Theme Night: 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Wenden
Rememorating the turning point in the Baltic War of Independence at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin
June 17th, 2019
On the 18th of July, the Estonian Embassy organized a theme night related to the crucial event in the history of Baltic War of Independence, the Victory of the Battle of Wenden, which provided freedom to the Estonian and Latvian People from the German Baltic Landwehr and the Iron Division of the German Free Corps.
On 23rd of June 1919, the Battle of Wenden had place in Latvia, a significant episode of war against German force, which turned to a major conflict against another newly involved actor by that time, the Soviet Army. By the end of the war the Estonians got their independence from the German invaders and started a new celebration of the decisive moment in that war, such as the Victory festival, on the same day the battle took place. For the purpose of this date, the Estonian embassy decided to organize a theme night regarding this event, its background, causes and consequences in order to make it more acknowledged.
On the evening of June 23, Estonia and people organize the biggest folk festival of the year - St. John's Fire, which is celebrated since 1930 to commemorate the battle, and this year is special, as it is 100th anniversary. Unfortunately, the celebration of the Victory Festival was forbidden during the Soviet occupation, until the early 1990s, the tradition of this event was restored. The festival counts on the celebration of parades and memorial services and speeches of high officials of the government and the military, as well as the veterans of the Second World War.
References:
- - https://berlin.mfa.ee/themenabend-100-jahrestag-der-schlacht-von-wenden/
- - https://berlin.mfa.ee/en/cultural-relations-2/
