Estonian Declaration of Independence

This article is about the 1918 declaration. For the 1988 declaration, see Estonian Sovereignty Declaration. For the 1991 declaration, see Estonian Restoration of Independence.

The first proclamation of Estonia's Declaration of Independence, on 23 February 1918 in Pärnu

The Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia (Estonian: Manifest Eestimaa rahvastele), is the founding act which established the independent democratic Republic of Estonia on 24 February 1918. Since then the 24 February has been celebrated as the Estonian Independence Day, the national day of Estonia.

Historical context

The declaration was drafted by the Salvation Committee elected by the elders of the Estonian Provincial Assembly and consisting of Konstantin Päts, Jüri Vilms and Konstantin Konik. Originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February 1918, the proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and read out aloud publicly in Pärnu. On the next day, 24 February 1918, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital, Tallinn (Reval).^[1][2]

During World War I, on 24 February 1918, in the capital city Tallinn, between the retreating Russian bolshevik troops and the advancing German army (and the nearing occupation by the German Empire), the Estonian Salvation Committee — the executive body of the democratically elected Provincial Assembly (Maapäev) — declared the independence of Estonia. The declaration was made in the main hall of the local branch of the State Bank of the Russian Empire (subsequently part of the head office of Bank of Estonia).^[3][4]

The German Empire did not recognise the newly declared "democratic republic of Estonia". However, after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I in November 1918, Germany withdrew its troops from Estonia, and formally handed power in Estonia over to the Estonian Provisional Government on 19 November 1918.^[5] The Russian Bolshevik invasion and the Estonian War of Independence followed. On 2 February 1920, the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed by the Republic of Estonia and Bolshevik Russia.^[6] The Republic of Estonia obtained international recognition and became a member of the League of Nations in 1921.^[7]

Estonian Declaration of Independence

See also

• Independence Day (Estonia)
• Estonian War of Independence
• Estonian Sovereignty Declaration

References

1. Arjakas, Küllo (23 February 2008). "23. ja 24. veebruar 1918: kuidas iseseisvust kuulutati" (in Estonian). Postimees. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
2. Vahtre, Lauri (23 February 2007). "89 aastapäeva – sinimustvalgega ja ilma" (in Estonian). Postimees. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
3. "The buildings of Eesti Pank". Eesti Pank. 28 September 2012.
4. Valdur Ohmann (2017). "The Artist Nikolai Kalmakov and the Twists and Turns of his Creative Legacy". Tuna.
5. Rosenthal, Reigo (3 October 2012). "World War I". Estonica. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
6. Rosenthal, Reigo (3 October 2012). "Estonian War of Independence". Estonica. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
7. Pajur, Ago (3 October 2012). "Years of parliamentarian democracy". Estonica. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.

External links

• Estonian Declaration of Independence, 24 February 1918 at www.president.ee
• February 24 – Estonia's Independence Day! at Visit Estonia