The German Ober Ost occupation authorities under command of Prince Leopold of Bavaria favored the Baltic Germans, who had been the most dominant local ethnic group socially, economically, and politically in Courland, Livonia, and Estonia. On March 8 and April 12, 1918, the local Baltic German-dominated Land Council of Courland and the United Land Council of Livonia, Estonia, Riga and Ösel had declared themselves independent states, known as the Duchy of Courland and the Baltic State (Baltischer Staat), respectively.
The German Ober Ost occupation authorities under command of Prince Leopold of Bavaria favored the Baltic Germans in Courland, Livonia, and Estonia, who were the most influential ethnic group socially, economically, and politically. In March 1918, these Baltic German-dominated councils declared themselves independent states: the Duchy of Courland and the Baltic State (Baltischer Staat).