Government of the Republic of Estonia formed by Jüri Jaakson on Dec. 16, 1924.
Left table from the left: R. Gabrel, A. Kerem, H. B. Rahamägi, J. Soots, K. Einbund (Eenpalu); right table from the left: A. Oinas, K. Ast, K. Virma, Chr. Kaarna, L. Sepp, A. Birk; at the head of the table J. Jaakson, opposite him Head of the Chancery of State K. Terras. Only two ministers died natural death, R. Gabriel in 1940 and Karl Ast (b. on Feb. 7, 1886; represented the Republic of Estonia in Brasilia 1941–1959) on July 9, 1971 in New York. The others were executed or died in prison camps in Russia. Tallinn 1925.
Maj. Gen. Ants (also Hans) Kurvits.
Maj. Gen. August Traksmaa.
B. on Aug. 27, 1893 in Rägavere parish. He was battalion commander in the War of Independence, chief of the 2nd division 1934–36, later ambassador in Moscow, aide to Minister of War. Arr. on June 14, 1941, died or executed on July 16, 1942 in Gorelniki prison camp, the North Ural. His family was deported in 1941.
Maj. Gen. Hugo Eduard Kauler.
B. on Oct. 2, 1893 in Väinjärve parish. He was chief of front artillery in the War of Indepence. Chief of internal defence and the 3rd division 1924–1927, 1928–1930, since 1930 artillery inspector. Arr. in 1941 (?), executed on Sept. 22, 1942 in Lama prison camp.
Colonel Mart Tuisk.
B. on Dec. 13, 1889. Vice secretary of the Officers’ Central Council Board of the Republic of Estonia in 1936. Arr. in 1941 (?), executed on April 30, 1942 in Russian prison camp.
Documents (KGB files) of arrest, accusation and execution or death of these two latest higher officers are probably in different archives of Russia. According to evaluation about 20% of the files of the arrested (lost) persons in Estonia, especially those who died or were executed in Russia, are missing from the Estonian archives.
Kaarel-August Eenpalu with his family when he was State Head on Aug. 10, 1932.
Left above: daughters Helmi-Aino (b. in 1917) and Virve (b. in 1919), in the centre his wife, teacher Linda-Maria and Kaarel-August, below daughters students Mai-Linda (1923) and Tiiu-Hilja (1921). K.-A. Eenpalu was Cand. Jur., Reserve Lieutenant, Chairman of the Estonian Student Association, Minister of Internal Affairs in 1920, 1921–24, 1924–26, 1934–38, Prime Minister in 1938–39, Chairman of the Estonian Parliament in 1933–1934, State Head in 1932, died at preliminary investigations in Vjatka prison camp in 1942. His wife L.-M. Eenpalu with daughters Virve and Mai were deported to Tomsk region for 15 years in 1941. Daughters T.-H. Eenpalu and H.-A. Eenpalu escaped from red terror to Germany in 1944. Photo from his granddaughter Anne Eenpalu’s private collection.
Chancellor of Justice Anton Palvadre with his family in Tallinn in 1937.
From the left: A. Palvadre (arr. 14.06.41, sentence of death 28.02.42, died 16.01.42 in Sosva prison camp), daughter Lea (b. 20.04.29), daughter Aime (13.06.25) and wife Gerta (02.07.1891). Wife with underaged daughters was deported in 1941 to Kirov reg., where they were kept for about 15 years. Photo from Lea Palvadre’s private collection.
State Head of the Republic of Estonia Jaan Tõnisson with ambassadors.
From the left: Elmar Kirotar, Johan Leppik, Hans Rebane, Jaan Tõnisson; rear admiral Hermann Salza, Maj. Gen. Gustav Jonson and Colonel Artur Normak. The four latter ones were killed or died in the Soviet prisons or prison camps.
Tallinn 1927 or 1933.
The commander in chief of the Estonian defence forces, Gen. Johan Laidoner’s at 50th anniversary of his wife Maria Laidoner in Viimsi.
From the left: 1. Chairman of Tallinn Credit Bank J. Sihver (arr. 1941 ?), 3. J. Laidoner (deported in 1940, arr. in 1941, died in 1953 in prison in Russia), 5. M. Laidoner (deported in 1940, arr. in 1941, freed from prison camp in 1954, permitted to return to Estonia in 1961). Harjumaa in 1930.
Board of National Assembly general meeting (leaders of two houses).
In the 1st row from the left: M. Pung (Chairman of the 2nd house), J. Kristelstein (I Vice-Chairman of the 1st house);
in the 2nd row: H.-E. Lauri, A. Tõnisson (I Vice - Chairman of the 2nd house), A. Palvadre. Tallinn 1937.
Mihkel Pung died on Oct. 11, 1941 in Sosva prison camp, his family was deported to Russia in 1941. Jüri Uluots escaped from repression to Sweden in 1944. Jakob Kristelstein arr. 1950, was sentenced to prison camp for 5 years. Heinrich-Eduard Lauri arr. 17.03.41, death sentence, died in Vjatka prisoner camp 08.12.42. Aleksander Tõnisson, b. in 1899 in Jõgeveste., death sentence, executed on June 23, 1941 in T?kalov region (?). Anton Palvadre arr. June 14, 1941, death sentence, died on Jan. 16, 1942 in Sosva prison camp.
Border-guard Officer Board’s general meeting at the 15th anniversary of frontier guard in Tallinn on Nov. 1, 1937.
KGB considered most of the Estonian officers extremely antagonistic to occupying power and therefore most of them had to be arrested even on the basis of being in this photo.
Maj. Gen. Gustav Jonson – Chairman of Officers’ Central Board of the Republic of Estonia in 1937.
B. on Jan. 8, 1880 in Päri parish, Corp. Vironia graduate, Tallinn garrison commander from 1930, chief of internal defence from 1933, ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, died in Dubravlag detention place, Russia in 1941.
Maj. Gen. Aleksander Tõnisson – Chairman of Officers’ Central Board of the Republic of Estonia in 1930.
B. on April 17, 1875 in Härjanurme in Tartumaa. In the beginning of the October Revolution he was imprisoned and sentenced to death for military non-subjection to young Soviet power, but he escaped by chance. He was the leader of the 1st division in War of Independence, Tartu Mayor in 1934 and since 1939 Tallinn Chief Mayor. The Soviet occupants executed him on June 30, 1941 in Tallinn.
A group of Kaitseliit members before 1940.
Belonging to Kaitseliit was a sufficient reason for arrest.