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, which conduct regular training in defence skills, firearms safety, first aid, and fieldcraft. Training is designed to complement the active defence forces and to enable rapid mobilization of reserve personnel.

In peacetime, Kaitseliit conducts civil-defense and emergency-response training, participates in disaster relief, fire- and rescue operations, and assists municipal authorities. In times of crisis, it can be mobilized to assist border protection and homeland-security tasks in coordination with the Police, Border Guard, and Defence Forces.

Kaitseliit is a legally recognized part of Estonia's defense system. It cooperates with NATO partners, participates in international exercises, and serves as a bridge between civilian society and the armed forces, promoting civic preparedness and resilience.

Note: The proper Estonian name is Kaitseliit; kaitseliin is a common misspelling or variant used in some contexts.