutsch troops. Concurrently, German officers assumed most of the command positions. In his book Vanguard of Nazism: The Free Corps Movement in Postwar Germany, 1918-1923, author Robert G.L. Waite notes: “By mid-February 1919, Latvians composed less than one fifth of their own army.” Britain backed down after recognizing the gravity of the military situation, and the White Russian units and the Freikorps moved on and captured Riga on May 22, 1919. After the capture of Riga, the Freikorps were accused of killing 300 Latvians in Mitau, 200 in Tukkum, 125 in Daugavgriva, and over 3,000 in Riga. After taking part in the capture of Riga on 23 May 1919, in June 1919 General von der Goltz ordered his troops not to advance east against the Red Army, as the Allies had been expecting, but north, against the Estonians. On June 19 the Iron Division and Landeswehr units launched an attack to capture areas around Cēsis (Wenden), the Baltische Landeswehr continued its advance towards the Estonian coast preparatory for a push on St. Petersburg, Soviet Russia. However, the Baltic plans were thwarted when the Estonian army attacked and defeated the Baltische Landeswehr at the Battle of Cēsis, 19-21 June 1919. However, in the battles over the following few days they were defeated by the Estonian army (lead by Johan Laidoner) and national Latvian units. On the morning of June 23, the Germans began a general retreat toward Riga. The Allies again insisted that the Germans withdraw their remaining troops from Latvia and intervened to impose a ceasefire between the Estonians and the Freikorps when the Estonians were about to march into Riga. In the meantime, an Allied mission composed of British troops under General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough had arrived in the Baltic with the task of clearing the Baltic Germans from the region and organizing native armies for the Baltic states. The defeat of Germany in World War I in November 1918, followed by the defeat in 1919 of the Baltische Landeswehr and German Freikorps units of General Rüdiger von der Goltz in Latvia by the Estonian army and national Latvian units, rendered the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.

Subsequent

To ensure its return to Latvian control, the Baltische Landeswehr was placed under British authority. After taking command of the Baltische Landeswehr in mid-July 1919, Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Alexander (the future Field Marshal the Earl Alexander of Tunis and Governor General of Canada, 1946-1952), gradually dismissed the Baltic German elements. The Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia were established as republics.

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