In 1721, by the Treaty of Nystadt, Sweden formally ceded Estonia, which was
already occupied by Russian troops since 1710, to Russia. The new territory
was organized as a Russian gubernia (government), which from 1819 to 1876 and
in 1914 - 1915 was part of the overall Baltic administration. (1)
(1) After it had become part of the Russian Empire Estonia - or rather
its German nobility - continued at first to enjoy a large degree of
autonomy in administrative and judicial matters.
It was only in 1889 that it was fully integrated into the Empire
(abolition of local German courts, introduction of Russian language,
etc.)
Events of 1917
- march : after the end of the Russian monarchy, the Russian Provisional
Government toke control of Estonia.
It saw its authority contested both by Estonian Nationalists
and by Soviets which were set up in different places and which
later united in a Congress of Estonian Workers and Soldiers
Soviets.
- april : the Provisional Government granted autonomy to the governement,
which at the same time, was expanded to include the counties of
Livonia inhabited by Estonians (Tartu, Võru, Viljandi, Pärnu and
Saaremaa)
- nov. : after the "Octoberrevolution" the Congress of Estonian Soviets
seized power and abolished the autonomy of the governement.
____________________________________________________________________________
RUSSIAN ADMINISTRATORS
(subordinated to the Governors General of the Baltic Governments until 1876,
to the Special Plenipotentiaries from 1914 to 1915 and to the Commissioner
for the Civil Administration of the Baltic governments until the Bolshevik
seizure of power in 1917)
Governors
Knyaz = Prince
1870 - 1875 Knyaz Mikhail Valentinovich Shakhovskoiy-
Glebow-Strezhnev 1836 - 1892
1875 - 1885 Viktor Petrovich Polivanov 18.. - 1889
1885 - 1894 Knyaz Sergey Vladimirovich Shakhovskoiy 18.. - 1894
1894 - 1902 Yevstafiy Nikolaiyevich Skalon
1902 - 1905 Aleksey Valerianovich Bellegarde 1861 - 1942
1905 Aleksey Aleksandrovich Lopuchin 1864 - 1928
1905 - 1906 Nikolay Georgiyevich von Bünting
1906 - 1907 Pyotr Petrovich Bashilov
1907 - 1915 Ismail Vladimirovich Korostovets
1915 - 1917 Pyotr Vladimirovich Veryovkin
Commissioner of the Provisional Government for Estonia
1917 Jaan Poska, deposed by the Bolsheviks 1866 - 1920
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Congress of Estonian Workers' and
Soldiers' Soviets
1917 - 1918 Jaan Anvelt, driven out by the Germans 1884 - 1937
____________________________________________________________________________
HEADS OF THE PROVINCIAL AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION
Chairmen of the Estonian Provincial Assembly
1917 Artur Vallner
1917 - 1918 Otto August Strandmann (2) 1875 - 1941
(2) The Provincial Assembly refused to recognize the new Bolshevik rule
and proclaimed itself the sole legal power in Estonia. In 1918 it
transferred all executive powers to a three-men Salvation Committee.
Salvation Committee
Päästekomitee
1918 -Konstantin Päts (Chairman/Esimees) 1874 - 1956
-Konstantin Konik 1873 - 1936
-Jüri Vilms 1889 - 1918
REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
In 1918, as German troops were approaching the city, the Salvation Committee
seized power in Tallinn and proclaimed the independent Republic of Estonia
____________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
Chairman of the Provisional Government and Minister of Home Affairs
Ajutise Valitsuse Esimees ja Siseminister
1918 Konstantin Päts s.a.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Välisminister
1918 Jaan Poska s.a.
Minister of War
Sõjaminister
1918 Andres Larka 1879 - 1943
Minister of Justice
Kohtuminister
1918 Jüri Vilms s.a.
Minister of Finance
Rahanduseminister
1918 Juhan (Johann) Kukk 1885 - 1945
In 1918 the Germans - who had already occupied the Estonian islands (Hiiumaa
Muhu and Saaremaa) in 1917 - now also occupied Tallinn (then called Reval)
and the rest of Estonia, putting an end to both the Republican- and the
Soviet regimes. (3)
In 1918 Estonia became part of the German Baltic administration for Livonia,
Estonia, Riga and Ösel, later also joining the Baltic State(3) Russia formally transferred Estonia to German supreme authority
by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, its future statut having to
be determinated later.
During this whole period the Salvation Committee continued its
underground activities, entering into relation with the Western
Allied powers, who gave the committee a de facto recognition as
legal representative of the Estonian nation
____________________________________________________________________________
GERMAN MILITARY ADMINISTRATORS
Two German military administrations (Etappenverwaltungen) - Ösel and Estonia
- were set up as German advance progressed.
The military administrators were at first subordinated to the Oberost 1917 -
1918 and then to the Head of the Military Administration of the Baltic Lands
(see here)
ÖSEL
(for the islands, Ösel being the German name for Saaremaa, the major island)
Head of the Administration
Verwaltungschefs
1917 - 1918 Gen. Franz Adolf, Freiherr
von Seckendorff 1857 -
1918 Gen. ... von Balk
ESTONIAHead of the Administration
Verwaltungschefs
1918 Gen. Franz Adolf, Freiherr
von Seckendorff s.a.
REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA 1918 - 1940
In 1918, after the end of the German occupation the Salvation Committee once
again seized power and restored the independence of Estonia.(4)
In 1940, invoquing a treaty of military cooperation which had been imposed
to country the year before, troops of the U.S.S.R. occupied Estonia. At the
same time a Soviet Commissar was appointed to supervize the reorganization
of the structure of the State according to Soviet model and a pro-U.S.S.R.
"People's government" was installed.
(4) At the same time Russian troops however occupied most of the country
etting up a pro-Russian independent Estonian Workers Commune (Eesti
Töörahva Kommuun)
Chairman of the Council of the Estonian Workers Commune
1918 - 1919 Jaan Anvelt s.a.
In 1919, with British and Finnish assistance, the Estonian army ended
this occupation and in 1920, by the Treaty of Tartu, Russia finally
recognized the independence of the new state.
____________________________________________________________________________
HEADS OF STATE
Chairman of the Provisional Government and Prime Minister
Ajutise Valitsuse Esimees ja Peaminister
1918 - 1919 Konstantin Päts s.a.
Chairman of the Constituent Assembly
Asutavkogu Esimees
1919 - 1920 August Rei 1886 - 1963
State Elders
Riigivanem (sing.)
1920 - 1921 Ants Piip 1884 - 1941
1921 - 1922 Konstantin Päts s.a.
1922 - 1923 Juhan (Johann) Kukk s.a.
1923 - 1924 Konstantin Päts (2x)
1924 Friedrich Karl Akel 1871 - 1941
1924 - 1925 Jüri Jaakson 1870 - 1942
1925 - 1927 Jaan Teemant 1872 - 1941
1927 - 1928 Jaan Tõnisson 1868 - 19..
1928 - 1929 August Rei s.a.
1929 - 1931 Otto August Strandmann s.a.
1931 - 1932 Konstantin Päts (3x)
1932 Jaan Teemant (2x)
1932 Karl August Einbund 1888 - 1942
1932 - 1933 Konstantin Päts (4x)
1933 Jaan Tõnisson (2x)
1933 - 1937 Konstantin Päts* (5x)
Protector of the State
Riigihoidja
1937 - 1938 Konstantin Päts s.a.
President
President
1938 - 1940 Konstantin Päts s.a.
____________________________________________________________________________
Prime Ministers
Peaministrid
1918 - 1919 Konstantin Päts s.a.
1919 Otto August Strandmann s.a.
1919 - 1920 Jaan Tönissen s.a.
1920 Aadu (Ado) Birk 1883 - 1942
1920 Jaan Tõnissen (2x)
1920 Ants Piip s.a.
1920 - 1934 the State Elders
1934 - 1937 Konstantin Päts (2x)
1937 - 1938 none
1938 - 1939 Kaarel Eenpalu (= Einbund) s.a.
1939 - 1940 Jüri Uluots 1890 - 1945
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Välisministrid
1918 - 1919 Jaan Poska s.a.
1919 Ants Piip s.a.
1919 - 1920 Aadu (Ado) Birk s.a.
1920 Kaarel Robert Pusta 1883 - 1964
1920 Aadu (Ado) Birk (2x)
1920 - 1921 Otto August Strandmann s.a.
1921 - 1922 Ants Piip (2x)
1922 - 1923 Aleksander Hellat 1881 - 1943
1923 - 1924 Friedrich Karl Akel s.a.
1924 Otto August Strandmann (2x)
1924 - 1925 Kaarel Robert Pusta (2x)
1925 Aadu (Ado) Birk (3x)
1925 - 1926 Ants Piip (3x)
1926 Hans Rebane 1892 - 1961
1926 - 1927 Friedrich Karl Akel (2x)
1927 Aleksander Hellat (2x)
1927 - 1928 Hans Rebane (2x)
1928 - 1931 Jaan Lattik 1878 - 1967
1931 - 1932 Jaan Tönissen s.a.
1932 Mihkel Pung 1876 - 1941
1932 - 1933 August Rei s.a.
1933 Ants Piip (4x)
1933 - 1936 Julius Friedrich Seljamaa 1883 - 1936
1936 - 1938 Friedrich Karl Akel (3x)
1938 - 1939 Karl Selter 1898 - 1958
1939 - 1940 Ants Piip (5x)
Ministers of DefenceMinisters of WarSõjaministrid
1918 Andres Larka
1918 - 1919 Konstantin Päts s.a.
1919 Otto August Strandman s.a.
1919 - 1920 August Hanko 1879 - 1952
1920 Gen. Aleksander Tõnissen
1920 - 1921 Ants Piip s.a.
1921 - 1923 Jaan Soots 1880 - 1942
1923 - 1924 Ado Anderkopp 1894 - 1941
1924 Oskar Amberg 1878 - 1963
1924 Hans Kurvits
1924 - 1927 Jaan Soots (2x)
1927 - 1928 Nikolai Reek 1890 - 1942
1928 - 1929 Mihkel Juhkam 1884 - 1942
Ministers of DefenceKaitseministrid
1929 - 1931 Oskar Köster 1890 - 1941
1931 - 1932 August Kerem 1889 - 1942
1932 - 1933 Gen. Aleksander Tõnissen (2x)
1933 August Kerem (2x)
1933 - 1937 Paul LillMinisters of WarSõjaministrid
1937 - 1939 Paul Lill s.a.
1939 - 1940 Nikolai Reek (2x)
Ministers of Home Affairs and of JusticeMinisters of Home AffairsSiseministrid
1918 Konstantin Päts s.a.
1918 Juhan (Johann) Kukk s.a.
1918 - 1919 August Peet
1919 Aleksander Oinas 1887 - 1942
1919 - 1920 Aleksander Hellat s.a.
1920 Karl August Einbund s.a.
1920 - 1921 Lui Olesk 1876 - 1932
1921 - 1924 Karl August Einbund (2x)
1924 Teodor Rõuk
1924 - 1926 Karl August Einbund (3x)
1926 Heinrich Laretei 1892 - 1973
1926 - 1927 Jaan Soots* s.a.
1927 - 1928 Jaan (Johann) Hünerson 1882 - 1942
1928 - 1929 Tõnis Kalbus
Ministers of JusticeKohtuministrid
1918 Jaan Poska s.a.
1918 - 1919 Jüri Jaakson s.a.
1919 Lui Olesk s.a.
1919 - 1920 Jüri Jaakson (2x)
1920 - 1921 Otto August Strandmann s.a.
1921 - 1923 Jaak Reichmann
1923 - 1925 Rudolf Gabrel 1871 - 1940
1925 - 1926 Tõnis Kalbus s.a.
1926 - 1927 Juhann Sepp 1885 - 1932
1927 Otto Tief 1889 - 1976
1927 - 1929 Tõnis Kalbus (2x)
1929 : Ministries of Home Affairs and Justice merged.
Ministers of Justice and Home AffairsKohtu- ja Siseministrid
1929 - 1930 Tõnis Kalbus s.a.
1930 - 1931 Ado Anderkop s.a.
1931 Jaan (Johann) Hünerson s.a.
1931 - 1932 Johan Reinhold "Wiljem Raid"
1932 - 1933 Ado Anderkop (2x)
1933 Vladimir Rooperg "Viktor Roopere"
1933 Ernst Ein 1892 - 1956
1933 - 1934 Johan Müller
1934 : Ministries of Home Affairs and Justice again separated.
Ministers of Home AffairsSiseministrid
1934 - 1938 Karl August Einbund (since 1935 :
Kaarel Eenpalu) (4x)
1938 - 1939 Richard Veermaa 1901 - 1942
1939 - 1940 August Jürima 1887 - 1942
Ministers of JusticeKohtuministrid
1934 - 1938 Johann Müller s.a.
1938 - 1940 Albert Assor
Ministers of FinanceMinisters of FinanceRahanduseministrid
1918 - 1920 Juhan (Johann) Kukk s.a.
1920 Tõnis Vãres 1859 - 1925
1920 - 1921 Karl Baars
1921 - 1924 Georg Vestel
1924 Karl Baars (2x)
1924 - 1927 Leo Sepp 1892 - 1941
1927 - 1928 Anton Teetsov
1928 - 1929 Aleksander Oinas s.a.
Ministers of Economic AffairsMajandusministrid
1929 - 1921 Johannes Zimmermann
1931 - 1932 Mihkel Pung s.a.
1932 Oskar Suursööt
1932 Johannes Zimmermann (2x)
1932 - 1933 August Jürman
1933 Peeter Kurvits
1933 - 1938 Karl Selter s.a.
Ministers of FinanceRahaministrid
1938 - 1940 Leo Sepp (2x)
____________________________________________________________________________
PARTY LEADER
In 1935 all political parties were dissolved and the Isamaaliit (National
Association) became the sole legal political movement until the establishment
of the Soviet regime.
Chairman
Esimees
1935 - 1940 Jüri Uluots s.a.
____________________________________________________________________________
SOVIET ADMINISTRATORS / PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT IN 1940
Soviet Emissary charged with the supervision of the reorganization of the
Estonian State
1940 Andrey Aleksandrovich Zhdanov 1896 - 1948
Commander of the Soviet troops in Estonia
1940 Gen. Kirill Afanasevich Mereckov 1897 - 1968
Prime Minister and acting President
1940 Johannes Vares "Barbarus" 1890 - 1946
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1940 Nigol Androzen 1899 - 1985
Minister of War
1940 ...
Minister of Home Affairs
1940 Maksim Unt
Minister of Justice
1940 Boris Sepp
Minister of Finance
1940 Juhan Narma (Nichtig)
In 1940 Estonia was re-organized as a Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1944, the National Committee for the Estonian Republic assumed power in
Tallinn, set up a Provisional Government and on 18 sep restored the Republic
of Estonia which would however only last four days.
HEAD OF STATE
Acting President
1944 Jüri Uluots (5) s.a.
(5) Uluots had already become "underground" acting President of Estonia
after the establishment of the Soviet regime. In 1941, as German
troops invaded Estonia and the Estonians revolted against the Soviet
regime, he came into the open to head the Estonian National Council
which co-ordinated the activities of the insurgents and which tried
to set up an Estonian administration in the liberated territories
before the arrival of the Germans, in this way hoping to receive
some form of recognition by the invaders. Not came of it and he
returned underground.
____________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
Prime minister and Minister of Home Affairs
Pea- ja Siseminister
1944 Otto Tief s.a.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Välisminister
1944 August Rei s.a.
Minister of War
Sõjaminister
1944 Johan Holberg
Minister of Justice
Kohtuminister
1944 Johannes Klesment 1896 - 1967
Minister of Finance
Rahandusminister
1944 Hugo Pärtelpoeg
On 22 sep Soviet troops toke Tallinn and restored the Estonian S.S.R. (6)
(6) The restoration of the Soviet regime toke place under the tight
supervision of a special Estonian Bureau of the C.C. of the
Communist Party of the U.S.S.R.
Chairman
1944 - 194. Nikolay Nikolayevich Shatalin 1904 -
As to the national Estonian government, it continued in exile without
much real power.
Acting Presidents
1944 - 1945 Jüri Uluots s.a.
1945 - 1963 August Rei s.a.
Prime Minister
1944 - 1953 Otto Tief* s.a.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
1944 - 1945 August Rei s.a.
1949 - 1949 Hans Rebane s.a.
The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic became a member of the U.S.S.R.
immediately after its foundation in 1940. From 1941 to 1944 it was under
German occupation.
____________________________________________________________________________
(during the German occupation some of the Soviet officials listed below were
killed, others went underground while still others went into exile in the
non-occupied part of the U.S.S.R.)
(during the first weeks the People's Government continued in office)
HEAD OF STATE
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Ülemnõukogu Presiidiumi Esimees
1940 - 1946 Johannes Vares "Barbarus" s.a.
____________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
(Formally styled People's Commissars until 1946 - (7))
Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars
Rahvakomisssaride Nõukogu Esimees
1940 - 1941 Johannes Lauristin 1899 - 1941
1942 - 1944 Oskar Sepre* 1900 - 1965
1944 - 1946 Arnold Veimer, continued as
Chairman of the Council of
Ministers until 1951 1903 - 1977
People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs
Välisasjade Rahvakomissar
1944 - 1946 Hans Kruus, continued as
Minister of Foreign Affairs
until 1950 1891 - 1976
People's Commissars for Home Affairs
Siseasjade Rahvakomissarid
1940 - 1941 Boris Kumm
1941 Andres Murro
1941 - 1944 Boris Kumm (2x)
1944 - 1946 Aleksander Resev, continued as
Minister of Home Affairs until 1951
People's Commissars for Justice
Kohtu Rahvakomissarid
1940 Friedrich Niggol
1940 - 1946 Aleksander Jõeäär, continued as
Minister of Justice until 1950
People's Commissar for Finance
Rahanduse Rahvakomissar
1940 - 1946 Paul Keerdo
(7) At the incorporation into the U.S.S.R. the Estonian Ministry of War
was abolished and what remained of the Estonlian army was integrated
in the Soviet Army as part of the Baltic Military District, commanded
by Gen. Aleksandr Dmitriyevich Loktionov (1893 - 1941), Soviet Deputy
Minister of Defence
____________________________________________________________________________
PARTY LEADERS
The Estonian Communist Party, which till then had been illegal, was legalised
after the establishment of the Soviet regime and became the sole legal party
of the country.
First Secretaries of the Estonian Communist Party
Eestimaa Kommunistlik Partei Esimese Sekretäri
1940 - 1943 Karl Säre 1903 - 1943
1944 - 1950 Nikolai (Georgevich) Karotamm, acting
1943 - 1944 1901 - 1969
Second Secretaries of the Estonian Communist Party(8)
1940 - 1944 Nikolai (Georgevich) Karotamm s.a.
1944 - 19.. Sergey ... Sazanov
(8) Unlike the first secretary who normally was an Estonian (or had at
least some connection with the country) the second secretary normally
was of Russian origin. He was often also the real leader of the Party.
____________________________________________________________________________
GERMAN ADMINISTRATORS
In 1941 Estonia was occupied by German troops and after a brief period of
military rule - dependent of the Commanders of the Army Group North (in the
occupied U.S.S.R.) - a German civilian administration was established and
Estonia was organized as a General Kommissariat becoming soon afterwards part
of the Reichskommissariat Ostland.
General Commissar
Generalkommissar
(subordinated to the Reichskommissar Ostland)
1941 - 1944 SA-Obergruppenfuhrer Karl
Sigismund Litzmann 1893 -
S.S. and Police Leader
S.S. und Polizeiführer
(responsible for internal security and war against the resistance - directly
subordinated to the H.S.S.P.F. of Ostland, not to the Generalkommissar)
1941 - 1944 SS-Oberführer Hinrich Müller
1944 SS-Brigadeführer Walter Schröder 1902 - 1973
ESTONIAN ADMINISTRATORS
An indigenous Estonian administration was established immediately after the
conquest by the local German administrators. It was formally recognized by
the German central authorities in 1942, but it never had any real power, most
administrative tasks being done by the offices of the Generalkommissariat.
Landsdirectors
Landesdirektoren
Landsdirector - General
1941 - 1944 Hjalmar Mäe (9) 1901 - 1978
Landsdirector for Home Affairs
1941 - 1944 Oskar Angelus 1892 - 1979
Landsdirectors for Justice
1941 - 1943 Hjalmar Mäe s.a.
1943 - 1944 Oskar Opik
Landsdirector for Finance
1941 - 1944 Alfred Wendt 1902 -
(9) Mäe had already chaired a pro-German Estonian Liberation Committee,
based in Finland, before the German invasion of the U.S.S.R.
LEADERS OF THE RESISTANCE
The resistance against German occupation was divided between :
- the Communist Resistance - consisting mainly of straggling party-members
and soldiers - and organized into Otryadi (Partizan Units) subordinated to
the Central Staff of the Partizan Otryadi in Moscow.
Commander of the Estonian Partizan Otryadi
1941 - 1944 Nikolay Georgevich Karotamm s.a.
- the National Estonian Resistance, originally divided, but united in 1944
into the National Committee of the Estonian Republic, which at the end
of the war, in the interval of the German retreat and the Soviet reconquest
briefly restored the independence of the Republic of Estonia.
Chairmen of the National Committee of the Estonian Republic
1944 Kaarel Liidak 1889 - 1945
1944 Otto Tief s.a.
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