List of Estonian exile and émigré organizations

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

• Estonian government in exile (Vabariigi Valitsus eksiilis)
• Estonian Legation in London (Eesti Saatkond Londonis)
• Estonian Consulate General in New York (Eesti peakonsulaat New Yorgis)

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

• Legion of Estonian Liberation Inc
• Estonian American National Council Inc (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides) (1952)^[4]

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

• Stockholm (Stockholmi Eesti Maja)
• New York Estonian House (New Yorgi Eesti Maja)
• Toronto (Toronto Eesti Maja)
• Los Angeles (Los Angelese Eesti Maja)

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

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

1. Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Gale, 2000
2. ESTONIA^{[permanent dead link]} (document ID 89-3-30) - available in Radio Free Europe Background Reports on Hungary, 1954-1989
3. Veebruari sündmused Archived 2008-03-19 at the Wayback Machine (in Estonian)
4. Estonian American National Council
5. The Estonian National Congress in Sweden Archived 2007-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Ajalugu". estniskaskolan.se. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
7. "President of the Republic at the Estonia House of Leicester on March 11, 2000". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
8. "Digiteeritud eesti ajalehed" (in Estonian). Estonian National Library. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
9. "Üleilmne eestlus koondus internetti". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
10. "VEMU". Museum of Estonians Abroad. Retrieved 3 November 2013.

References

• Estonian community in the UK
• INGLISMAA EESTLASTE ORGANISATSIOONIDE ARHIIVMATERJALIDE KATALOOG
• THE CONTEMPORARY BALTIC PRESS IN THE NON-SOVIET WORLD

External links

• Estonian émigrés in Australia