Estonia and America
in Close to Politics ·
Since the author decided to draw parallels between Estonia and America, let’s actually unpack the reality of the Estonian resistance. It’s a messy business—far from the black-and-white caricature most people imagine. You see, "Estonians"—or what the Germans call the Aesti people—don't even view themselves through that singular label. That's just a modern, artificial umbrella term used to group together the Seto, Harju, Saaremaa, Voru, and Viljandi peoples. A significant number of ethnic Estonians actually live within the administrative borders of Russia, much like various ethnic Finn groups, such as the Karelian and Vepsian people. And honestly? The idea that Russians were always the villains in the history of Estonia isn't strictly accurate either. For instance, back in the day, Czar Alexander II actually emancipated certain groups... and so on, and so forth. Then you have the so-called Siberian Estonians. Beyond being displaced by Russians, a tiny fraction was forced out following a peasant revolt in the 19th century involving Mahtra soda, though most of those folks moved toward Siberia simply searching for a decent life. This migration scattered Estonians across Siberia over a very long period.
http://www.folklore.ee/Folklore/vol21/siberia.pdf
The Estonians, alongside the Finns, represent some of the oldest peoples in Europe. Originally pagan, they were notoriously stubborn when it came to adopting imposed religions. Aside from the Lutherans, who managed to gain some traction, Estonians haven't historically been particularly religious in the way Americans might be, and some segments even embraced Orthodoxy.
It’s true that a good portion of Estonians welcomed the WW2 Germans as liberators from the Soviet occupation, but historically speaking, the Estonians have often had a complicated, antagonistic relationship with German influence. There have been countless attempts at Germanization over the centuries, and since the Estonians were largely a warrior culture, they frequently wiped out any German presence in their territory. Take the resistance on the island of Saaremaa, for example—they were famous as northern pirates who took great pleasure in settling scores with the Germans.
Looking at more recent history, beyond the well-known SS divisions that operated within the Wehrmacht, there was also a dedicated partisan movement known as the Estonian Partisan Movement Staff—partisans who leaned pro-Soviet, or more accurately, anti-Nazi.
What’s truly striking is that after the Soviet occupation in 1944, following the massive battle near Narva where Estonia was annexed again, many fighters refused to accept the peaceful surrender of the Estonian authorities. Instead, they kept up the guerrilla war against the Soviet occupiers. In those days, standing up to the Red Army—which was essentially the largest military machine on the planet—with nothing but a handful of patriots is something that demands genuine respect.
The Metsavennad, or Forest Brothers, maintained their resistance in Estonia until 1956, whereas in Latvia, the last partisan to emerge from the woods and surrender to the Soviets didn't do so until 1965. There is even data suggesting one Latvian individual remained in hiding until the 1990s, following the declaration of independence in Latvia.
All things considered, Estonia and America have both navigated very similar, rather unfortunate historical trajectories.
Just putting this out there, so we don't fall into the trap of useless generalizations.
http://www.folklore.ee/Folklore/vol21/siberia.pdf
The Estonians, alongside the Finns, represent some of the oldest peoples in Europe. Originally pagan, they were notoriously stubborn when it came to adopting imposed religions. Aside from the Lutherans, who managed to gain some traction, Estonians haven't historically been particularly religious in the way Americans might be, and some segments even embraced Orthodoxy.
It’s true that a good portion of Estonians welcomed the WW2 Germans as liberators from the Soviet occupation, but historically speaking, the Estonians have often had a complicated, antagonistic relationship with German influence. There have been countless attempts at Germanization over the centuries, and since the Estonians were largely a warrior culture, they frequently wiped out any German presence in their territory. Take the resistance on the island of Saaremaa, for example—they were famous as northern pirates who took great pleasure in settling scores with the Germans.
Looking at more recent history, beyond the well-known SS divisions that operated within the Wehrmacht, there was also a dedicated partisan movement known as the Estonian Partisan Movement Staff—partisans who leaned pro-Soviet, or more accurately, anti-Nazi.
What’s truly striking is that after the Soviet occupation in 1944, following the massive battle near Narva where Estonia was annexed again, many fighters refused to accept the peaceful surrender of the Estonian authorities. Instead, they kept up the guerrilla war against the Soviet occupiers. In those days, standing up to the Red Army—which was essentially the largest military machine on the planet—with nothing but a handful of patriots is something that demands genuine respect.
The Metsavennad, or Forest Brothers, maintained their resistance in Estonia until 1956, whereas in Latvia, the last partisan to emerge from the woods and surrender to the Soviets didn't do so until 1965. There is even data suggesting one Latvian individual remained in hiding until the 1990s, following the declaration of independence in Latvia.
All things considered, Estonia and America have both navigated very similar, rather unfortunate historical trajectories.
Just putting this out there, so we don't fall into the trap of useless generalizations.