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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 international competition was held, and has been so annually since then, growing in extent and number of participants over time.
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 international competition was held, and has been so annually since then, growing in extent and number of participants over time.


==Artificial controversy in [[2007]]==
==Russian accusations of whitewashing Nazi past.==


{{seealso|Erna long-range recce group#Soviet historigraphy}}
{{seealso|Erna long-range recce group#Soviet historigraphy}}


Since the competition's initiation, [[Russia]]n media viewed competition's namesake as an attempt to whitewash collaboration with the [[Nazi Germany]]. However, in [[2007]], attributed by Estonian officials to the ongoing campaign for [[Russian presidential election, 2008]],<ref>[[Eesti Päevaleht]] [[7 August]] [[2007]]: [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/395416 Paet: süüdistused on osa Vene valimiskampaaniast]</ref> both Russian press and high-ranking government officials sharply criticized the competition, generally calling it "glorification of Nazi collaboration" and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition.<ref>[http://www.rian.ru/review/20070806/70448837.html "Поход Эрна-2007". Часть истории или популяризация нацизма?] {{ru icon}}</ref> . They claimed that commemoration of the Erna group today is part of alleged efforts by the Estonian authorities to glorify Nazi past (other parts of it being relocation of [[Bronze Soldier of Tallinn|war graves]] and an official greeting from the Minister of Defence to the participants of a gathering of [[Waffen SS]] veterans). Viewed as a view, this one follows Soviet and post-Soviet Russia's official logic on two counts: first, that resistance to the [[Red Army]] was inherently [[legitimacy (political science)|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.<ref name="Jamestown">{{cite web |url=http://www.jamestown.org/print_friendly.php?volume_id=420&issue_id=4200&article_id= |title=PACE Chairman bending to the Kremlin wind against Estonia |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=[[2007-08-03]] |accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref>
Since the competition's initiation, [[Russia]]n press has in its reporting of it distorted its purpose and the namesake reconaissance group's history every year. However, in [[2007]], attributed by some analysts to the ongoing campaign for [[Russian presidential election, 2008]],<ref>[[Eesti Päevaleht]] [[7 August]] [[2007]]: [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/395416 Paet: süüdistused on osa Vene valimiskampaaniast]</ref> both Russian press and high-ranking politician engaged in a systematic propaganda campaign against the competition, generally calling it Nazi-minded and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition.<ref>[http://www.rian.ru/review/20070806/70448837.html "Поход Эрна-2007". Часть истории или популяризация нацизма?] {{ru icon}}</ref> Viewed as a view, this one follows Soviet and post-Soviet Russia's official logic on two counts: first, that resistance to the [[Red Army]] was inherently [[legitimacy (political science)|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.<ref name="Jamestown">{{cite web |url=http://www.jamestown.org/print_friendly.php?volume_id=420&issue_id=4200&article_id= |title=PACE Chairman bending to the Kremlin wind against Estonia |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=[[2007-08-03]] |accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref>


Estonia's Minister of Defence, [[Jaak Aaviksoo]] called the accusations "regrettable" and claimed that the Erna group's task was to protect civilians and save lives. He also recalled the [[crimes against humanity]] committed by Russian-controlled military, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kautla. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmin.ee/?op=news&id=1283&setlang=eng |title=Erna Raid and NKVD Destruction Battalions |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence |date=[[2007-08-09]] |accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.postimees.ee/100807/esileht/siseuudised/276283.php |title=Aaviksoo: Erna retk ei möödunud ilma Venemaa laimukampaaniata |publisher=[[Postimees]] |date=[[2007-08-09]] |accessdate=2007-08-09}} {{et icon}}</ref>
Estonia's Minister of Defence, [[Jaak Aaviksoo]] called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group's task was to protect civilians and save lives. He also recalled the [[crimes against humanity]] committed by Russian-controlled military, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kautla. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmin.ee/?op=news&id=1283&setlang=eng |title=Erna Raid and NKVD Destruction Battalions |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence |date=[[2007-08-09]] |accessdate=2007-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.postimees.ee/100807/esileht/siseuudised/276283.php |title=Aaviksoo: Erna retk ei möödunud ilma Venemaa laimukampaaniata |publisher=[[Postimees]] |date=[[2007-08-09]] |accessdate=2007-08-09}} {{et icon}}</ref>


==Past competitions==
==Past competitions==

Revision as of 01:24, 14 August 2007

The Erna Raid (Template:Lang-et) is an annual international military exercise and competition, one of the longest and most difficult in the world, held every August since 1995 in Estonia. It is organised by the Erna Society and commemorates the actions of the long-range recce group Erna in the summer of 1941.[1]

Composition

The traditional parts of the competition are:

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

Participation

Foreign teams have always been welcome to partake in the competition. In 2007, 28 teams from 9 different countries are scheduled for participation: Estonia (18 teams), Czech Republic (1), Denmark (1), Finland (2), Germany (1), Norway (2), Portugal (1), Sweden (1) and USA (1), of which Portugal and Czech Republic are newcomers. Teams from United Kingdom have participated in earlier years (most recently, a British Territorial Army team in 2006) but will only be observing in 2007. A team from Cyprus will also be observing. Teams from 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.

History

Main article: Erna long-range recce group

The competition is named after the Erna long-range recce group (Template:Lang-et) and themed after its activities in the summer of 1941.

Erna Society

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 international competition was held, and has been so annually since then, growing in extent and number of participants over time.

Artificial controversy in 2007

See also: Erna long-range recce group § Soviet historigraphy

Since the competition's initiation, Russian press has in its reporting of it distorted its purpose and the namesake reconaissance group's history every year. However, in 2007, attributed by some analysts to the ongoing campaign for Russian presidential election, 2008,[2] both Russian press and high-ranking politician engaged in a systematic propaganda campaign against the competition, generally calling it Nazi-minded and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition.[3] Viewed as a view, this one 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.[4]

Estonia's Minister of Defence, Jaak Aaviksoo called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group's task was to protect civilians and save lives. He also recalled the crimes against humanity committed by Russian-controlled military, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kautla. [5][6]

Past competitions

The table below records the final results for the year's competition. DL is the acronym for the Defence League.

Position 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
1st Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia Scouts Bat. 1 Estonia Scouts Bat. 2 Finland Finland 2 China China 2 Estonia DL Järva Estonia Border Guard Estonia Border Guard
2nd Estonia DL Tartu Estonia Scouts Bat. 1 Estonia Recce Bat. Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia Scouts Bat. China China 1 Finland Finland 2 Norway Norway Estonia Kalev Inf. Bat.
3rd Finland Finland 2 Estonia Military Academy Estonia Military Academy Estonia Scouts Bat. 1 Estonia DL Järva Estonia DL Harju Estonia Border Guard Estonia DL Harju Estonia DL Pärnu
4th Estonia Police Estonia DL Järva Finland Finland 1 Estonia Military School Estonia Recce Bat. Estonia Security Police Estonia Logistics Bat. Estonia AA Battery China China 2
5th Estonia DL Järva Estonia Scouts Bat. 2 China China 2 Estonia DL Pärnu China China 2 Estonia Military Academy China China 2 Estonia Logistics Bat. Finland Finland 1
6th Estonia Border Guard Estonia DL Tartu China China 1 Estonia DL Järva Estonia Military Academy Estonia DL Järva Estonia Reserve Officers Finland Finland 1 Estonia Guard Bat.
7th Estonia Viru Bat. Estonia Police Estonia Air Defence Div. Denmark Denmark 1 Estonia Border Guard Estonia DL Tallinn Estonia AA Battery Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia DL Võru
8th Estonia DL Tallinn / Reserve Officers Estonia DL Tallinn Sweden Sweden Finland Finland 2 China China 1 Lithuania Lithuania China China 1 Estonia Kalev Inf. Bat. Denmark Denmark
9th Estonia Pärnu Bat. Germany Germany Germany Germany Lithuania Lithuania Denmark Denmark Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia Guard Bat. Estonia EDF HQ Estonia DL Järva
10th Finland Finland 1 Estonia Border Guard Estonia Reserve Officers Estonia Recce Bat. Estonia DL Harju 2 Estonia Scout Bat. Estonia Security Police Estonia Security Police Norway Norway 1
11th Germany Germany Estonia EDF HQ Estonia DL Järva Estonia Logistic Bat. Estonia DL Tallinn 2 Estonia Border Guard Estonia Rescue Service Finland Finland 2 Estonia Military Academy
12th Estonia DL Harju Canada Canada Estonia Guard Bat. China China 2 Estonia DL Tallinn 1 Finland Finland Estonia DL Tallinn Estonia Military Academy Estonia Reserve Officers
13th Estonia Scouts Bat. Estonia Guard Bat. Estonia DL Tartu Estonia Air Defence Bat. Estonia DL Võrumaa Estonia Military School Norway Norway 1 Sweden Sweden Estonia DL Põlva
14th Estonia Guard Bat. Finland Finland 1 Denmark Denmark 2 Estonia Military Academy Estonia DL Pärnumaa Estonia DL Võrumaa Norway Norway 2 Norway Norway 2 China China 1
15th United States USA Estonia Viru Bat. Estonia DL Tallinn Denmark Denmark 2 Estonia DL Harju 1 Norway Norway 1 Estonia Signal Bat. Estonia DL Võru Sweden Sweden
16th Denmark Denmark Finland Finland 2 Finland Finland 2 China China 1 Estonia Reserve Officers Norway Norway 2 Estonia Military Academy Germany Germany Scotland Scotland
17th Estonia Military Academy Estonia DL Valgamaa Estonia Scouts Bat. Estonia DL Võru Austria Austria Romania Romania Estonia DL Põlva Estonia DL Tallinn Norway Norway 2
18th Norway Norway 1 United States USA Estonia DL Võru Finland Finland 1 Estonia Engineering School Estonia AA Battalion Finland Finland 1 Denmark Denmark 1 Italy Italy 2
19th Sweden Sweden Denmark Denmark 1 Denmark Denmark 1 Sweden Sweden Estonia Military School Denmark Denmark 1 Sweden Sweden China China 1 Estonia Womens DL
20th Estonia Womens DL United Kingdom Great Britain Estonia Pärnu Bat. Germany Germany Finland Finland 1 Finland Finland 2 Estonia DL Harju Estonia DL Järva United Kingdom UK
21st Estonia DL Võru Belgium Belgium United States USA Estonia Guard Bat. Lithuania Lithuania Sweden Sweden Estonia EDF HQ China China 2
22nd Norway Norway 2 Estonia Artillery Group Estonia DL Pärnu Belgium Belgium Estonia Police Estonia text Denmark Denmark Estonia Rescue Service
23rd Portugal Portugal Estonia Womens DL Võru Belgium Belgium Estonia DL Tallinn Estonia Rescue Service Italy Italy United States USA Maryland Italy Italy 1
24th Denmark Denmark 3 Estonia Womens DL Võru Romania Romania Sweden Sweden Estonia EDF HQ Scotland Scotland United Kingdom United Kingdom
25th Latvia Latvia Italy Italy Turkey Turkey Estonia Guard Bat. Estonia Rescue Service Estonia Womens DL Estonia Womens DL
26th Denmark Denmark 2 Estonia Womens DL United Kingdom United Kingdom Estonia Womens DL Lithuania Lithuania Italy Italy 1
27th United States USA Poland Poland Scotland Scotland Estonia Recce Batalion
28th United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom

References

  1. ^ British Embassy in Tallinn August 5, 2006: ERNA RAID 2006 1–5 August
  2. ^ Eesti Päevaleht 7 August 2007: Paet: süüdistused on osa Vene valimiskampaaniast
  3. ^ "Поход Эрна-2007". Часть истории или популяризация нацизма? Template:Ru icon
  4. ^ "PACE Chairman bending to the Kremlin wind against Estonia". Jamestown Foundation. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Erna Raid and NKVD Destruction Battalions". Estonian Ministry of Defence. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Aaviksoo: Erna retk ei möödunud ilma Venemaa laimukampaaniata". Postimees. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Template:Et icon
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