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{{Short description|1918 client state of the German Empire}}
{{Cleanup|date=November 2008}}
{{Infobox Former Country {{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = United Baltic Duchy
|native_name =
| native_name = {{native name|de|Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum}}<br/>{{native name|lv|Apvienotā Baltijas hercogiste}}<br/>{{native name|et|Balti Hertsogiriik}}
|conventional_long_name= United Baltic Duchy
|common_name = United Baltic Duchy | common_name =
|continent = Europe | life_span = 1918
| status = ] of the ]
|region = Baltic
|era = World War I | status_text =
| p1 = Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918)
|status = Proposed state
|empire = Germany | p2 = Ober Ost
| s1 = History of Estonia (1920–1939){{!}}Estonia
|status_text =
|p1 = Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918) | s2 = Latvia
| image_flag = United Baltic Duchy flag.svg
|flag_p1 = Cur-f.gif
|p2 = Ober Ost | flag_caption = United Baltic Duchy flag
|flag_p2 = Flag of the German Empire.svg | image_coat = Baltic coat of arms.svg
|s1 = Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic | image_map = Map United Baltic Duchy.png
| image_map_caption = Proposed territories for the United Baltic Duchy
|flag_s1 = Flag of Latvian SSR 1919.svg
|s2 = Latvia | capital = ]
|flag_s2 = Flag of Latvia.svg | coordinates =
| common_languages = {{ubl|]|]|]|]}}
|year_start = 1918
|date_start = | religion =
| demonym = German
|event_start =
| government_type = ] ] under ]
|year_end = 1918
|date_end = | title_leader = Duke-elect
| leader1 = ]
|event_end =
|event_pre = | year_leader1 = 1918
|date_pre = | title_deputy = Regent
|event1 = ] | deputy1 = ]
| year_deputy1 = Nov 1918
|date_event1 = ], 1918
|event2 = ] | legislature =
| era = ]
|date_event2 = ], 1918
| event_start = ]
|title_leader =
| date_start = {{nowrap|3 March 1918}}
|leader1 =
| event1 = Proclamation of Duchy by Baltic German nobility
|title_deputy =
| date_event1 = {{nowrap|12 April 1918}}
|deputy1 =
| event2 = Recognized by ]
|year_deputy1 =
| date_event2 = {{nowrap|22 September 1918}}
|image_flag = United Baltic Duchy flag.svg
| event3 = Regency Council established
|image_coat = Baltic coat of arms.svg
| date_event3 = {{nowrap|5 November 1918}}
|image_map = Meyerbaltikum.jpg
| event4 = ]
|image_map_caption = ],],] of ] before the 1917 ]
| date_event4 = {{nowrap|11 November 1918}}
|government_type = Military administration
| event_end = Regency Council disbanded
|legislature =
| date_end = {{nowrap|28 November 1918}}
|common_languages = ]
|capital = Riga | event_post =
| date_post =
|currency = German papiermark
| year_start =
| year_end =
| today = {{ubl|]|]|'']''}}
}} }}


The proposed '''United Baltic Duchy''' <ref>''...later an alternative proposal was advanced for a United Baltic Duchy under Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg'' P 48 ISBN 0903983001</ref> also know as the '''Grand Duchy of Livonia''' <ref>This "Landesrat" on April 12, 1918, decided to beg the King of Prussia and German Kaiser to accept the throne of the Grand Duchy of Livonia {{cite book |title=Baltic Essays |last=Bilmanis |first=Alfreds |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1945 |publisher=The Latvian Legation, |location= |isbn= |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp&q=%22This%20%22Landesrat%22%20on%20April%2012%2C%201918%2C%20decided%20to%20beg%20the%20King%20of%20Prussia%20and%20German%20Kaiser%20to%20accept%20the%20throne%20of%20the%20Grand%20Duchy%20of%20Livonia%22 }}</ref> was a state imagined by the Baltic German nobility <ref>{{cite book |title=Where Nation-states Come from |last=Roeder |first=Philip |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location= |isbn=9780691134673 |pages=pp. 119 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XAItI5C_JPUC&pg=PA119&dq=%22Grand+Duchy+of+Livonia%22&lr=&ei=S7UMSf5vkdoxufGdlQQ }}</ref> after the Russian revolution and German Occupation of the Courland, Livonian and Estonian governonates of Russian Empire. The '''United Baltic Duchy'''<ref>{{cite book |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emBIdi4LPz8C |title=The Baltic States: The Years of Independence |author=Georg von Rauch |year = 1974|isbn=0-903983-00-1 |quote=Later an alternative proposal was advanced for a United Baltic Duchy under ]}}</ref> ({{langx|de|Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum}}; {{langx|lv|Apvienotā Baltijas hercogiste}}; {{langx|et|Balti Hertsogiriik}}), or alternatively the '''Grand Duchy of Livonia''',<ref>{{cite book |title=Baltic Essays |last=Bilmanis |first=Alfreds |year=1945 |publisher=The Latvian Legation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E40NAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Grand+Duchy+of+Livonia%22 |quote=This ''{{lang|de|Landesrat}}'' on 12 April 1918, decided to beg the King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany {{lang|de|Kaiser}} to accept the throne of the Grand Duchy of Livonia}}</ref> was the name of a short-lived state during ] that was proclaimed by leaders of the local ] ].<ref>{{cite book |title=Where Nation-States Come From: Institutional Change in the Age of Nationalism |last=Roeder |first=Philip |year=2007 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-13467-3 |page=119 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAItI5C_JPUC&dq=%22Grand+Duchy+of+Livonia%22&pg=PA119}}</ref>


The attempt to establish a new ] of the ] on the territory of what is now ] and ] was made in 1918, during the ] of the former ], ] and ] governorates of the ]; which had ceased to exist after the ] in 1917. The unsuccessful proclamation of a pro-German duchy was first made in April 1918, after the ] <!--but not Latvia-->had already formally ].
The idea included the creation of a ] and a Duchy of Estonia and Livonia that would be in personal union with the Crown of Prussia <ref>{{cite book |title=The Baltic States |last=Royal Institute of International Affairs Information Dept |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1938 |publisher=Oxford university press |location= |isbn= |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?q=%22+included+the+creation+of+a+Duchy+of+Courland+and+a+Duchy+of+Estonia+and+Livonia+in+personal+union+with+the+Crown+of+Prussia%22&btnG=Search+Books }}</ref> under the ]'s ] territory ] before the end of ] covering the territories of the ] what are now ] and ].


The proposed ideas for the new state included the creation of a ] and of a Duchy of Estonia and Livonia, which would be in ] with the ].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Baltic States |journal=Papers of the Royal Institute of International Affairs |year=1938 |issue=13, part 1 |pages=22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GXAmAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Duchy+of+Estonia+and+Livonia%22}}</ref> <!--under the ]'s ] territory ''{{lang|de|]}}'' before the end of ] covering the territories of the ] in what are now Latvia and Estonia.-->
==Historical background==
During ], German Armies had occupied the ] of ] by the autumn of 1915. The front was settled along a line stretched between ], ] and ].


== Background ==
Following the Russian ], the ] was created on ] 1917 (March 30 Old Style) from the former Russian ] and northern ]. After the Russian ], the elected ] declared Estonia's independence formally on ], ] and on ], ], a day before the arrival of German troops the ] was issued. The Western ] recognized the ] de facto on ] ].<ref name="WO"></ref>
During ], the ] had occupied the ] of the ] by the autumn of 1915. The front stabilised along the ]–]–] Line.


After the ] of 1917 in Russia, the ] declared the establishment of the ] on {{OldStyleDate|12 April|1917|30 March}}, which amalgamated the former Russian ] and the northern portion of the ]. After the ] later that year, the elected ] declared itself the sovereign power in Estonia on 28 November 1917. On 24 February 1918, a day before the arrival of German troops, the ] of the Provincial Assembly issued the ]. The Western ] recognised the ] ''de facto'' in May 1918.<ref name="WO">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYJbYgNcalgC |title=The Baltic States and Weimar Ostpolitik |author=John Hiden |date=2 May 2002 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521893251}}</ref>
The ] was proclaimed on ], ]. On ], ], the Council declared an autonomous Latvian province within ethnographic boundaries, and a formal independent Latvian republic was declared on ] ].<ref name="WO"/>


The term 'Grand Duchy of ]' refers to the Livonia region, which made up most of the proposed United Baltic Duchy.
After the ], German troops had started advancing from Courland, and by the end of February 1918 the German military administered the territories of the former Russian ] and ] that had declared independence. With the ] on March 3, 1918, ] accepted the loss of the ], and by agreements concluded in ] on August 27, 1918 the loss of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia and the Governorate of Livonia.<ref name="WO"/>


The ] was constituted on the basis of the law of ], which the Russian Provisional Government granted to Latvia on 5 July 1917.<ref>{{cite book |last=Latvian Legation in the United States of America |title=Latvia in 1939–1942: Background, Bolshevik and Nazi Occupation, Hopes for Future |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFJpAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Press Bureau of the Latvian Legation, 1942 |year=1942 |page=15 |access-date=2015-06-30 |quote=The&nbsp;... Latvian National Council was constituted on the basis of the law of self-government granted to Latvia on July 5, 1917, by Prince Lvov, head of the Russia Provisional Government.}}</ref> The ] first met on 16 November 1917 in ]. On 30 November, the Council declared an autonomous Latvian province within ethnographic boundaries, and a formally independent Latvian republic was declared on 15 January 1918.<ref name="WO"/>
== Attempt to create the United Baltic Duchy ==
] flag]]
] coat of arms]]


In early 1918, German troops started advancing from Courland, and by the end of February 1918, the ] administered the territories of Estonia that had ] and the Russian ]. In the ] on 3 March 1918, ] accepted the loss of the ] and, in agreements concluded in ] on 27 August 1918, the loss of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia and the Governorate of Livonia.<ref name="WO"/>
As a parallel political movement under the German military administration, ] began forming provincial councils between September 1917 and March 1918. On ] ], a Provincial Assembly composed of 35 ], 13 Estonians and 11 Latvians passed a resolution calling upon the German Emperor to recognize the Baltic provinces as a monarchy and make them a German protectorate.<ref></ref>


== Attempt at creation ==
On ] and ] ] the local ]-dominated '']'' and the '']'' of '']'', '']'', ], and '']'' had declared themselves independent states,{{Fact|date=November 2007}} known as the ] (''Herzogtum Kurland'') and ] <ref></ref>(''Baltischer Staat''), respectively. Both states proclaimed themselves to be in personal union with the ], although the German government never responded to acknowledge that claim.
], 1910]]
As a parallel political movement under the German military administration, ] began forming provincial councils between September 1917 and March 1918.


On 8 March 1918, the local Baltic German-dominated {{lang|de|]}} declared the restoration of ] ({{lang|de|Herzogtum Kurland}}), which was formally recognised by ] on 15 March 1918.
The Baltic lands were nominally recognized as a sovereign state by ] ] only on ], ] {{Fact|date=December 2007}}, 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 12 April 1918, a Provincial Assembly ({{lang|de|]}}), composed of 35 Baltic Germans, 13 Estonians, and 11 Latvians, passed a resolution calling upon the German Emperor to recognise the Baltic provinces as a monarchy and to make them a German protectorate.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WR8rAAAAIAAJ |title=Griff nach der Weltmacht |author=Fritz Fischer |year=1967}}</ref>
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 United Baltic Duchy was nominally recognised as a sovereign state by Wilhelm II only on 22 September 1918,{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} half a year after ] had formally relinquished all authority over former ] ] to Germany in the ]. On 5 November 1918, a temporary Regency Council ({{lang|de|Regentschaftsrat}}) for the new state, led by Baron ], was formed on a joint basis from both local Land Councils.
] in 1920, showing still-undefined borders in the situation after the treaties of ] and ] and before the ]. The proposed United Baltic Duchy was to be located at the future territory of Latvia and Estonia covering the territory of the medieval ]]]


The new state was to have its capital in ] and was to be a confederation of seven ]s: {{lang|de|Kurland}} (]), Riga, {{lang|de|Lettgallen}} (]), {{lang|de|Südlivland}} (South ]), {{lang|de|Nordlivland}} (North Livonia), {{lang|de|Ösel}} (]) and {{lang|de|Estland}} (Estonia), the first four cantons correspondings to today's Latvia and the last 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 ]. But Adolf Friedrich never assumed office. The appointed Regency Council consisting of four ], three ] and three ] functioned until ], ], without any international recognition, except from Germany.


The first head of state of the United Baltic Duchy was to be ], not as a sovereign monarch, but as a subordinate to the German {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, similar to other ] or kings of the German Empire. However, Adolf Friedrich never assumed office. The appointed Regency Council, consisting of four Baltic Germans, three Estonians and three Latvians, functioned until 28 November 1918 without any international recognition except from Germany.
In October 1918, the ] ] proposed to have the military administration in the Baltic replaced by civilian authority. The new policy was stated in a ] from the German Foreign Office to the military administration of the Baltic: ''The government of the Reich is unanimous in respect of the fundamental change in our policy towards the ], namely that in the first instance policy is to be made with the Baltic peoples.''<ref name="WO"/>


In October 1918, the ], ], proposed to have the military administration in the Baltic replaced by civilian authority. The new policy was stated in a telegram from the ] to the military administration of the Baltic: "The government of the Reich is unanimous in respect of the fundamental change in our policy towards the ], namely that in the first instance policy is to be made with the Baltic peoples".<ref name="WO"/>
== Independent Latvia ==
On November 18, 1918, Latvia proclaimed independence. Power was transferred the next day from the German military administration to the ] headed by ]. In Latvia, the Germans formally handed over authority to the Latvian national government headed by ] on December 7, 1918. <ref name="WO"/>


== Independent Estonia and Latvia ==
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.” ] backed down after recognizing the gravity of the military situation, and the White Russian units and the Freikorps moved on and captured Riga on ], ].
On 18 November 1918, Latvia proclaimed its independence. ], the last representative of the German government, signed an agreement with representatives of the ] on handing over power in Estonian territory on 19 November.<ref> Estonica. Encyclopaedia about Estonia</ref> In Latvia, the Germans formally handed over authority to the Latvian national government, headed by ] on 7 December 1918.<ref name="WO"/>


The {{lang|de|]}} was formed in 1919 largely by the leaders of the local Livonian and Curonian nobility, who had been the proponents of the United Baltic Duchy in 1918. Upon taking command of the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}}, Major ], with the backing of the local nobility, began dismissing native Latvian elements and replacing them with Baltic Germans and {{lang|de|]}} 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'', the author ] notes: "By mid-February 1919, Latvians composed less than one-fifth of their own army". The ] backed down after it had recognised the gravity of the military situation, and the ] units and the {{lang|de|]}} moved on and captured ] on 22 May 1919.
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, 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 ''Baltische Landeswehr'' was defeated by the ] (lead by ]) and national Latvian units at the ], 19-] 1919.


After the capture of Riga, the {{lang|de|Freikorps}} were accused of killing 300 Latvians in Mitau (]), 200 in Tuckum (]), 125 in Dünamünde (]) and over 3,000 in Riga. In June 1919, after taking part in the capture of Riga, General von der Goltz ordered his troops to advance not east against the ], as the ] had been expecting, but north against the Estonians. On 19 June 1919, the Iron Division and {{lang|de|Landeswehr}} units launched an attack to capture areas around Wenden (]), the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}} continued its advance towards the Estonian coast preparatory for a push on ]. However, the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}} was defeated by the 3rd ], led by ], and North Latvian Brigade at the ], 19–23 June 1919.
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. Meanwhile, an ] composed of ] troops under General Sir ] had arrived in the ] to clear the Germans from the region and organize native armies for the ].


On the morning of 23 June 1919, the Germans began a general retreat toward Riga. The Allies again insisted for the Germans to withdraw their remaining troops from Latvia, and intervened to impose a ceasefire between the Estonians and the {{lang|de|Freikorps}} when the Estonians were about to march into Riga. Meanwhile, an Allied mission composed of British troops, under General Sir ], had arrived in the Baltic to clear the Germans from the region and to organise 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 ] in Latvia by the Estonian army and national Latvian units, rendered the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.


==Aftermath== == Aftermath ==
The defeat of Germany in World War I in November 1918, followed by the defeat in 1919 of the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}} and German {{lang|de|Freikorps}} units of General ] in Latvia by the 3rd ] and the North Latvian Brigade, rendered any ideas for the creation of the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.


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, ] ] (the future ] the Earl Alexander of ] and ], 1946-1952), gradually dismissed the Baltic German elements. The Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia were established as republics. To ensure its return to Latvian control, the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}} was placed under British authority. After taking command of the {{lang|de|Baltische Landeswehr}} in mid-July 1919, ] ], the future Alexander of Tunis, gradually dismissed the Baltic German elements. The Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia were established as republics.


== See also == == See also ==
*] * ]
*] * ''{{lang|de|]}}''
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
* ]
*]
* ]
*]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ''{{lang|de|]}}''
* ]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
* * on ''World Statesmen''
* * on ''Encyclopædia Heraldica''
* * {{FOTW |id=bal_duke |title=Baltic Duchy (1918)}}


{{Baltic states}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}


{{coord|56|56|56|N|24|06|23|E|region:LV|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baltic Duchy, United}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]


<!--]
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]
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Latest revision as of 07:02, 23 December 2024

1918 client state of the German Empire
United Baltic DuchyVereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum (German)
Apvienotā Baltijas hercogiste (Latvian)
Balti Hertsogiriik (Estonian)
1918
Flag of United Baltic Duchy flag Coat of arms of Coat of arms
Proposed territories for the United Baltic DuchyProposed territories for the United Baltic Duchy
StatusClient state of the German Empire
CapitalRiga
Common languages
Demonym(s)German
GovernmentProvisional semi-constitutional monarchy under military occupation
Duke-elect 
• 1918 Adolf Friedrich
Regent 
• Nov 1918 Adolf Pilar von Pilchau
Historical eraWorld War I
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 3 March 1918
• Proclamation of Duchy by Baltic German nobility 12 April 1918
• Recognized by Germany 22 September 1918
• Regency Council established 5 November 1918
• German surrender 11 November 1918
• Regency Council disbanded 28 November 1918
Preceded by Succeeded by
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918)
Ober Ost
Estonia
Latvia
Today part of

The United Baltic Duchy (German: Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum; Latvian: Apvienotā Baltijas hercogiste; Estonian: Balti Hertsogiriik), or alternatively the Grand Duchy of Livonia, was the name of a short-lived state during World War I that was proclaimed by leaders of the local Baltic German nobility.

The attempt to establish a new client state of the German Empire on the territory of what is now Latvia and Estonia was made in 1918, during the German occupation of the former Courland, Livonian and Estonian governorates of the Russian Empire; which had ceased to exist after the Bolshevik coup in 1917. The unsuccessful proclamation of a pro-German duchy was first made in April 1918, after the Republic of Estonia had already formally declared full independence.

The proposed ideas for the new state included the creation of a Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and of a Duchy of Estonia and Livonia, which would be in personal union with the Kingdom of Prussia.

Background

During World War I, the Imperial German Army had occupied the Courland Governorate of the Russian Empire by the autumn of 1915. The front stabilised along the Riga–Daugavpils–Baranovichi Line.

After the February Revolution of 1917 in Russia, the Russian Provisional Government declared the establishment of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia on 12 April [O.S. 30 March] 1917, which amalgamated the former Russian Governorate of Estonia and the northern portion of the Governorate of Livonia. After the October Revolution later that year, the elected Estonian Provincial Assembly declared itself the sovereign power in Estonia on 28 November 1917. On 24 February 1918, a day before the arrival of German troops, the Estonian Salvation Committee of the Provincial Assembly issued the Estonian Declaration of Independence. The Western Allies recognised the Republic of Estonia de facto in May 1918.

The term 'Grand Duchy of Livonia' refers to the Livonia region, which made up most of the proposed United Baltic Duchy.

The Latvian Provisional National Council was constituted on the basis of the law of self-government, which the Russian Provisional Government granted to Latvia on 5 July 1917. The Latvian Provisional National Council first met on 16 November 1917 in Valka. On 30 November, the Council declared an autonomous Latvian province within ethnographic boundaries, and a formally independent Latvian republic was declared on 15 January 1918.

In early 1918, German troops started advancing from Courland, and by the end of February 1918, the German military administered the territories of Estonia that had declared independence and the Russian Governorate of Livonia. In the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on 3 March 1918, Soviet Russia accepted the loss of the Courland Governorate and, in agreements concluded in Berlin on 27 August 1918, the loss of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia and the Governorate of Livonia.

Attempt at creation

Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, 1910

As a parallel political movement under the German military administration, Baltic Germans began forming provincial councils between September 1917 and March 1918.

On 8 March 1918, the local Baltic German-dominated Kurländischer Landesrat declared the restoration of Duchy of Courland (Herzogtum Kurland), which was formally recognised by Kaiser Wilhelm on 15 March 1918.

On 12 April 1918, a Provincial Assembly (Vereinigter Landesrat), composed of 35 Baltic Germans, 13 Estonians, and 11 Latvians, passed a resolution calling upon the German Emperor to recognise the Baltic provinces as a monarchy and to make them a German protectorate.

The United Baltic Duchy was nominally recognised as a sovereign state by Wilhelm II only on 22 September 1918, half a year after Soviet Russia had formally relinquished all authority over former Russian Imperial Baltic governorates to Germany in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. On 5 November 1918, a temporary Regency Council (Regentschaftsrat) for the new state, led by Baron Adolf Pilar von Pilchau, was formed on a joint basis from both local Land Councils.

The new state was to have its capital in Riga and 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 first four cantons correspondings to today's Latvia and the last three corresponding to today's Estonia.

The first head of state of the United Baltic Duchy was to be Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, not as a sovereign monarch, but as a subordinate to the German Kaiser, similar to other princes or kings of the German Empire. However, Adolf Friedrich never assumed office. The appointed Regency Council, consisting of four Baltic Germans, three Estonians and three Latvians, functioned until 28 November 1918 without any international recognition except from Germany.

In October 1918, the Chancellor of Germany, Prince Maximilian of Baden, proposed to have the military administration in the Baltic replaced by civilian authority. The new policy was stated in a telegram from the German Foreign Office to the military administration of the Baltic: "The government of the Reich is unanimous in respect of the fundamental change in our policy towards the Baltic countries, namely that in the first instance policy is to be made with the Baltic peoples".

Independent Estonia and Latvia

On 18 November 1918, Latvia proclaimed its independence. August Winnig, the last representative of the German government, signed an agreement with representatives of the Estonian Provisional Government on handing over power in Estonian territory on 19 November. In Latvia, the Germans formally handed over authority to the Latvian national government, headed by Kārlis Ulmanis on 7 December 1918.

The Baltische Landeswehr was formed in 1919 largely by the leaders of the local Livonian and Curonian nobility, who had been the proponents of the United Baltic Duchy in 1918. Upon taking command of the Baltische Landeswehr, Major Alfred Fletcher, with the backing of the local nobility, began dismissing native Latvian elements and replacing them with Baltic Germans and Reichsdeutsche 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, the author Robert G. L. Waite notes: "By mid-February 1919, Latvians composed less than one-fifth of their own army". The United Kingdom backed down after it had recognised the gravity of the military situation, and the White Russian units and the Freikorps moved on and captured Riga on 22 May 1919.

After the capture of Riga, the Freikorps were accused of killing 300 Latvians in Mitau (Jelgava), 200 in Tuckum (Tukums), 125 in Dünamünde (Daugavgrīva) and over 3,000 in Riga. In June 1919, after taking part in the capture of Riga, General von der Goltz ordered his troops to advance not east against the Red Army, as the Allies had been expecting, but north against the Estonians. On 19 June 1919, the Iron Division and Landeswehr units launched an attack to capture areas around Wenden (Cēsis), the Baltische Landeswehr continued its advance towards the Estonian coast preparatory for a push on Petrograd. However, the Baltische Landeswehr was defeated by the 3rd Estonian Division, led by Ernst Põdder, and North Latvian Brigade at the Battle of Cēsis, 19–23 June 1919.

On the morning of 23 June 1919, the Germans began a general retreat toward Riga. The Allies again insisted for the Germans to 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. Meanwhile, an Allied mission composed of British troops, under General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough, had arrived in the Baltic to clear the Germans from the region and to organise native armies for the Baltic states.

Aftermath

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 3rd Estonian Division and the North Latvian Brigade, rendered any ideas for the creation of the United Baltic Duchy irrelevant.

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 Alexander of Tunis, gradually dismissed the Baltic German elements. The Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia were established as republics.

See also

References

  1. Georg von Rauch (1974). The Baltic States: The Years of Independence. p. 48. ISBN 0-903983-00-1. Later an alternative proposal was advanced for a United Baltic Duchy under Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg
  2. Bilmanis, Alfreds (1945). Baltic Essays. The Latvian Legation. This Landesrat on 12 April 1918, decided to beg the King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany Kaiser to accept the throne of the Grand Duchy of Livonia
  3. Roeder, Philip (2007). Where Nation-States Come From: Institutional Change in the Age of Nationalism. Princeton University Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-691-13467-3.
  4. "The Baltic States". Papers of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (13, part 1): 22. 1938.
  5. ^ John Hiden (2 May 2002). The Baltic States and Weimar Ostpolitik. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521893251.
  6. Latvian Legation in the United States of America (1942). Latvia in 1939–1942: Background, Bolshevik and Nazi Occupation, Hopes for Future. Press Bureau of the Latvian Legation, 1942. p. 15. Retrieved 2015-06-30. The ... Latvian National Council was constituted on the basis of the law of self-government granted to Latvia on July 5, 1917, by Prince Lvov, head of the Russia Provisional Government.
  7. Fritz Fischer (1967). Griff nach der Weltmacht.
  8. World War I Estonica. Encyclopaedia about Estonia

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