Vaps

Estonian movement

Also known as: League of Freedom Fighters, Vabadussõjalaste Liit(Show More)

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July 14, 2026

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The "Vaps" (Vabadussõjalaste Liit), meaning "League of Freedom Fighters," was an Estonian anticommunist and antiparliamentary movement that emerged from a group of war veterans. In October 1933, a referendum initiated by the Vaps, advocating for constitutional reform, was approved by a significant majority. However, the acting president, Konstantin Päts, declared a state of emergency in March 1934, dissolved the Vaps, and arrested its leaders. Parliament was subsequently dissolved, and Päts ruled by decree, restructuring his regime along conservative democratic lines.1

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Baltic states
Politics
In Estonia the “Vaps” (Vabadussõjalaste Liit; “League of Freedom Fighters”), originally a group of war veterans, emerged as a mass anticommunist and antiparliamentary movement. In October 1933 a referendum on constitutional reform initiated by the Vaps was approved by 72.7 percent. The acting president, Konstantin Päts, was expected…
Read More
In Estonia the “Vaps” (Vabadussõjalaste Liit; “League of Freedom Fighters”), originally a group of war veterans, emerged as a mass anticommunist and antiparliamentary movement. In October 1933 a referendum on constitutional reform initiated by the Vaps was approved by 72.7 percent. The acting president, Konstantin Päts, was expected…
Read More