Johan Pitka

Johan Pitka, VR I/1, KCMG (born 19 February 1872, Jalgsema, Järva County, Estonia - disappeared September 1944, Läänemaa, Estonia) was a famous Estonian military commander from the Estonian War of Independence until World War II.

Early life
Pitka studied at Käsmu, Kuressaare and Paldiski marine schools and became Captain. From 1889 to 1907 he commanded different ships. From 1904-11, he lived in Great Britain. After the start of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Pitka became active in society and started organizing returning Estonian soldiers who fought in the Russian Army during World War I. He was forced to go underground after communists sentenced him to death. After the start of the German occupation in 1918, Pitka started organizing the Defence League.

Estonian War of Independence
In the Estonian War of Independence, the Defence League was one of the main forces of the Republic of Estonia, and at that time Pitka started organizing armored trains. The first one was ready 10 days after the start of the war, and the second became ready two weeks later. In total, five armored trains were built during the war, and they played a crucial role in the Estonian victory. Many called Pitka the "father of armored trains" for this.

Pitka also was the main organizer of the Estonian Navy. In December 1919 he became Commander-in-Chief of the navy and led it in all major operations including supporting the 1st Division in the capture of Narva from the Russian SFSR and supporting the 3rd Division by attacking Landeswehr naval fortifications at Riga. In September he achieved the rank of Rear Admiral. Pitka retired in November 1919.

Post-war life
From Johan Pitka's role as a former merchant mariner and a representative of the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. he had learned about Canada’s attractions. Canada's immigration policies, availability of homesteading land, natural beauty, and the promise of new roads and a railway caused Pitka to establish a settlement in the Sowchea area of Fort St. James British Columbia. The Sowchea area is located across Stuart Lake from the Hudson Bay Co. fur trading post.

On April 3, 1924, the Estonian settlers arrived in Fort St. James. The initial settlers were Pitka's family consisting of: Lady Mari-Helene Pitka, sons Edward and Stanley, daughters Saima and Linda and son-in law Lt. Aleksander Päären; families Andrekson, Rosin and Saar; Col. Steinman, Mr. Nilk and Mr. Pärtelson with wives; and Messrs. Kuusk, Olem, Puhm, Sulakatk, Vaimel, Unger and Wilmanson.

The Estonian settlers were happy living with the Hudson’s Bay officials, the local Dakelh people and other residents. However, the change of the Provincial Government, depression delayed local development and frustrating access to markets caused all the members of the group to move elsewhere or return to Estonia by 1932. Landmarks around Fort St. James still bear their mark (e.g. Pitka Mountain, Pitka Bay, Pitka Bay Resort, Lind(a) Lake, Colony Point and Paaren’s Beach Provincial Park).

Upon return to Estonia some prosperous years followed for the Pitkas. Johan Pitka was one of the leaders of the League of Liberators for a short time but left the organization in 1932. In 1937 he was also a member of the National Constituent Assembly. After the Soviet occupation in June 1940, Pitka escaped from Estonia to Finland. In 1941 tragedy struck the Pitka family, their three sons were arrested by the Soviet occupiers and perished. In 1944 Pitka returned to Estonia to organize military resistance to fight for Estonia's independence. Pitka is thought to have died in a 1944 battle. Lady Pitka and her daughters with their husbands fled to Sweden in 1944, re-immigrated to Canada in 1948, settled in Vancouver, B.C. and are buried there.

Awards
In January 1920 to give recognition to his activities during the War, the KCMG was donated to him by HM King George V. The Estonian government valued his contribution by the Cross of Liberty I/1. Pitka is also recipient of the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis, 2nd class.

Death
Pitka returned to Estonia in spring 1944. In September 1944 the Germans were retreating, and Jüri Uluots organized a new Estonian government headed by Otto Tief. Pitka organized the last defence of Tallinn against the advancing Red Army. The circumstances of his death remain unknown. Several stories relate his death either to a battle against a Soviet tank group or perishing on the stormy Baltic Sea when trying to make his way to Sweden aboard one of the last small boats fleeing the country.