The attack on Narva by the 6th Red Rifle Division represented a strategic maneuver following the tumultuous events of the Russian Civil War, during which Estonia declared independence from Russia. The bolstering of Soviet forces during late 1918 sought to reclaim territories that had been lost as a result of the upheaval caused by the Bolshevik Revolution. The significance of Narva, situated along the eastern border of Estonia, served as a crucial supply route and held symbolic importance due to its historical ties to Russia. As the Soviet troops crossed into Estonia, the newly formed Estonian Army had to muster its defense against a much larger and experienced military force.Estonia had proclaimed independence on February 24, 1918, but the nation faced immediate threats from various directions, including German forces that occupied the country briefly and the advancing Red Army. Tensions escalated as the local Estonian population sought to affirm their sovereignty, and as the Red Army made moves to secure their influence in the Baltics, fighting erupted. The Soviet offensive at Narva initiated a wide-ranging conflict ultimately leading to the establishment of Estonia as an independent republic amidst the chaos of post-World War I European politics.