1. The changes in Estonian population after World War II1

2. Introduction The flight of Estonians to the West during World War II
Deportation of Estonians into Siberia in 1949
Immigration of Russians into Estonia during 50 years of Soviet Era 2

3. Estonia was one of the smallest states in Europe in 1920s and 1930s.
Estonian population was about 1 million people.
During and after WW II Estonia lost about of 150,000 people: people lost in war, war refugees, deportees. 3

4. Estonia before World War II4

5. An Estonian housewife

6. A typical home of an Estonian family

7. Boys behind Aruküla manor7

8. A beautiful summer day

9. 9

10. Our wrestler – Olympic gold medallist10

11. Kalevipoeg – our national epic

12. University of Tartu
Theatre Vanemuine 12

13. The change of power in Estonia
1940
Soviet occupation
Estonian Republic
Nazy occupation
1991 Estonian Republic
1944 – 1991
Soviet occupation 13

14. Loss of independence
In 1940 Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and as a result of the deal between Nazy Germany and the Soviet Union (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) 14

15. The first mass deportation in 1941
In June 1941 over 10,000 people from Estonia were arrested and deported to the prison camps in Russia, Siberia
Similar things happened in Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova
Soviet Union wanted to ruin the independent statehood and suppress the people with fear and terror
Politicians, military, scientists, clergy, businessmen and their families were the victims of deportation 15

16. The victims of deportation in 1941
Prime minister Otto [August]
Strandman shot himself
when he was arrested
Prime minister Friedrich Akel
was murdered on 3 July 1941
in Tallinn
Prime minister Jaan Teemant
was arrested on 27 July1940 by
the Soviet Union, died in prison 16

17. Nazy Germany occupies Estonia
On June 22th 1941 Nazy Germany declared war to the Soviet Union and invaded it.
By the end of August 1941 Estonia was under the German occupation which lasted for about 3 years. 17

18. Nazy Germany occupies Estonia

19. Second Soviet occupation
At the beginning of 1944 the Soviet Army was again at the borders of Estonia. The battles for Estonia lasted for about 6 months.
The main cities were seriously damaged, the city of Narva was almost in ruins. 19

20. Narva in ruins 20

21. Theatre Vanemuine before and after the war 21

22. Tartu stonebridge before and after the war 22

23. Damaged Tallinn 23

24. Damaged Tallinn

25. Theatre Estonia before and after the war 25

26. The flight of Estonians to the West during World War II
In 1944 about Estonians escaped to Sweden and Germany
They escaped because Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and they were afraid of arrest and deportation
About of people died trying to escape because of autumn storms and they used simple fishing boats which were full of people 26

27. The flight of Estonians to the West 27

28. Escaping to Sweden
About 25,000 people escaped to Sweden because Sweden was rich, prosperous and neutral country
Swedish government was ready to help the refugees – hot cocoa and warm, clean clothes were ready
Leaving home 28

29. Waiting for the boat 29

30. Refugees leave for Gotland 30 30

31. Swedish warship saving the refugees31

32. Arrival in Gotland 32

34. Escaping to Germany
About 30,000 people escaped to Germany, because Germany was close and people could use horse carriages and the railway
Estonian soldiers in German Army left Estonia with the German Army
Refugees were placed in refugee camps where food and shelter were poor because Germany was full on refugees
In people left Germany to other countries with better living conditions - USA, Canada, Australia 34

35. Road to Germany

36. 36

37. After the flight
Estonians had to get used to the new society, find a new job
People had to learn new language – Swedish, German or English and do hard physical labour in the forests, factories or fields
But Estonians were valued because they worked hard and were well educated
They were homesick because of lack of contacts with their relatives in homeland
For the first time emigrees could visit their homeland 30 years after the war
 Laul - “Ma tahaksin kodus olla“ 37

38. Estonians in the Estonian House in Sweden38

39. An Estonian school in Stockholm

40. “Better to die at the sea as a free person than to die in Siberia as a forced labourer”40

41. Memories
“The first night at the sea passed peacefully, but in the morning a strong wind had risen, which turned into a storm. In the afternoon, the engine of the ship stopped working. Because of the strong wind we could not use any sails either. Fortunately, a Swedish warship noticed us the next morning and saved us.” 41

42. “We had been sailing for only a few hours, when the Swedish naval patrol spotted us and lead us to the port on Fejan island. Some people were saved from drowning by the naval ship and we do not know how many refugees died in that September storm. We know that of fourteen boats, which sailed out from Viimsi port, only nine managed to arrive in Sweden.” 42

43. The second mass deportation in Estonia
1949
The second mass deportation in Estonia took place March 1949.
Deportation happened during one night, at the same time in all Baltic countries.
From Estonia almost 20,000 people were deported to Siberia.
Majority of deportees were rich farmers with their families.
Some people resisted, they escaped with their families to the forests and to other cities.
Children in a deportation wagon 43

44. Transportation 44

47. Wagons 47

48. Forest brothers
The men who did not manage to escape to the West and were afraid of deportation, escaped to the forests”
They were called Forest brothers and hunted by the Soviet Security forces, captured and sent to prison camps in Siberia
Metsavennalaul 48 48 48 48

49. Life in Siberia 49

51. 51

53. Young Ants Laaneots and uncle Elmar 53

54. Memories
„One captured woman poisoned herself at the train station, woman's body was sent to the hospital."
„Russian officer was not a cruel man. He was calm and showed what we should take with us. The Russians promised to take all we wanted.“
„Two young people tried to escape, but they failed and were shot on the spot."
„My grandmother took the children away from the village when she heared the warning. Grandmother escaped to the forest. The parents of the children, however, were deported to Siberia. "

55. Life after deportation
After deportation in 1941
After deportation in 1949
People returned to their home country after being away for 8 years
Their property had been destroyed, strangers lived in ther homes
People who moved back to their home country could not live in big cities anymore
Occupation bans, limited learning opportunities and other various restrictions remained for a long time
Almost all men died in prison camps, few came back
Their wives and children could return to their home country 55

56. Influence of deportations
Investigation and commemoration of deportation was banned for 50 years
Deportations destroyed Estonian economical, political and military elite
Small farmsteads were replaced by collective farms
The life of about 30,000 people’s was destroyed
People lived in fear, they did not know what may happen next 56

57. Commemoration of deportees in Tallinn57

58. Commemoration of deportees in Tartu

60. The immigration of Russians into Estonia after World War II
From about 0,5 mln people from Russia and Ukraine migrated to Estonia
Main immigrants were Soviet Army personnel and Russians who began to work in the factories and oil shale mines
State companies and ministries required cheap labour workforce
Good salary and living space in the apartment houses were used as bait
Part of the immigrants came to Estonia thanks to the marriage or family relations

61. Soviet Army

62. Workers of the Kreenholm factory

63. New residential area for immigrants in Tallinn
Lasnamäe

64. Town of immigrants: Sillamäe

65. Conclusion The Second World War changed Estonian population very much
About 8% of Estonians fled to the West, they were isolated from their homeland for decades
After the restoration of Estonian independence younger generation of Estonian emigrees contributed to the restoration of independence. For example President Ilves
Many Estonians deported to Siberia returned to homeland after the death of Stalin in 1953 and had to build up their life
The Russian immigration led to the Russian-speaking community, who did not speak Estonian and was locating mainly in the North-East of Estonia and Tallinn.

66. During the restoration of Estonian independence many Russians were against it and part of them returned to Russia and Ukraine.
Estonian government tries nowadays to integrate the Russian- speaking community - about 300,000 people - into the Estonian society

67. Estonian flag in the tower of Tall Herman in Tallinn

69. Tallinn old town

70. Tartu city centre

71. Snail tower in Tartu

72. Jägala waterfall in spring

73. Jägala waterfall in winter

74. Thank you for your attention!