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 (first) |
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• 1990–1992
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Enno Penno (last) |
| 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 special government that represented Estonia when the country was taken over by another power. It existed from 1944 until Estonia became fully independent again in 1991. This government was seen as the true and legal government of Estonia by many countries around the world. It helped keep the idea of an independent Estonia alive during a difficult time.
Contents
Why Estonia Needed a Government-in-Exile
Soviet Takeover of Estonia
In June 1940, the Soviet Armed Forces took control of Estonia. The President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, was arrested and sent away. Many government officials were also arrested or executed. Those who survived had to hide.
The Soviet authorities held elections in July 1940. These elections were not fair. Voters could only choose from a list of candidates controlled by communists. This election was against Estonia's own laws. The new "People's Riigikogu" (parliament) then voted for Estonia to join the Soviet Union.
President Päts was forced to resign. According to Estonia's constitution, the Prime Minister, Jüri Uluots, should have taken over as acting head of state. However, a different person, Johannes Vares, was put in charge by the Soviets. Vares then helped Estonia become part of the Soviet Union.
Keeping Estonia's Government Alive
Jüri Uluots believed that Vares's appointment was illegal. This meant Uluots was still the rightful acting head of state. In July 1941, during the German occupation, Uluots tried to form a new Estonian government. However, the German authorities did not allow it.
The Government's Journey
National Committee During German Occupation
During the German occupation of Estonia during World War II, a group called the National Committee of the Republic of Estonia was formed. This committee included people from the Estonian government and those who resisted the Germans.
The Committee was first led by Kaarel Liidak and later by Otto Tief. On August 1, 1944, the Committee declared itself the highest power in Estonia.
Attempts to Restore Independence
In June 1942, Estonian political leaders met secretly to plan an underground government. They wanted to keep the Republic of Estonia alive. In January 1943, another meeting in Stockholm decided that Jüri Uluots should continue as prime minister. He was the last legal prime minister before the Soviet takeover.
On April 20, 1944, a special committee met secretly in Tallinn. They confirmed that Uluots was the rightful acting head of state. On June 21, 1944, Uluots appointed Otto Tief as deputy prime minister.
On September 18, 1944, Uluots, who was very ill, named Otto Tief as the acting prime minister. He also appointed a government with 11 members. Uluots then left for Sweden. Tief's government tried to take control of Tallinn as the Germans left. Estonian forces raised the Estonian flag on the Pikk Hermann tower. However, Soviet forces soon arrived and took control of Tallinn on September 22.
Escape from Soviet Forces
The Tief government had to flee Tallinn. Most members, including Tief, were caught by the Soviets. They were jailed, sent away, or executed. Only Kaarel Liidak, the Minister of Agriculture, died while in hiding. Tief survived ten years in Siberia and returned to Estonia later.
Official Declaration of the Government-in-Exile
After Uluots passed away in January 1945, August Rei became the acting head of state. He was the most senior surviving member of the government. Rei had escaped from Moscow to Stockholm in 1940.
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 wanted to elect a president. This group was led by Alfred Maurer. Maurer was elected acting president in Germany in March 1953. However, Maurer did not appoint a new government. His group ended when he passed away a year and a half later. This left Rei's government as the main 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.
How the Government-in-Exile Worked
Diplomatic Efforts
Estonia was the only one of the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) to set up a formal government-in-exile. Latvia and Lithuania used their diplomatic offices to represent their countries.
For Estonia, its diplomatic offices, especially the Consulate General in New York City, were very important. They handled daily matters like issuing passports.
The United States did not recognize the Soviet occupation of Baltic states. This meant that the Estonian consulate in New York City had a lot of power. The government-in-exile in Oslo mostly played a symbolic role.
The Estonian government-in-exile helped keep the idea of an independent Estonian state alive. The last prime minister in the duties of the president, Heinrich Mark, officially ended the work of the government-in-exile. He handed over his duties to the new President of Estonia, Lennart Meri, on October 8, 1992. President Meri thanked the government-in-exile for protecting Estonia's legal continuity.
Leaders of the Government-in-Exile
This is a list of the acting prime ministers (peaministri asetäitjad) of the Estonian government-in-exile:
- Johannes Sikkar (January 12, 1953 – August 22, 1960)
- Tõnis Kint (August 22, 1960 – January 1, 1962)
- Aleksander Warma (January 1, 1962 – March 30, 1963)
- Tõnis Kint (March 30, 1963 – December 23, 1970)
- Heinrich Mark (May 8, 1971 – March 1, 1990)
- Enno Penno (March 1, 1990 – September 15, 1992)
See also
- Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Estonian Diplomatic Service (1940–91)
- Baltic Legations (1940–91)
