ESTONIA: Almost extinguished, successfully reborn
The following text is the shortest possible review to help inform friends and guests from abroad about Estonia’s experience with foreign occupation and totalitarianism as well as its road to peacefully re-establishing national inde-pendence on the basis of democracy. Tunne Kelam Member of the European Parlament
The following text is the shortest possible review to help inform
friends and guests from abroad about Estonia’s experience with
foreign occupation and totalitarianism as well as its road to
peacefully re-establishing national inde-pendence on the basis
of democracy.
Tunne Kelam
Member of the European Parlament
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<strong>ESTONIA</strong>:<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
OF <strong>ESTONIA</strong><br />
100<br />
A Brief Political Chronology<br />
• 25 February 1918 – Tallinn occupied by German<br />
Army. Estonian political parties banned, many<br />
politicians arrested, patriotic armed units disbanded.<br />
• 3 May 1918 – Great Britain, soon followed by<br />
France and Italy, recognizes de facto the Estonian<br />
National Council pursuant diplomatic efforts of<br />
Estonian foreign delegation.<br />
• 11 November 1918 – Following German capitulation,<br />
Estonian Provisional Government assumes control of<br />
the country; November 20, Estonian National Council<br />
reconvenes.<br />
• 28 November 1918 – Soviet Russia invades Estonia,<br />
War of Independence begins. To provide political<br />
cover for invasion, Lenin-supported communists<br />
proclaim puppet Estonian Workers Commune.<br />
• 2–14 January 1919 – Estonian Army halts<br />
Red Army’s offensive and starts counter-offensive.<br />
• 5–7 April 1919 – Elections to 120-seat Constituent<br />
Assembly that convenes April 23.<br />
72
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