kaitseliin
Kaitseliit, meaning Defence League in Estonian, is a voluntary national defense organization that forms part of Estonia's defense framework. It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence and the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Kaitseliit was founded in 1918 during the Estonian War of Independence and was re-established in 1990 after Estonia regained independence. Its mission is to strengthen the country's resilience, prepare civilians for defense, and support state authorities in peacetime and in wartime.
Membership is voluntary. The organization is organized regionally into county-level associations with local units called malev,
In peacetime, Kaitseliit conducts civil-defense and emergency-response training, participates in disaster relief, fire- and rescue operations,
Kaitseliit is a legally recognized part of Estonia's defense system. It cooperates with NATO partners, participates
Note: The proper Estonian name is Kaitseliit; kaitseliin is a common misspelling or variant used in some