The Vaps Movement is the popular name for the Union of Participants in the Estonian War of Independence (, later ), a far-right and authoritarian Estonian political organization, whose members were commonly called Vaps (, or colloquially ; singular: ). Founded in 1929, born out of associations of veterans of the Estonian War of Independence, emerging as a radical right-wing popular movement. The organisation welcomed Hitler's rise to power, though they later tried to distance themselves from Nazism. The league rejected racial ideology and openly criticized the Nazi persecution of Jews However, Sirk also made antisemitic statements and the movement rejected potential support of the Jews because they are "dirty". Vaps also had a paramilitary wing called Korrapidajate Üksused created after Socialists disrupted a Vaps meeting. The paramilitary wing was commanded by Captain Heinrich-Balduin Dunkel and members were expected to fight to the death. This was approved by 72.7 percent of the voters. The new constitution combined a strong President with a partly elected and partly appointed, officially non-partisan, Parliament.

As of 2019, the Vaps movement had no known active members. In 2009, Jüri Liim reportedly submitted a formal application to restore the original Vaps Movement. The application was not successful, and the Vaps Movement has not been legalised in Estonia.

See also

  • Estonian War of Independence
  • History of Estonia
  • Lapua Movement
  • List of political parties in Estonia

References

  • Andres Kasekamp. 2000. The Radical Right in Interwar Estonia. London: Palgrave Macmillan,
  • Webpage about Vaps Movement
  • "The radical right in interwar Estonia" By Andres Kasekamp