Monday, May 12th, Tallinn, Estonia

Greetings!

Americans should know more about Estonia's history.  Very much like the American revolution, this small country (1.4 million) struggled against external colonial powers (several of them).  Twice, seventy years apart, they gained their freedom.  in 1918, they became an independent country under terms dictated by the end of World War I.  Twenty years later, two colonial powers (Germany and the Soviet Union) decided they should belong to the Soviet Union.  A year later, Germany violated the Treaty, and invaded.  When World War II ended in 1945, the Allied Powers agreed to cede Estonia to the Soviet Union, and it remained there until 1990.  

Estimates of the number of those who were killed by both the Soviets, Germans, and then again by the Soviets during their the 52 years of occupations are unclear, but are probably in the hundreds of thousands.  That they were mostly those whom each side considered a threat to plans to pacify and integrate its people into the occupying culture is clear.  And an enormous number of those who survived endured multi-year round trips to Siberia.

Unlike Lithuania and Latvia, large numbers of Russian soldiers were imported into Estonia during the periods from 1940-41 and 1945-1990.  This made the final push for independence by Estonia very difficult, and continues to complicate peaceful relationships between the two countries, as well as intensifying relations within the country.

During the period from November of 1988 to August of 1991, the people of Estonia established a government against the will of the Soviet Union.  Committees, referendums, elections, and treaties eventually resulted in a coup attempt by Soviet hardliners in August of 1991.  An excellent film (A Singing Revolution) is available on Amazon, with shorter version of the same name on YouTube.

Our walks today through the old town and central portion of Tallinn were wonderful.  A great combination of original and reconstructed buildings from the periods of Estonia's independence exists.  The almost begun spring was in full display, and for the first time we were able to shed some layers of clothing and enjoy the sun.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Monday, May 12th, Tallinn, Estonia.