Johan Pitka

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Johan Pitka
Born	(1872-02-19)19 February 1872 Jalgsema, Kreis Jerwen, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire
Died	22 November 1944(1944-11-22) (aged 72) Estonia[1]
Allegiance	Estonia
Service/branch	Estonian Navy
Years of service	1918–1920
Rank	Rear admiral
Battles/wars	Estonian War of Independence World War II
Awards	Cross of Liberty (Estonia) Order of St Michael and St George Order of Lāčplēsis Order of the Cross of the Eagle

Johan Pitka, VR I/1, KCMG (also Juhan Pitka; 19 February 1872 – 22 November 1944) was an Estonian entrepreneur, sea captain and a rear admiral (1919). He was the Commander of the Estonian Navy in the Estonian War of Independence.

Johan Pitka was one of the main characters in organizing the Defence Forces of the newly established Estonian Republic in November 1918, at the end of World War I, when the German occupational forces started to move out of Estonia, and there was a threat of the invasion of the newly established Red Army. Johan Pitka was the creator and main organizer of the Estonian Defence League, Estonian armoured trains, armoured cars and the Estonian Navy. He was appointed the Commander of the Estonian Navy in December 1918 and led it through the victorious Estonian War of Independence without losing a ship.

Due to his commitment to his country, Johan Pitka is often called "the Spirit of the Estonian War of Independence" for this.