Erna Raid
Encyclopedia
The Erna Raid 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.
(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 only be observed in 2007. A team from Cyprus
also be observed. 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
.
Due to the home field advantage attributed to the intimate knowledge of the terrain by the local teams, the venue for the competition may be changed next year.
These claims were reinvigorated in the 1980s as a way of distracting historians analysing the Kautla massacre
, and have been repeated in Russian media in 2000s.
n media claimed the competition's namesake was an attempt to glorify collaboration with the Nazi Germany
. In 2007, high-ranking government officials sharply criticized the competition, generally calling it "glamorization of Nazism" and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition.. Estonian officials attribute this recent development to the ongoing campaign for Russian presidential election, 2008
. Russian officials claim 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 a memorial to Red Army invaders
and an official greeting from the Minister of Defence to veterans of a unit of Estonians conscripted to a division organized within the Waffen SS to defend Estonia).
Analyst of the US based think tank
Jamestown Foundation believes this view 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.
Estonia's Minister of Defence, Jaak Aaviksoo
called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group saved the lives of many civilians from the vengeful Soviet paramilitary units, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kautla.
Military exercise
A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
and competition, one of the longest and most difficult in the world, held every August since 1995 in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It is organised by the Erna Society and commemorates the actions of the long-range recce
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
group Erna
Erna long-range recce group
The Erna long-range reconnaissance group was a Finnish Army formation, of Estonian volunteers, that fulfilled reconnaissance duties in Estonia behind the Red Army lines during World War II...
in the summer of 1941.
Composition
The traditional parts of the competition are:- landing, in rubber boatCombat Rubber Raiding CraftThe F470 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft , also known as the "Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft," is a specially fabricated rubber inflatable boat often used by United States Navy SEALs and Marines, among others...
s, 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) minigameMinigameA minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s 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 participated: EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
(18 teams), Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(1), Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
(1), Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(2), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1), Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(2), Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1), Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(1) and USA (1), of which Portugal and Czech Republic are newcomers. Teams from United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
have participated in earlier years (most recently, a British Territorial Army team in 2006) but only be observed in 2007. A team from Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
also be observed. Teams from People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
have been traditionally successful in the competition and took 1st and 2nd place in 2002. Other successful teams have come from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Due to the home field advantage attributed to the intimate knowledge of the terrain by the local teams, the venue for the competition may be changed next year.
History
The competition is named after the Erna long-range recce group 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.Past competitions
The table below records the final results for the year's competition. It does not include retired and disqualified teams. DL is the acronym for the Defence League.| Position | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | |
| 1st |  Scouts Battalion |
DL Põlva |
DL Tartu 1 |
DL Tartu 2 |
Reserve Officers |
Reserve Officers |
Scouts Bat. 1 |
Scouts Bat. 2 |
 Finland 2 |
 China 2 |
DL Järva |
Border Guard |
Border Guard |
|
| 2nd | Kirde KRK |
Scouts Battalion |
DL Tartu 2 |
Reserve Officers / DL Tallinn |
DL Tartu |
Scouts Bat. 1 |
Recce Bat. |
Reserve Officers |
Scouts Bat. |
China 1 |
Finland 2 |
 Norway |
Kalev Inf. Bat. |
|
| 3rd | DL Harju 1 |
DL Tartu 2 |
Military Academy 2 |
Kuperjanovi Single Infantry Bn |
Finland 2 |
Military Academy |
Military Academy |
Scouts Bat. 1 |
DL Järva |
DL Harju |
Border Guard |
DL Harju |
DL Pärnu |
|
| 4th | Military Academy |
Military Academy 1 |
Kuperjanovi Single Inf Bn |
Border Guard |
Police |
DL Järva |
Finland 1 |
Military School |
Recce Bat. |
Security Police |
Logistics Bat. |
AA Battery |
China 2 |
|
| 5th | Border Guard |
DL Järva 1 |
DL Tallinn 2 |
DL Tallinn 1 |
DL Järva |
Scouts Bat. 2 |
China 2 |
DL Pärnu |
China 2 |
Military Academy |
China 2 |
Logistics Bat. |
Finland 1 |
|
| 6th | DL Järva 2 |
DL Järva 2 |
DL Järva 1 |
Military Academy |
Border Guard |
DL Tartu |
China 1 |
DL Järva |
Military Academy |
DL Järva |
Reserve Officers |
Finland 1 |
Guard Bat. |
|
| 7th | DL Põlva |
Border Guard |
Military Academy 1 |
EDF Logistics Centre |
Viru Bat. |
Police |
Air Defence Div. |
 Denmark 1 |
Border Guard |
DL Tallinn |
AA Battery |
Reserve Officers |
DL Võru |
|
| 8th | DL Pärnu 2 |
DL Tartu 1 |
DL Põlva |
DL Tartu 1 |
DL Tallinn / Reserve Officers |
DL Tallinn |
 Sweden |
Finland 2 |
China 1 |
 Lithuania |
China 1 |
Kalev Inf. Bat. |
Denmark |
|
| 9th | Finland 3 |
NE Territorial Defence District |
DL Harju |
DL Valga |
Pärnu Bat. |
 Germany |
Germany |
Lithuania |
Denmark |
Reserve Officers |
Guard Bat. |
EDF HQ |
DL Järva |
|
| 10th | DL Pärnu 1 |
Kuperjanovi Inf Bn |
Finland 2 |
Germany |
Finland 1 |
Border Guard |
Reserve Officers |
Recce Bat. |
DL Harju 2 |
Scout Bat. |
Security Police |
Security Police |
Norway 1 |
|
| 11th | Nth. Guard Bat. |
DL Tallinn Nõmme |
DL Järva 2 |
DL Järva |
Germany |
EDF HQ |
DL Järva |
Logistic Bat. |
DL Tallinn 2 |
Border Guard |
Rescue Service |
Finland 2 |
Military Academy |
|
| 12th | Finland 2 |
DL Harju 1 |
EDF Log Centre CS Training Centre |
Viru Single Infantry Bn |
DL Harju |
 Canada |
Guard Bat. |
China 2 |
DL Tallinn 1 |
Finland |
DL Tallinn |
Military Academy |
Reserve Officers |
|
| 13th | Denmark 2 |
DL Tallinn 2 |
Finland 1 |
Reserve Officers 2 |
Scouts Bat. |
Guard Bat. |
DL Tartu |
Air Defence Bat. |
DL Võrumaa |
Military School |
Norway 1 |
Sweden |
DL Põlva |
|
| 14th | DL Tartu |
DL Harju 2 |
Border Guard |
DL Pärnu |
Guard Bat. |
Finland 1 |
Denmark 2 |
Military Academy |
DL Pärnumaa |
DL Võrumaa |
Norway 2 |
Norway 2 |
China 1 |
|
| 15th | DL Tallinn 2 |
Lithuania |
DL Women’s Corps Saaremaa |
Lithuania |
 USA |
Viru Bat. |
DL Tallinn |
Denmark 2 |
DL Harju 1 |
Norway 1 |
Signal Bat. |
DL Võru |
Sweden |
|
| 16th | DL Järva |
 Belgium |
DL Võru |
DL Alutaguse Women’s Team |
Denmark |
Finland 2 |
Finland 2 |
China 1 |
Reserve Officers |
Norway 2 |
Military Academy |
Germany |
 Scotland |
|
| 17th | DL Tallinn Nõmme |
DL Pärnu |
Denmark 1 |
Denmark 1 |
Military Academy |
DL Valgamaa |
Scouts Bat. |
DL Võru |
 Austria |
 Romania |
DL Põlva |
DL Tallinn |
Norway 2 |
|
| 18th | DL Pärnu 3 |
Military Academy 2 |
Denmark 2 |
DL Tallinn 2 (Toompea subunit) |
Norway 1 |
USA |
DL Võru |
Finland 1 |
Engineering School |
AA Battalion |
Finland 1 |
Denmark 1 |
 Italy 2 |
|
| 19th | Lithuania |
Sweden 1 |
DL Tallinn 1 |
Denmark 3 |
Sweden |
Denmark 1 |
Denmark 1 |
Sweden |
Military School |
Denmark 1 |
Sweden |
China 1 |
Women's DL |
|
| 20th | DL Harju Männiku |
DL Harju 3 |
DL Women’s Corps Võru |
Single Guard Bn |
Women's DL |
Great Britain | Pärnu Bat. |
Germany |
Finland 1 |
Finland 2 |
DL Harju |
DL Järva |
UK | |
| 21st | DL Tallinn Kalevi |
DL Alutaguse Women's Team |
DL Tallinn 3 |
Denmark 2 |
DL Võru |
Belgium |
USA |
Guard Bat. |
Lithuania |
Sweden |
EDF HQ |
China 2 |
||
| 22nd | DL Harju 2 |
Sweden 2 |
USA |
Norway 2 |
Artillery Group |
DL Pärnu |
Belgium |
Police |
text |
Denmark |
Rescue Service |
|||
| 23rd | Belgium |
Finland 2 |
Belgium |
 Portugal |
Women's DL Võru |
Belgium |
DL Tallinn |
Rescue Service |
Italy |
USA Maryland |
Italy 1 |
|||
| 24th | Finland 4 |
Denmark |
DL Women’s Corps Rapla |
Denmark 3 |
Women's DL Võru |
Romania |
Sweden |
EDF HQ |
Scotland |
United Kingdom | ||||
| 25th | Denmark 1 |
Norway 1 |
 Latvia |
Italy |
 Turkey |
Guard Bat. |
Rescue Service |
Women's DL |
Women's DL |
|||||
| 26th | Prison Service |
Denmark 2 |
Women's DL |
United Kingdom | Women's DL |
Lithuania |
Italy 1 |
|||||||
| 27th | Finland 1 |
USA |
 Poland |
Scotland |
Recce Battalion |
|||||||||
| 28th | 1.Infantry Bde Logistics Bat |
United Kingdom | United Kingdom | |||||||||||
| 29th |  Georgia |
Soviet myths
Since the era of Stalin, Soviet propagandists have been making counterfactual assertions of the original Erna team having participated in mass murder of Soviet political activists. Sometimes, the myths also claim that the letter 'E' was cut onto the backs of the victims.These claims were reinvigorated in the 1980s as a way of distracting historians analysing the Kautla massacre
Kautla massacre
The Battle of Kautla was a battle between Soviet destruction battalions and Estonian Forest Brothers in Kautla, Estonia in July 1941. It included series of murders of civilians committed by destruction battalions, known as Kautla massacre....
, and have been repeated in Russian media in 2000s.
Recent official Russian accusations of glorifying Nazism
Since the competition's initiation, sectors of the RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n media claimed the competition's namesake was an attempt to glorify collaboration with the Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. In 2007, high-ranking government officials sharply criticized the competition, generally calling it "glamorization of Nazism" and expressing outrage over NATO members participating in the competition.. Estonian officials attribute this recent development to the ongoing campaign for Russian presidential election, 2008
Russian presidential election, 2008
The Russian Presidential election of 2008, held on March 2, 2008 resulted in the election of Dmitry Medvedev as the third President of Russia. Medvedev, whose candidacy was supported by incumbent president Vladimir Putin and five political parties , received 71% of the vote, and defeated...
. Russian officials claim 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 a memorial to Red Army invaders
Bronze Soldier of Tallinn
The Bronze Soldier is the informal name of a controversial Soviet World War II war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia, built at the site of several war graves, which were relocated to the nearby Tallinn Military Cemetery in 2007...
and an official greeting from the Minister of Defence to veterans of a unit of Estonians conscripted to a division organized within the Waffen SS to defend Estonia).
Analyst of the US based think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
Jamestown Foundation believes this view follows Soviet and post-Soviet Russia's official logic on two counts: first, that resistance to the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
was inherently illegitimate
Legitimacy (political science)
In political science, legitimacy is the popular acceptance of a governing law or régime as an authority. Whereas “authority” denotes a specific position in an established government, the term “legitimacy” denotes a system of government — wherein “government” denotes “sphere of influence”...
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.
Estonia's Minister of Defence, Jaak Aaviksoo
Jaak Aaviksoo
Jaak Aaviksoo, born 11 January 1954 in Tartu, Estonia is an Estonian politician and current Estonian Minister of Education and Research. He is a member of liberal conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.- Education and career in science :...
called the accusations "regrettable" and recalled that the Erna group saved the lives of many civilians from the vengeful Soviet paramilitary units, and specifically pointed out cases of burning farmers alive along with their farms in Kautla.