Jaan Anvelt facts for kids
Jaan Anvelt (born April 18, 1884 – died December 11, 1937) was an important Estonian revolutionary and writer. He was also known by several other names, like Eessaare Aadu and Onkel Kaak. Anvelt was a leader of the Bolshevik movement in Estonia. He played a big role in the early days of the Communist Party of Estonia. He was the first leader of the Soviet Executive Committee of Estonia. He also chaired the Council of the Commune of the Working People of Estonia. Anvelt was arrested in 1937 during a difficult time in history called the Great Purge. He passed away while in custody.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jaan Anvelt was born into a farming family. His birthplace was Oorgu, which is now part of Viljandi Parish. He began his studies to become a schoolteacher. First, he studied in Dorpat, which is now called Tartu. Later, he continued his education in St. Petersburg, Russia. While in St. Petersburg, he joined a group called the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. This group had a special part known as the Bolshevik faction. From 1905 to 1907, Anvelt worked as a schoolteacher. At the same time, he was also involved in revolutionary activities. He then studied law part-time at St. Petersburg State University from 1907 to 1912.
Anvelt's Role in the October Revolution
On November 5, 1917, Jaan Anvelt, a leader of the Bolsheviks, led his group of revolutionaries. They started a revolution in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. This action led to them taking control of political power in the city. This event was part of the larger October Revolution that changed Russia's history.
Life After the Revolution
After the revolutionaries faced defeat in the Baltic states, Anvelt continued his work secretly. He remained an active revolutionary. He became one of the main leaders of the 1924 Estonian coup d'état attempt. In 1925, Anvelt moved to the USSR. From 1926 to 1929, he worked as a political leader at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy. Later, from 1929 to 1935, he held important positions in the main administration for civilian air travel. Between 1935 and 1937, Anvelt was a member and executive secretary of a department within the Comintern.
Later Years and Rehabilitation
Jaan Anvelt was arrested in 1937. He died while in custody on December 11, 1937. After his death, he was wrongly called an "enemy of the people." However, in 1956, during a period known as the Khrushchev Thaw, Anvelt's name was cleared. This process is called rehabilitation. In 1957, a person named Aleksandr Langfang was arrested for human rights abuses. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1958 for torture and making up false evidence. Langfang served his full sentence and was released in 1973.
Personal Life and Family
Jaan Anvelt was married three times. His first marriage was to Alma Ostra, a Social Democratic politician, from 1909 to 1910. In 1912, he married J. Vassiljeva in St. Petersburg. His third wife was Alise Stein-Anvelt. Together, they had two children, a daughter named Kima and a son named Jaan. Anvelt's grandson, Andres Anvelt, also became involved in politics. He served as the Estonian Interior Minister in 2016.
See also
- Viktor Kingissepp
- Jaan Tomp
- List of Estonian rulers
- October Revolution
