List of Estonian exile and émigré organizations
Background
The first significant wave of Estonian emigrants abroad occurred after the failure of the 1905 revolution in Estonia, which saw the arrival of over 60,000 people into the US by 1920 according to some government estimates. This led to the formation of many Estonian American socialist and communist organisations.[1]
The next wave came after the annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union, up to 70,000 people fled Estonia to the West.[2] Around half of these people sought refuge in Germany and the remainder sought refuge in Sweden. With the end of the war, many ended up in displaced persons camps. Later, many of these emigrated to the United States, the UK, Canada and Australia. This exile community formed many organizations, most of these were cultural.
Government in exile
International organizations
- Estonian World Council, (Ülemaailmne Eesti Kesknõukogu)
- Baltic World Conference
- The Baltic Council, (Balti Nõukogu)
Political parties of the pre-war era with continued existence in exile
- Estonian Socialist Party's Foreign Association (Eesti Sotsialistliku Partei Välismaa Koondis)
- United Peasants' Party (Ühendatud Põllumeeste Erakond), from 1962 on: Estonian Democratic Union (Eesti Demokraatlik Unioon)
Anti-communist organizations
- Eesti Vabadusliit was formed in Berlin on February 5, 1945, by SS-Obersturmbannführer Harald Riipalu, and Ain-Ervin Mere.[3] The organization later operated in Sweden, also using the Swedish name Estniska frihetsförbundet.
- World Legion of Estonian Liberation, (Ülemaailmne Eesti Vabadusvõitlejate Liit)
- Committee for Free Estonia
- Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations
- Estonian Liberation Movement (Eesti Vabadusliikumine)
- Union of the Estonian Fighters for Freedom (Eesti Vabadusvõitlejate Liit)
National organizations
United Kingdom
- London Estonian Society (Londoni Eesti Selts), (founded in 1921)
- Estonian Relief Committee (Eesti Vabastuskomitee), (established in 1944)
- Association for Estonians in Great Britain (1947)
- The Baltic Association in Great Britain
United States
Sweden
- Estonian Agronomic Society in Sweden (Eesti Agronoomide Selts Rootsis)
- Estonian National Congress in Sweden (Rootsi Eestlaste Liit)[5]
- Eesti Komitee
- Eesti Kultuuri Koondis Rootsis
- The Baltic Committee in Sweden, (Balti Komitee Rootsis)
- Estonian Learned Society in Sweden (Eesti Teaduslik Selts Rootsis; established in 1945; associated with Estonian Academy of Sciences)
- Estonian School in Stockholm (established in 1945[6])
Canada
- Estonian Central Council in Canada or Eestlaste Kesknõukogu Kanadas (EKN)
- League of Estonian Artists in Toronto (Estonian: Eesti Kunstnike Koondis Torontos), established in 1956
Estonia Houses
United Kingdom
- Estonian House, London, (Londoni Eesti Maja)
- Bradford 'Eesti Kodu' Club, opened in 1956
- Estonian House Club, Leicester (Leicesteri Eesti Maja), opened in 1960, was visited by President Lennart Meri in 2000.[7]
Newspapers and magazines
| Name |
City |
Country |
Years Published |
Frequency |
Comments
|
| Adelaide Eesti Seltsi Teataja (Adelaide Estonian Club Gazette) |
Adelaide |
Australia |
1958-1971 |
4 times per year
|
| Ameerika Eestlane (The American Estonian) |
New York |
USA |
1925 |
weekly |
|
| Amerika Eesti Postimees (Estonian Courier of America) |
New York |
USA |
1897-1911 |
6 times a year |
|
| Baltimore Eesti Organisatsioonide Bülletään (Baltimore Estonian Organization Bulletin) |
Baltimore |
USA |
1965- |
10 times per year
|
| Edasi (Forward) |
Leningrad |
Soviet Union |
1917-1937 |
? |
|
| Eesti Elu (Estonian Life) |
Toronto |
Canada |
2001- |
weekly |
Website. Merged Vaba Eestlane and Meie Elu.
|
| Eesti Hääl (Estonian Voice) |
London |
United Kingdom |
1947- |
originally weekly, now monthly |
Website
|
| Eesti Noortetöö |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1961-1984 |
4 times per year |
|
| Eesti Päevaleht (Estonian Daily) |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1959- |
originally daily, now weekly |
Website
|
| Eesti Post (Estonian Post) |
Geislingen |
Germany |
1945-1953 |
irregular |
For members of Geislingen displaced persons camp
|
| Eesti Post (Estonian Post) |
initially Stockholm, later Malmö |
Sweden |
1950-1975 |
? |
|
| Eesti Rada |
Cologne |
Germany |
1945- |
initially 1-2 times per week, later 6 times per year |
Website[permanent dead link]
|
| Eesti Rahvusfondi Teated |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1947-1960 |
irregular |
|
| Eesti Sõna (Estonian Word) |
Berlin |
Germany |
1941-1945 |
6 days per week |
|
| Elagu |
Melbourne |
Australia |
1983-1988 |
? |
For youths
|
| Esto America |
New York |
USA |
1983-1984 |
monthly |
|
| Kirjad Gaidjuhtidele |
Sävedalen |
Sweden |
1958-1966 |
2 times per year |
For scout leaders
|
| Kodumaa (Homeland) |
Tallinn |
Estonian SSR |
1958-1991 |
weekly |
Published by VEKSA (The Society for the Development of Cultural Ties with Estonians Abroad) in Estonia and sent to Estonians in exile[2]
|
| Kratt : Kotkajärve Teataja |
Muskoka |
Canada |
1979-1988 |
4 times per year |
|
| Kultuuriside : Eesti Kultuurifondi teataja |
New York |
USA |
1967-1996 |
1-2 times per year
|
| Kündja |
Riga |
Russian Empire |
1882-1891 |
originally weekly, then monthly |
|
| Lakewood Ekspress |
Lakewood, NJ |
USA |
1997-1999 |
irregular |
|
| Laste Sõber : noorte kirik (Children's Friend) |
Västerås |
Sweden |
1957-1980 |
4 times per year |
|
| Läti Eestlane (Estonian of Latvia) |
Riga |
Latvia |
1928 |
weekly |
|
| Malevlane |
Helsinki |
Finland |
1943-1944 |
irregular |
For Estonian volunteer soldiers in Finland
|
| Meie Elu (Our Life) |
Toronto |
Canada |
1950-2001 |
weekly |
Merged into Eesti Elu
|
| Meie Kodu (Our Home) |
Sydney |
Australia |
1949- |
weekly |
Website
|
| Meie Post (Our Post) |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1962-1987 |
10-12 times per year |
|
| Mõttekriips : Eesti Üliõpilaskonna Sydneys häälekandja |
Sydney |
Australia |
1955-1977 |
irregular |
For university students
|
| Peterburi Teataja |
St Petersburg |
Russia |
1908–1918, 1999- |
originally ?, now 4 times per year |
Called Pealinna Teataja in 1910, 1914–1917. Website[permanent dead link]
|
| Rahva Hääl (Voice of the People) |
Moscow |
Soviet Union |
1942-1944 |
irregular |
|
| Säde |
Leningrad |
Soviet Union |
1927-1929 |
irregular |
|
| Sõnumid |
Detmold |
Germany |
1946-1948 |
weekly |
|
| Stockholms-Tidningen eestlastele |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1944-1959 |
6 times per week |
|
| Teataja (Estonian Gazette) |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1944-2002 |
ranged from weekly to monthly |
Called Eesti Teataja from 1945 to 1953
|
| Töömees (The Workman) |
Oakland |
USA |
1907-1908 |
irregular
|
| Uus Eesti (New Estonia) |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1973-1976 |
? |
|
| Usk ja Elu (Faith and Life) |
Riga |
Russian Empire |
1908-1917 |
weekly |
|
| Tuulemaa (Land of Wind) |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1960-1976 |
irregular |
|
| Uus Ilm (New World) |
|
USA |
1909-1989 |
weekly until 1950, monthly afterwards |
Communist
|
| Vaba Eesti Sõna (Free Estonian Word) |
New York |
USA |
1949- |
weekly |
Website
|
| Vaba Eestlane (Free Estonian) |
Toronto |
Canada |
1952-2001 |
2 times per week |
Merged into Eesti Elu
|
| Vabaduse Kuulutus : eestikeelse vaimuliku raadiosaate Vabaduse Kuulutuse informatsioonileht |
Toronto |
Canada |
1958-1969 |
irregular |
|
| Valgus: evangeelne ajakiri (The Light: evangelical magazine) |
Örebro |
Sweden |
1950-1954 |
6 times per year |
Moved to Toronto in 1955
|
| Valgus: evangeelne ajakiri (The Light: evangelical magazine) |
Toronto |
Canada |
1955-1993 |
6 times per year |
Moved to Tallinn in 1994
|
| Välis-Eesti |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
1944-1995 |
irregular |
|
| Virgats |
Adelaide |
Australia |
1971- |
monthly |
|
| Võitleja (The Combatant) |
Toronto |
Canada |
1952- |
originally monthly, now 4 times per year |
For veterans
|
The Estonian National Library has a digitized archive of many of these publications.[8]
Other
In 2012, the web portal Estonian World Review (www.eesti.ca) was opened. The goal of the portal is to link and show all Estonia-related actions over the world. The portal is registered in Ontario, Canada.[9]
- Museum of Estonians Abroad[10]
Notes
References
External links
