Collection: Estonian CAMO Products

The Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) was known as the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic between 1940 and 1991, when it was a part of the Soviet Union. After a period of years, during which Estonia made some progress in achieving greater autonomy from the USSR, a referendum in March 1991 resulted in more than 77% of Estonians favoring independence. A few months later, during the attempted coup d'etat in Moscow (in August), the country declared itself a fully independent Republic. Prior to independence, the defense of Estonia was the responsibility of Soviet forces. Facing the likelihood of complete abandonment by the Soviet military structure, Estonia reformed its historical Eesti Kaitseliit, or Estonian Defence League on February 17, 1990. The EDL would serve as an interim defense force until the formation of the new Estonian Defence Force (Eesti Kaitsevägi,) and thereafter would remain in the role of a voluntary, paramilitary organization functioning similarly to a national guard. Once firmly established as an independent Republic, Estonia joined NATO and later became a member of the European Union. Today, the Estonian Defence Force consists of the Ground Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, and the Estonian Defence League. The nation has been quite active in peacekeeping efforts, having deployed small contingents to Kosovo, Afghanistan (as part of ISAF), Iraq, and Lebanon. The nations's initial adoption of a national camouflage pattern reflected its long association with the Soviet Union, but in recent years Estonia has moved into the "digital age" and embraced pixelated camouflage designs of its own.