The Estonian Defence League is a voluntary national defence organisation operating in the area of government of the Estonian Ministry of Defence which is organised in accordance with military principles, possesses weapons and holds exercises of a military nature. The purpose of the Defence League is to enhance, by relying on free will and self-initiative, the readiness of the nation to defend the independence of Estonia and its constitutional order.
The Defence League is a legal successor of the Defence League established as a self-defence organisation on 11 November 1918. The Defence League is a legal person governed by public law, whose legal status shall be provided for by The Estonian Defence League Act and the legislation issued on the basis thereof.
There are ~ 18,000 members in the Estonian Defence League. Together with affiliated organisations Women`s Voluntary Defence Organization (Naiskodukaitse), Young Eagles (Noored Kotkad) and Home Daughters (Kodutütred), the Estonian Defence League has more than 29,000 volunteers in action.
A COMMANDER OF GREAT MILITARY FORCES MAY BE DEFEATED. A SIMPLE COUNTRYMAN WITH A BELIEF IS INVINCIBLE. Confucius