Conclusion

Abstract

The Veterans’ League started with a solid membership base of prominent War of Independence veterans. Their collective name, vabadussojalased, had great popular appeal, and they were widely respected, especially those who had been decorated for bravery with the Liberty Cross, as were most of the leaders of the League. Their appeals to patriotic virtues appeared untainted by political motives and were consistent with the views of many Estonians. As a result of the public perception of the Veterans as patriotic war heroes, the League was initially regarded as a positive and apolitical movement, a view that changed only gradually as the League evolved into a political movement and became the target of attacks by most political parties. As Eduard Laaman cynically remarked, ‘In our political landscape — one barren of ideas — a group of enterprising Veterans have hit upon the idea to use their distinguished “brandname” to reap political profit.’¹