Serbia, your analysis of Estonia's relationship with pre-Soviet Russia is similar to leaning a ladder against a wall, but the ladder isn't actually set on the ground -- it commences from about the second or third rung, and is resting on air! Obviously such a positioning is impossible, and so is your analysis.

You begin from the assumption that Estonia actually was a part of Russia and owed loyalty to it. But in Tsarist times Estonia was just as much a foreign colony under Russian occupation as it was during Soviet times, having been captured by Russia in the 1700s. Ever since that time, Estonians were oppressed captive peoples under foreign rule, they knew it perfectly well and they longed for freedom. Mostly Tsarist cruelty and despotism hadn't yet achieved the levels reached under Communist rule, but Tsarist Russia was just as hostile to and an enemy of Estonia as was Communist Russia. Estonia had every right to resist it whenever, however and wherever it could, and it did so decisively in its 1918-20 War of Independence. Russia was never -- and I mean NEVER-- Estonians' "fatherland". Please get that idea entirely out of your head.

Estonia's War of Independence was not a siding with Germany against Russia. It was a desperate battle which Estonia fought simultaneously against both of those two historical enemies. Perhaps you should do some relevant research.

Estonia's treatment of the captured White Russian army was not good, most of whom died from disease in captivity. This remains a black mark on its history. However, being so completely out-numbered by its enemies Estonia could not risk assuming that White Russians were any friendlier towards it than the Bolsheviks, and therefore could not allow a Russian army of either political colour to roam freely on its territory. Further, Estonia's ability to provide medical treatment both to its own people and to others was limited.

Part 2 Personally I’m impressed the most how they betrayed white army in 1919. When army of Yudenich was defeated (North-West White Army) they were retreating to Estonia. Actually to the one of Russians regions which wasn`t controlled by Reds. Estonia already had breakaway government, but the most important at that moment was fighting against communists, so Estonian government and Russian North-West army were tolerant to each-other and even helping. Indeed Yudench`s Army helped the most to kick reds off Estonia. …But it lasted only till Russians were defeated. When beaten and suffering army approached it`s base (Estonia), Estonians made it to disarm and 30% of them send to.. concentration camps, where a lot of people died from hunger and frost. Russian writer Kuprin described it very well: “We are waiting in front of barbed wire, but they don’t let us come in. People in vast quantities dying on frost this night.” (Kuprin and a lot of refugees were moving with the army) Soldiers, adult men, could survive, the biggest part of dead were women and children. After Estonians let people come in, a lot of them were sent to concentrations camps, where they faced horror conditions: no beds, no blankets, no medicines. Meanwhile Yudenich`s army had all this, but Estonian government arrested all equipment and stole it. Talabski regiment was still fighting with Reds to let all the army and refugees to pass. When finally the regiment came to the border, Estonians first asked to give them all the weapon, and… aimed at Russians machine guns and ordered to get back on another bank of the river, which was already controlled by communists! All the regiment was killed by fire from both sides… Conditions of other Russians who lived in that province were also terrible, but that would be too long story.