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Battle in the Baltic: The Royal Navy and the Fight to Save Estonia and Latvia, 1918-20
Though for most participants World War I ended on 11 November 1918, the Royal Navy found itself, despite four years of slaughter and war weariness, fighting a fierce and brutal battle in the Baltic Sea against Bolshevik Russia in an attempt to protect the fragile independence of the newly liberated states of Estonia and Latvia. This new book by Steve R. Dunn describes the events of those two years when Royal Navy ships and men, under the command of Rear Admiral Alexander-Sinclair, found themselves in a maelstrom of chaos and conflicting loyalties, and facing multiple opponents. Today few people are aware of this exhausting campaign and the sacrifices made by Royal Navy sailors, but the pages of this book retell their exciting but forgotten stories.
- GenresMilitary History
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 27, 2020
In Battle in the Baltic, Steve Dunn reminds us that WWI did not end for everyone in November 1918. The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia sparked off a new wave of fighting in Eastern Europe between the Red Army and the Tsarist supporting White Russian Army backed by the former Allied powers and even many German veterans. The Baltic States became a new battleground and the Royal Navy, as described by Dunn, played a full role despite indifference at home and a lack of a clear strategy. For thirteen months, the RN commanders mostly ‘winged it’ to support the independence of Estonia and Latvia, but they lost men and ships and it was never quite clear why.
Dunn’s book is divided into three parts: background chapters; the Royal Navy’s actions during the conflict; and an analysis of the campaign and the men who fought it. Dunn describes the stunning collapse of Tsarist Russia into Revolution, the contentious decision to send the Royal Navy in November 1918, their passage through mine strewn waters, and their arrival at an Estonia on the brink of defeat. The ships shuttled along the coast between Latvia and Estonia, firing in support of ground forces fighting the Bolsheviks. The Red Navy attempted to dislodge the Royal Navy force before Winter set in but failed. And on it went through 1919, fighting the Red Navy, harassing the Red Army, and avoiding mines (most of the time), with the added dimensions of conducting humanitarian missions, and dealing with the troublesome German Freikorps, all set against the backdrop of the Versailles negotiations signed on 28 June. More ships arrived, 238 in total with 88 on station on a daily basis, including submarines (one was lost to a mine), shallow-draft Motor Launches, P-Boats for anti-submarine missions, Coastal Motor Boats, used for hit-and-run operations and intelligence work, and an aircraft carrier. The warplanes proved invaluable for taking the fight to the enemy at their heavily protected naval base at Kronstadt. CMBs also attacked Kronstadt in a daring raid, sinking three Red ships and disabling the Red Navy threat in the Baltic. British losses continued, however, and other ships and their crews simply wore out under the attrition of this elongated mission. Mutiny inevitably broke out but with the force pulling out in December, calmer heads prevailed, though grumbling continued. Lack of money and political will put an end to the Baltic mission. Dunn concludes with an In Memoriam section with the monuments for the fallen and some interesting reflections on the campaign.
Overall, Dunn mixes politics and combat action well in an interesting narrative that picks its way through the chaos of a merciless civil war set against a world still coming to terms with a new peace. Dunn’s accounts of the fighting, and there was lots of it, are well written even if he overtells the story at times with a bit too much extraneous detail. Nevertheless, this is a valuable addition to the history of the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom’s role in the post-WWI world.
Dunn’s book is divided into three parts: background chapters; the Royal Navy’s actions during the conflict; and an analysis of the campaign and the men who fought it. Dunn describes the stunning collapse of Tsarist Russia into Revolution, the contentious decision to send the Royal Navy in November 1918, their passage through mine strewn waters, and their arrival at an Estonia on the brink of defeat. The ships shuttled along the coast between Latvia and Estonia, firing in support of ground forces fighting the Bolsheviks. The Red Navy attempted to dislodge the Royal Navy force before Winter set in but failed. And on it went through 1919, fighting the Red Navy, harassing the Red Army, and avoiding mines (most of the time), with the added dimensions of conducting humanitarian missions, and dealing with the troublesome German Freikorps, all set against the backdrop of the Versailles negotiations signed on 28 June. More ships arrived, 238 in total with 88 on station on a daily basis, including submarines (one was lost to a mine), shallow-draft Motor Launches, P-Boats for anti-submarine missions, Coastal Motor Boats, used for hit-and-run operations and intelligence work, and an aircraft carrier. The warplanes proved invaluable for taking the fight to the enemy at their heavily protected naval base at Kronstadt. CMBs also attacked Kronstadt in a daring raid, sinking three Red ships and disabling the Red Navy threat in the Baltic. British losses continued, however, and other ships and their crews simply wore out under the attrition of this elongated mission. Mutiny inevitably broke out but with the force pulling out in December, calmer heads prevailed, though grumbling continued. Lack of money and political will put an end to the Baltic mission. Dunn concludes with an In Memoriam section with the monuments for the fallen and some interesting reflections on the campaign.
Overall, Dunn mixes politics and combat action well in an interesting narrative that picks its way through the chaos of a merciless civil war set against a world still coming to terms with a new peace. Dunn’s accounts of the fighting, and there was lots of it, are well written even if he overtells the story at times with a bit too much extraneous detail. Nevertheless, this is a valuable addition to the history of the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom’s role in the post-WWI world.
June 23, 2024
Over the years, I've seen more than a few references to the participation of the Royal Navy in the Russian Civil War, so I was interested to trip over a systematic examination of this adventure. Keeping in mind that period main-stream thought was that the Baltic States to be were inherently part of Russia, it took a lot of twists and turn in policy for London to find itself defending and arming the Estonians and Latvians, with the Royal Navy being the main instrument of this policy. There were some high points, but it also came close to breaking the service, as crews turned mutinous over a deployment that seemed confused and unappreciated. Of course, with the defense of the Baltic States from Russia being a hot issue again, this becomes a valuable work, as Dunn does as well with policy and strategy as he does with operations. In the end, he finds this episode to mostly be a monument to "...the bloody-minded resolve of the Royal Navy."
September 19, 2023
A detailed, well-researched and very readable work.
Dunn ably describes the Royal Navy’s struggle against the Bolsheviks, the German Freikorps (who sometimes were an ally of sorts), and even White Russian warlords who wanted to reconquer the Baltic, in the midst of terrible weather, minefields left over from the Great War, waning political resolve, and even mutiny. He also does a good job bringing home the scale of these now-obscure operations, noting that over two hundred ships were deployed, of which many were sunk, with 128 British sailors killed in the course of the campaign. He also describes the small French naval contribution.
The portraits of the people involved are colorful. He also does a good job describing the sailors’ morale, which declined after the German armistice as sailors wondered why they were still fighting with the war over. He also notes that the success of the campaign is difficult to determine, since the British government never clearly defined the objectives.
Some readers may wish for more coverage of strategy. The book does have a few typos. The writing can occasionally become a little breezy as well.
A well-written and engaging work.
Dunn ably describes the Royal Navy’s struggle against the Bolsheviks, the German Freikorps (who sometimes were an ally of sorts), and even White Russian warlords who wanted to reconquer the Baltic, in the midst of terrible weather, minefields left over from the Great War, waning political resolve, and even mutiny. He also does a good job bringing home the scale of these now-obscure operations, noting that over two hundred ships were deployed, of which many were sunk, with 128 British sailors killed in the course of the campaign. He also describes the small French naval contribution.
The portraits of the people involved are colorful. He also does a good job describing the sailors’ morale, which declined after the German armistice as sailors wondered why they were still fighting with the war over. He also notes that the success of the campaign is difficult to determine, since the British government never clearly defined the objectives.
Some readers may wish for more coverage of strategy. The book does have a few typos. The writing can occasionally become a little breezy as well.
A well-written and engaging work.
April 29, 2022
Interesting story of little know actions, but...
The pictures (plates) listed at the beginning of the book were nowhere to be found. What happened? Otherwise, a great read.
The pictures (plates) listed at the beginning of the book were nowhere to be found. What happened? Otherwise, a great read.
October 7, 2025
very informative and well written
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews