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 USA by 1920 according to some government estimates. This led to the formation of many Estonian American socialist and communist organisations [Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Gale, 2000 [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0193-14364_ITM] ] .

The next wave came after the annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union, up to 70,000 people fled Estonia to the West. [http://files.osa.ceu.hu/holdings/300/8/3/text/89-3-30.shtml ESTONIA] (document ID 89-3-30) - available in Radio Free Europe Background Reports on Hungary, 1954-1989] 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
* Estonian Legation in London
* Estonian Consulate General in New York

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 Välismaakoondis)
*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. [ [http://www.hot.ee/vaikal/tana_02.htm Veebruari sündmused] et icon] 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"
** "Union of the Estonian Fighters for Freedom"

National organizations

United Kingdom

* London Estonian Society, (founded in 1921)
* Estonian Relief Committee, (established in 1944)
* Association for Estonians in Great Britain (1947)
* The Baltic Association in Gt. Britain

United States

* "Legion of Estonian Liberation Inc"

Sweden

* Estonian National Congress in Sweden "(Rootsi Eestlaste Liit)" [ [http://www.rel.ee/eng/index.htm The Estonian National Congress in Sweden] ]
* Eesti Komitee
* Eesti Kultuuri Koondis Rootsis
* The Baltic Committee in Sweden, "(Balti Komitee Rootsis)"

Estonia Houses

* Stockholm
* New York
* Toronto
* Los Angeles

United Kingdom

* Estonian House, London, "(Londoni Eesti Selts)"
* Bradford 'Eesti Kodu' Club, opened in 1956
* Estonian House Club, Leicester, opened in 1960, was visited by President Lennart Meri in 2000. [ [http://vp1992-2001.vpk.ee/eng/k6ned/K6ne.asp?ID=3819 President of the Republic at the Estonia House of Leicester on March 11, 2000] ]

Newspapers and magazines

Canada

* "Eesti Elu" (Estonian Life) [http://www.eesti.ca/] : This newspaper is a combination of two former newspapers, "Vaba Eestlane" and "Meie Elu".

Sweden

* "Eesti Post"
* "Eesti Päevaleht"
* "Teataja"
* "Välis-Eesti"
* "Meie Post" (Our Post)
* "Uus Eesti" (New Estonia)
* "Tuulemaa" (Land of Wind)

United Kingdom

* "Eesti Hääl" (Estonian Voice)

United States

* "Vaba Eesti Sõna"
* "Eesti Postimees" (Estonian Courier)
* "Uus Ilm" (New World), founded in the 1910s, Communist

Soviet Union

* "Kodumaa" (Homeland), a weekly published by VEKSA (The Society for the Development of Cultural Ties with Estonians Abroad) in the Estonian SSR and sent out to exile Estonians.

External links

[http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/ournewhome/ Estonian émigrés in Australia]

References

* [http://www.estonia.gov.uk/estonian_community_in_uk Estonian community in the UK]
* [http://www.ut.ee/VEUK/ingel.html INGLISMAA EESTLASTE ORGANISATSIOONIDE ARHIIVMATERJALIDE KATALOOG]
* [http://www.lituanus.org/1978/78_2_06.htm THE CONTEMPORARY BALTIC PRESS IN THE NON-SOVIET WORLD]