Victory Day is observed in Estonia every June 23 and commemorates the Estonian victory in the 1919 Battle of Cēsis, also known as the Battle of Võnnu, which was a pivotal conflict in the Estonian War of Independence. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Estonia declared its independence in February 1918, a claim not recognized by either Soviet Russia or the German Empire, leading to the war. The decisive battle occurred from June 19 to 23, 1919, near Cēsis, where Estonian forces, supported by the 2nd Latvian Cēsis Regiment, defeated the Baltische Landeswehr, forcing the pro-German troops to retreat. Victory Day was first established as a public holiday in 1934 but was discontinued during the Soviet occupation; it was reinstated in 1992 after the collapse of the USSR. The celebration is closely linked to Midsummer Day, observed on June 24, with state flags being hoisted on June 23 and remaining raised overnight.