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The shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland have been home to the Estonians for thousands of years. However, throughout much of their history, they have been subjugated by foreign occupying powers. Estonians stubbornly preserved their identity through foreign dominations and finally were victorious in their War for Independence in 1918-1920, fighting both Soviet Russia and the German Landeswehr colonizers. During its independence 1918-1940, Estonia was a model society in the community of nations, a member of the League of Nations. Estonia guaranteed cultural autonomy to all minorities, including its Jewish population. In 1939, the Nazi Soviet Pact divided Europe into spheres of influence, 'assigning' Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the Soviets. In 1940, breaking all agreements Moscow had with Estonia, the Soviet Army occupied Estonia, forced a pro-Moscow puppet government on the country and illegally annexed it into the Soviet Union. The United States and most other Western countries never recognized the annexation. A reign of terror ensued, in which Estonia's top political, military and other leaders were arrested and shot, and thousands deported in cattlecars to Siberia, where few survived. Nazi Germany occupied Estonia until 1944. With the return of the Soviets, 80 000 Estonians fled to the West. The renewed Soviet occupation brought another reign of terror, with more deportations to Siberia. In a conscious effort to impart Russian culture in Estonia, the Soviets brought in tens of thousands of Russians and others to colonize the country. The large Russian ethnic population currently in Estonia is the consequence of that deliberate policy of genocide. Estonia's drive to regain its freedom began in the mid-eighties with protests against Moscow's exploitation of Estonia's natural resources and destruction of its cultural heritage. Huge anti-Moscow demonstrations took place, culminating in independence after the unsuccessful coup in Moscow in August 1991. Since regaining control over their own country, the Estonians have labored to rebuild their democratic institutions that were destroyed by Soviet occupation. A strong, convertible currency, the croon, is the basis for the country's economic success. The United States stopped giving Estonia aid in 1996, declaring that Estonia is now able to stand on its own. Estonia is also a member of a multitude of Western economic, financial, political and other organizations, including the United Nations. In 1998, Estonia began talks with the European Union for eventual membership. The Estonian government and legislature have begun extensive preparations to meet EU requirements. Estonia also takes part in the Partnership for Peace, the NATO sponsored security organization for those who may aspire to join NATO in the future. In its declared quest to rejoin the West, from whom it was once forcibly torn, Estonia has stated its intent to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Republic of Estionia, after regaining its freedom and independence for Soviet occupation in 1991, is rapidly re-building democratic institutions and a free market economy. Its success has been crowned by invitation from the European union for accession talks. Estonia's fledgling Defense Force is helping to preserve peace in Bosnia and elsewhere. Estonian Americans are actively providing Estonia scholorships and technical, economic, political and humanitarian assistance. |
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