WE WERE ESTONIAN SOLDIERS. Carl Orav
activity. We hid some weapons inside mattresses and in the ventilation ducts and collected a few personal belongings. When we left the building we were searched and told to form a line outside. Most of us had a single bag of clothing and a laced pair of boots over the shoulder. Bearded hoodlums smelling of alcohol searched us for hidden weapons. None of them thought to look inside our boots. Many cadets thus smuggled out their personal side arms and ammunition. When all had exited the school, the mob entered. Seeing that we were just standing and watching they yelled, “What are you waiting for? Go home!”
Some cadets had no relatives or close friends in Tallinn where they could spend the night. Their only home was the Academy. Thus when the town grew quiet towards evening, they came back. They were met at the door by a bearded hoodlum armed with a Russian rifle. After much debate, the cadets were let inside to spend the night. During the night the hoodlums apparently got word from the Red Army command to vacate the premises and to turn the Academy building back over to the Estonians. It appeared the Academy was again back in business, just in time to graduate its last group of officers.
On the morning of June 22 a meeting was held by the new Estonian government, which had been imposed on the Estonians by the Russians. They ordered new security arrangements. The previous government had used the Estonian military to guard its facilities, but now all facilities were to be guarded by a new security force named the “People’s Self Defense.” Its members consisted of the previous day’s mob members who now carried red bands on their left arms.
Our Academy was given word to retrieve its weapons from the government building on Toompea. While there, one of the cadets, Ensign Rea, made his way up the Pikk Hermann tower and replaced the red flag with the Estonian flag. On the same day, we were notified that upon pressure from the Soviets our President had relieved General Laidoner from his duties as commander of the Estonian armed forces. He was replaced by Major General Jonson from the cavalry.
About a week later, a parade was organized by the Communist leadership to show support for the new Soviet-friendly Estonian government. This was to demonstrate to the outside world how the population supported the new regime. Workers were rousted out of their places of employment and military units in civilian clothing were forced to participate in this “voluntary” endeavor. The parade included the “heroes” of the revolution who had caused the old government to fall – hoodlums in the full sense of the word who had the backing of the Red Army. The cadets were forced to participate and formed a section between a workers’ unit and a Red Army unit.
When the procession started moving we started singing a patriotic Estonian song in unison. When the song ended we started again and so it went on and on throughout the parade. Onlookers liked our bravado and what they were hearing. Many threw flowers at us. Young ladies rushed up and kissed us. It was an overwhelming experience. The remnants of a free people demonstrated their compassion toward the Estonian soldier. When workers or Red Army units passed the spectators, there was stony silence. When we passed while singing, there was much noise and applause. This again showed the true feelings of the people.
Cadets were ordered to participate in the Communist-organized parade.
It had now become painfully clear how the Soviet Union had played their cards. They had caused the demise of the legal government of Estonia with their show of power and staged events. We speculated that this plan had been in place for a long time, perhaps even at the time of the signing of the Soviet military base agreements. The Soviets were very efficient at surfacing non-existing problems and laying the blame on the Estonian democracy. Piece by piece they had brought forth more and more demands, and piece by piece the Estonian government had given in to their proposals and ultimatums under the threat of violence. The takeover of the government had started in earnest on the thirteenth of June and had continued through the twenty first of June in a series of bold steps. The morale of the Estonian soldier had been shattered by all these concessions, especially by giving up their camps and barracks to the army of the unwelcome intruders.
After these events in June of 1940, the independent Republic of Estonia ceased to exist. The President of Estonia was now president in name only. He had no power and did whatever the Soviets dictated. With much pain and anger, we witnessed the following sequence of events whereby the last remnants of our democracy were dismantled:
June 27 – The President decreed that the Estonian National Guard was disbanded.
June 28 – The Estonian kroon was devalued to 1/8th of its previous value against the Russian ruble.
July 5 – The President disbanded the parliament to allow new “elections.”
July 13 – Estonian military units were required to select military committees.
July 14 & 15 – Election of “people’s representatives.”
July 18 – The last Estonian sports event was held in a soccer match between Estonia and Latvia in Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn. After the match the people marched to the President’s palace waving Estonian flags and sang patriotic songs, crying “Long live Estonia,” “Long live our democracy,” “Long live our President,” and so on. Upon reaching the President’s residence all took off their hats and all became very quiet. It was like everyone was praying for a miracle and hoping that we could stay united and fight for a free Estonia. When Red Army tanks arrived, the crowd dispersed.
July 21 – The newly elected “representatives of the people” convened and declared the start of a Soviet state and the freeing of the nation from capitalism. The President signed a document giving up his powers.
July 22 – The banner of the President no longer flew at his residence at Kadriorg. The newly “elected” people’s representatives passed a resolution to join the Soviet Union.
July 23 – Estonian President Päts resigned.
July 31 – The President and his son were exiled. They last saw Estonia through the windows of wagon #204 as it left the Narva train station.
The cadets had little to do during those days. We spent most of our time reading and playing bridge. There was a large library in the school’s basement where we spent a great deal of time talking about the events that were taking place around us.
Class picture. Detailed memoirs for this book were provided by V. Orav 3rd row 3rd from left, H. Kubja 3rd row 4th from right, A. Võhma 3rd row extreme right, E. Reiksaar last row extreme left, J. Jaagus last row 5th from left.
On the tenth of July, 1940, we had our graduation ceremony. The event was to recognize and promote the graduates of both the Military Academy and the Military Technical Academy. The Military Academy graduated 41 ensigns and all 41 were promoted to second lieutenants. The Military Technical Academy graduated 25 ensigns and five lieutenants. The 25 ensigns were promoted to second lieutenants. Major Generals Jonson and Rotberg headed the Estonian dignitaries along with the Soviet Union’s top commanders. Major General Jonson, as Estonia’s top military man, addressed the assembly. He commented on how our environment had changed very quickly during the last semester and how these changes demanded even keener focus and commitment from the new graduates. He stressed the need to maintain inner discipline, both by officers and their enlisted men. He said that the Estonian army cannot remain a spectator and that everyone has to contribute, especially the officers who are in contact with and lead the army. He said that in doing our duty, the army represents the flesh and blood of the people of Estonia. He talked about the importance of cooperation with our Russian neighbor and stressed that our respective officers have to develop and foster each other’s respect and friendship. He hoped that each Soviet officer would find each Estonian officer to be a worthy ally.
When we returned to our school after the graduation ceremony we had one remaining task, which was to choose the army unit in which to begin our careers as officers. The selection sequence was established by academic rank, with the best students choosing first. The ones at the bottom of the class had little choice.
We had started as fresh cadets in 1936. Back then we had dreams, high hopes and aspirations of doing our best to protect the security of our tiny and beloved