Estonian government-in-exile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estonian government-in-exile
Eesti Vabariigi valitsus eksiilis
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|---|---|
| 1944–1992 | |
Location of Estonia
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| Status | Government-in-exile |
| Capital | Tallinn |
| Capital-in-exile | |
| Prime Minister in duties of the President/Acting Prime Minister | |
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• 1945–1963
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August Rei |
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• 1990–1992
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Enno Penno |
| Historical era | Cold War |
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• The National Committee of the Republic of Estonia proclaimed itself the supreme power of the Republic of Estonia
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1 August 1944 |
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• Independence of Estonia recognized by the State Council of the Soviet Union
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6 September 1991 |
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• Lennart Meri sworn in as the President of Estonia
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6 October 1992 |
| ISO 3166 code | EE |
The Estonian government-in-exile was a group of Estonian leaders who continued to act as the official government of Estonia from 1944 until 1991. They did this even though Estonia was occupied by another country. This government kept the idea of an independent Estonia alive during the Cold War.
They believed they were the true government because they followed the rules of Estonia's last free government from before 1940. Many countries around the world recognized them as the real government of Estonia. This helped Estonia regain its freedom later on.
Contents
Why an Estonian Government-in-Exile Was Needed
Estonia's Occupation in 1940
In June 1940, the Soviet Armed Forces took control of Estonia. The President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, was arrested and sent away. He later passed away while held in the Soviet Union. Many other government officials were also sent away or sadly died. Some managed to hide.
The Soviet authorities then held elections in July 1940. These elections were not fair. Only one group, mostly communists, was allowed to run. This election was against Estonia's own laws. The new "People's Riigikogu" (parliament) quickly voted for Estonia to join the Soviet Union.
President Päts was forced to step down. A new prime minister, Johannes Vares, was put in charge by the Soviets. He helped Estonia become part of the Soviet Union in August.
The Fight for Legal Continuity
However, Jüri Uluots, who was the last legal Prime Minister before the Soviet takeover, said that Vares's appointment was not right. Uluots believed he was the true acting head of state. He tried to form a new Estonian government in 1941 when Germany occupied Estonia, but Germany did not recognize Estonia as a free country.
History of the Government-in-Exile
The National Committee During German Occupation
During the time Germany occupied Estonia in World War II, a group called the National Committee of the Republic of Estonia was formed. This group included Estonian government members and people who resisted German rule.
This Committee declared itself the highest power in Estonia on August 1, 1944. It was first led by Kaarel Liidak, then by Otto Tief.
Attempts to Restore Independence
In 1942, Estonian political leaders met secretly to plan an underground government. They wanted to keep the idea of an independent Estonia alive. In 1943, a meeting in Stockholm decided that Jüri Uluots should continue as prime minister. He was the last legal prime minister under Estonia's constitution.
On April 20, 1944, a special committee met in secret in Tallinn. They confirmed that Uluots was the rightful acting President since June 1940. On June 21, 1944, Uluots appointed Otto Tief as his deputy.
On September 18, 1944, as Uluots was very ill, he named Otto Tief as the Acting Prime Minister. He also appointed a new government with 11 members. Uluots then left for Sweden.
Tief's government tried to take control as the German forces left Estonia. On September 21, the Estonian national government was announced. Estonian forces took over government buildings in Toompea and put the Estonian flag on the Pikk Hermann tower. However, Tief's government could not hold control. On September 22, the Soviet forces took over Tallinn and removed the Estonian flag.
Escape from Soviet Forces
The Tief government had to flee Tallinn. Their last meeting was on September 22. Most of the government members, including Tief, were captured, imprisoned, or sent away by the Soviets. Tief survived ten years in Siberia and returned to Estonia later. Only Kaarel Liidak, the Minister of Agriculture, passed away while in hiding.
The Official Declaration of the Government-in-Exile
After Uluots passed away in 1945, August Rei became the acting head of state. He was the most senior surviving member of the government. Rei had been Estonia's last representative in Moscow before the Soviet takeover and had escaped to Stockholm.
Rei officially declared the Estonian government-in-exile on January 12, 1953, in Oslo, Norway. Oslo was chosen because Norway allowed such political activities, unlike Sweden at the time.
Another group of Estonian politicians believed a president should be chosen by a representative body. This group was led by Alfred Maurer. He was chosen as the Acting President in exile in Germany in March 1953. However, Maurer never appointed a new government. His group ended when he passed away in 1954. This left Rei's government as the only recognized one.
After Rei passed away in 1963, the role of acting head of government continued to be passed on. From 1953 to 1992, five different governments-in-exile were formed.
Working with Other Countries
Estonia was the only Baltic state to set up a formal government-in-exile. Latvia and Lithuania mostly relied on their diplomatic offices in other countries. For Estonia, its diplomatic offices, especially the Consulate General in New York City, were very important. They handled daily state matters, like issuing passports.
The United States, through the Stimson Doctrine, never recognized the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states as legal. This meant that the Estonian government-in-exile, even though based in Oslo, played a very important role in keeping Estonia's legal status alive.
For example, during World War II, some Estonian ships were told to go to a Soviet port. But three Estonian ships and two Latvian ships chose to go to a neutral port in Ireland instead. The Soviet ambassador tried to claim these ships in an Irish court. However, the Estonian honorary consul in Ireland successfully argued against this, helping to protect the ships. This showed how important the Estonian government-in-exile and its representatives were.
The last prime minister in the duties of the president, Heinrich Mark, officially ended the work of the government-in-exile on October 8, 1992. He handed over his authority to the new President of Estonia, Lennart Meri. President Meri thanked the Estonian government-in-exile for keeping the legal idea of the Estonian state alive during the long years of occupation.
Leaders of the Government-in-Exile
These are the Acting Prime Ministers (peaministri asetäitjad) who led the Estonian government-in-exile:
- Johannes Sikkar (1953 – 1960)
- Tõnis Kint (1960 – 1962)
- Aleksander Warma (1962 – 1963)
- Tõnis Kint (1963 – 1970)
- Heinrich Mark (1971 – 1990)
- Enno Penno (1990 – 1992)
See also
- Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Estonian Diplomatic Service (1940–91)
- Baltic Legations (1940–91)
