In light of the recent kidnapping of an Estonian security police officer by the Russian FSB, it may be worthwhile to take a look in the past. We may be shocked at the course of events in the last few days – and we may be especially astonished at the egregious disregard for a NATO […]
Russia kidnapping Estonians is nothing new: 46 of them were abducted in the thirties Read More »
Lisa Trei, the daughter of the late Alan Trei – one of the translators of Estonian writer Anton Hansen Tammsaare’s book Truth and Justice into English – explains how the translation came to life. Since regaining independence in 1991, Estonia has attracted international acclaim in many spheres, but notably in high-tech with the invention of
The story behind the translation of Tammsaare’s Truth and Justice Read More »
The year is 1944. During the last half-decade, Estonia has been ravaged by the Soviets and the Nazis in almost equal measure. 10,000 people have been deported to a likely death in Siberia by the Soviets and another 10,000 have been killed in Nazi concentration camps. Now the Nazis are fleeing and the Soviets are
Book review: Caught between Scylla and Charybdis – “Forest Brothers” by Geraint Roberts Read More »
Estonian American Eva Ensmann recalls her study year at the University of Tartu in 1992-1993, just a year after Estonia had regained its independence. How the times have changed since then. I am a foreign Estonian, born and raised in New York City, who came to study for a year at the University of Tartu
Tartu in 1992-1993: the wild, wild east Read More »
While Estonia was an unwilling member of the Soviet Union, from a military perspective it was a legitimate target in the event of a Soviet nuclear first-strike attack on the UK or its NATO allies. I will never forget the first time I saw a Vulcan bomber take-off. Standing next to the runway at RAF
Target: Estonia – Britain’s nuclear plan for Tallinn, Tartu and Viljandi Read More »
Since March this year, the post-occupation independence of the Republic of Estonia has lasted longer than the independence before the occupation. As Estonia is celebrating its restoration of independence day on 20 August, we have created an exclusive interactive (scroll left and right) timeline which celebrates the successes of the last 22 years. Timeline created
TIMELINE: 23 years of Estonian success Read More »
Võidupüha or Victory Day is an Estonian public holiday, which has been celebrated on 23 June every year since 1934 until 1939 — and then again after the restoration of Estonian independence from 1992. Victory Day recalls the decisive battle during the War of Independence in which the Estonian military forces and their allies defeated the German
Estonia celebrates the traditional Victory Day Read More »
Estonian diplomats in exile worked tirelessly to ensure that Estonia was not forgotten and that the Soviet occupation was reported accurately. The current London Diplomatic List weighs in at a hefty 142 pages. Listed within are the names and positions of every diplomatically accredited member of staff of all foreign embassies, high commissions and international
Keeping the flag flying – Estonia’s diplomatic solo artists of the Cold War Read More »
Estonia celebrated Lasting Liberty Day on 27 March. On this day, the country’s present period of independence surpassed the length of the first period of independence from 1918 to 1940. The independent Estonian Republic was born on 24 February 1918 with the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia (Estonian Declaration of Independence) issued by the
Estonia celebrates Lasting Liberty Day Read More »
People like to talk about how small Estonia is, but a recent coincidence testifies to the adage that it’s a small world as well. In 1986, two bored college freshmen in Berkeley managed to breach the Iron Curtain by randomly dialing a Soviet Union telephone number. Twenty-seven years later, the participants of the conversation crossed
27 years after prank call to Soviet Union, American and Estonian cross paths Read More »
