About

ABOUT NGO IMK

Why donate?

The Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit) is a state-funded organization, and the state provides its members with everything (critically) necessary for training exercises.

"The Estonian state is expensive, and the Estonian state is dear.
It is expensive to the citizen's wallet, and it is dear to the citizen's heart."
— Lennart Georg Meri (President of the Republic at the opening of the IX Riigikogu session, 2001)

However, there is a noticeable difference between standard equipment and modern gear. For example, boots acquired through a public tender a few years ago might no longer be best suited for today’s conditions. High-quality, modern equipment is generally expensive, which means our small nation's budget cannot always equip every combatant simultaneously. As a rule, special forces are prioritized first, followed by active-duty professionals, conscripts, and only then the volunteers of the Defence League.

NGO IMK was created primarily to allow everyday citizens to directly support the equipping of their friends, acquaintances, hometown, or simply a Defence League unit they resonate with—specifically supporting the Esimene malevkond of the Defence League's Tartu Unit.

About Esimene malevkond

Esimene malevkond is part of the Tartu Unit (Tartu malev) of the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit) and is an integral element of the broader Defence League structure, which unites volunteers across Estonia. The malevkond currently has nearly 500 members actively contributing to voluntary national defence.

An Innovative and Close-Knit Unit

Since a significant portion of a Defence League member's time is dedicated to military exercises and training—with regular participation in all major exercises—a strong sense of community has naturally developed among its members. As Tartu is a university town, the membership includes many university students, intellects, and forward-thinking individuals.

Esimene malevkond is characterized by innovative training and strategic thinking. For example, it hosts one of Estonia’s first fully equipped drone platoons, which works closely with Ukrainian instructors and conducts training tailored to modern warfare tactics. In peacetime, Esimene malevkond consists of one company, including infantry, mortar, and anti-tank specialists. Additionally, members contribute to staffing the medical platoon and the formation center, as well as providing drivers for the logistics squad.

A Distinguished History

The unit also proudly honors its historical continuity, demonstrated by maintaining and preserving War of Independence monuments and memorial sites dedicated to the Estonian officer corps. Esimene malevkond has served as a cornerstone for the Estonian officer corps, with over 100 officers having been direct members or having started their service within its ranks. Furthermore, several units of the Tartu Unit originated from Esimene malevkond, including Akadeemiline malevkond and the inland waterways division within Tamme malevkond, both of which exist to this day.

The history of Esimene malevkond in Tartu dates back to October 9, 1924, when veterans of the Estonian War of Independence and members of the Tartu branch of the Order of the Cross of Liberty (Vabadusristi Vendade Ühendus) convened for a meeting. The initial re-establishment of Defence League units in Tartu stemmed from these Cross of Liberty squads, an initiative that successfully prevented a Communist uprising in the city. Under the Defence League statutes enacted in early 1925, the unit was officially designated as "I malevkond". Its official emblem features the central medallion from the Grade I Cross of Liberty—an armored arm holding a sword against a black disc.

Esimene malevkond was re-established as the very first Defence League unit in the city of Tartu on March 24, 1990. Carrying forward this tradition of historical continuity, the unit was officially recognized as the legal successor to the Tartu Cross of Liberty Brothers malevkond, which existed until 1940.

Join Esimene malevkond: https://www.esimenemalevkond.ee/