Читать книгу WE WERE ESTONIAN SOLDIERS - Carl Orav - Страница 10

Viktor Orav

The last year of our studies in 1939 at the Estonian Military Technical Academy¹ started with considerable excitement. France and England had declared war on Germany and we thought surely it meant the beginning of another world war. Every day after our morning classes, we rushed to the library to scan the newspapers for world events prior to heading for the cafeteria for lunch. In three short weeks, Germany had defeated and occupied Poland.

Estonian Military Technical Academy.

In the middle of September the newspaper headline announced the arrival of the Polish submarine Orzel in Tallinn’s harbor. Most cadets sympathized with its crew which was promptly put under guard. A few days later we were glad when we read that the submarine had evaded the patrol boats and escaped to sea under cover of darkness.

I had attended the Academy since 1936. It was divided into three areas of specialization: side arms, artillery, and pyrotechnics. My course material in this final fourth year at the Academy consisted of items like the equipment and methods to direct artillery fire; cannon operation and materials; tank construction and mechanics; practical ammunition preparation; gas warfare and equipment; cavalry tactics; communication equipment and use; skiing; logistics for food, weapons, ammunition, clothing, and transport; psychology of war; infantry weaponry; physical education; horseback riding; Russian and German languages; and strategic planning.

Our life was rigid and disciplined. We were up at 6 am followed by a half hour of calisthenics and then breakfast. Classes started at 8, then an hour off for lunch. The afternoon classes were from 1 to 5, then two hours of free time prior to dinner at 7 pm. From 8 to 10 pm were required study hours to prepare for the next day’s lessons. Lights were out at 10 o’clock. Each cadet had the rank of ensign and had been issued a 9 mm pistol and a 7.62 mm Russian infantry rifle.

Ensigns with their arms (H. Kubja leaning against tree, E. Reiksaar on extreme right).

In September, all of a sudden the Academy was put on alert. Nobody understood the reason for this. No one was allowed to leave the premises. Six visiting officers were not allowed to leave and they were provided temporary sleeping quarters on our campus. Everyone was puzzled as to what this could mean. The alert was lifted after a week and the reason for our confinement became clear. Our large eastern neighbor Russia had demanded that our small nation provide them with military bases to give them “security.” The Estonian government caved in to this request and in the interest of peace the Soviets were given what they demanded. By the tenth of October, all three Baltic countries signed the base agreements and thus also sold their souls to the devil.

Our studies and training exercises continued but it was now in a new atmosphere. There was concern and excitement. The cadets were given additional duties to guard the palace in Toompea and Kadrioru and also President Pats’ farm.²

Cadets V. Orav, A. Vene, A. Kivimäe, and H. Kubja.

Red Army arriving in Estonia.

During the second half of October trains with long lines of filled wagons started to arrive in Estonia, bringing war materiel and Red Army soldiers. Seeing these long lines gave us a feeling of strangulation and suffocation. Then when on the thirtieth of November the Soviet Union attacked Finland with the Soviet bombers flying out of Estonian airports, our hatred for the occupiers was further elevated. We listened to Finnish radio stations to learn what we could regarding the progress of the Red Army attacks. The initial reports were good. In most cases the Finns had stopped the Russian advance and beat them back. Under these distractions, we prepared for and finished our final exams in December.

In the middle of our last semester, in March of 1940, we heard that Finland had capitulated to the Soviets and had been forced to cede some of its territory to satisfy its giant neighbor. We were impressed by the Finns’ struggle. We were likewise amazed that no nation from the west had come to their aid. This made us ponder about the war and the value of alliances, and we had many debates on the topic.

Like several others in our class, I got married during all this turmoil. I had known Frieda since childhood and she now became my wife. Her brother, Col. Artur Normak, had been the head of the Academy until 1939. ³

Frieda and Viktor’s wedding. Col. Normak in the back row, Viktor’s parents on left, Frieda’s on right.

One night we awoke to the sound of someone groaning and found Ensign Roland lives doubled over with severe pain in his groin. When the ambulance arrived Ensign Kubja carried the suffering cadet to the vehicle. He recovered quickly during his hospital stay and left against the doctor’s advice in order to be at the Academy to take his final exams. He knew that he was in a good position to finish at the top of his class and did not want to miss that opportunity.

On our Independence Day on February 24, 1940, the Academy graduated its first class of officers. These were men who had specialized in the study of side arms. Lt. R. Ilves received a gold pocket watch from General J. Laidoner for being the best in this class. The magazine Sõdur (Soldier) published the following account of the graduation ceremony:

The first graduates of the Military Technical Academy emerged on Independence Day. They were one lieutenant and 15 ensigns. By decree from the President of Estonia these individuals were promoted to one captain and 15 second lieutenants. The Academy held a formal banquet in honor of the graduates where General Laidoner addressed them.

He stated: “We have all heard much and read much about how important technology is in the present day. Without technology a person is at a loss and distinct disadvantage. Thus it is likewise in matters of war. The Academy was created for the specific reason to prepare future leaders who have the technological training and are able to put it to use in our armed forces. Machines are very important today. But don’t forget that the most complicated, most extensive, and most durable machine is the human being. Everything starts and ends with him, which makes him more important than all else. When you enter the armed forces you are primarily officers, not just technical experts. When you develop and combine these aspects you will find that you will get the best results.

The worst leader is he who looks down on the uneducated. Requiring discipline from subordinates does not mean making them feel inferior. An officer has to have the proper psychology to treat his subordinates fairly. He has to set a good example not just within the military ranks but also in his private life. What society perhaps forgives others, it does not forgive officers. They must live to a higher standard. Try to remain quiet when required. Don’t get involved in or propagate gossip. Often the conveyors of gossip don’t believe the stories themselves but find it difficult not to spread it around. Take it upon yourself to find the difference between what to believe and what to ignore.

You are entering the military at a difficult time. Even though we are not at war, we are all feeling the effects of it. The time the world is living in today will present us with many hardships. Our task is to carry our nation through these times. How it all will end - nobody knows. Regardless, go bravely into the future. Step into life with confidence and you will achieve your goals.”

A few weeks later the health of the newly commissioned Second Lieutenant Roland lives took a turn for the worse. He was again transported to the hospital but did not respond to treatment. He died there in March 1940. We accompanied him on his last trip in procession from the hospital to the train station. From there he was transported to his home in Narva for burial.

Lt. R. Ilves’ funeral procession through Tallinn.

When the German army invaded Norway on the ninth of April, we were amazed at the speed at which this was done. It seemed to have been carried out with precision and planning. A month later the Germans started expanding their western front by invading Belgium and Holland, both of which were neutral countries like Estonia had been. Holland fell in four days and Belgium in seventeen days. The Belgians received support from the British and French, making that conquest somewhat more difficult, but the outcome was still inevitable.

When the Germans then set their sights on France and its allies, the cadets organized a new game of chance, estimating how long the French would resist before falling. Many bets were made and considerable cash awaited the victors. Projections were made based on previous German victories. The prevailing rationale was that since it took the Nazi forces 21 days to occupy Poland with its 30 million inhabitants, then France should fall in about 28 days with its population of about 40 million. The cadets followed the events of this battle with profound interest via radio reports and newspaper accounts. Sure enough, in approximately four weeks the French surrendered.

During the month of June in 1940 the Soviet Union initiated a rapid succession of aggressive actions against the Estonian Republic in violation of the formerly signed military base agreements. Without warning, their navy and air force isolated Estonia from the rest of the world. All foreign travel was prohibited and ships and airplanes arriving in Estonia were turned back. Those ships attempting to leave were sunk or seized and their crews arrested. The passenger plane Kaleva was shot down in the Baltic Sea as it left Estonia. Cargo ships were taken to the Soviet base in Paldiski and even Estonian President Päts’ boat was confiscated.

On the sixteenth of June 1940 the Estonian government was accused by the Soviets of having formed an alliance with the other Baltic countries and of cooperating with Finland, an enemy of the Soviet Union. The Soviets gave Estonia an ultimatum: either open up your borders to all Russian troops and form a new government friendly to the Russians or the Russians would do it themselves. The time allowed for a response was nine and a half hours. The Estonian government quickly convened and accepted the terms. Many government officials could not agree with this capitulation of sovereignty and submitted their resignations. President Pats issued a decree that the Estonian military was not to resist the arriving masses of Russian troops.

The next day the 25,000 Soviet troops already in Estonia left their bases and headed for the towns and cities. An additional 90,000 troops arrived via the border towns of Narva and Irboska, and 10,000 Soviet naval personnel were on their way to Estonia by sea. By contrast, the total Estonian military force numbered only 15,000 men.

Estonia’s General Laidoner accepted terms that required the Estonian army to provide housing for the arriving Soviet troops, to evacuate existing military facilities, to put telephone communication under Soviet control, to disarm the non-military population, to forbid demonstrations and meetings, and to forbid conveying information regarding Soviet troop strength and location and any photography thereof.

When the commander of our Academy, Lt. Col. Simson, gave us the news of the new directives on the morning of the next day, it was like a bolt of lightning from the clear blue sky! We were all shocked when directed to vacate our premises by 1 o’clock.

After the initial shock wore off we set to work. The physical effort required for the move helped subdue the fear and panic. I was thinking of many things as my body did what was required. What is happening with the other Estonian military units? What is happening in other cities? Is all lost - our land, people, and freedom? I thought of what had happened to Czechoslovakia and Austria. Would this also be our fate?

The trucks arrived and we loaded them for transport to our new home, which was a French schoolhouse. There we piled up our belongings and went back for more. We cleaned out everything, down to the light bulbs. We even transported the mounted skeleton of a horse that had been used for demonstration purposes in our horseback riding class. When we left the Academy grounds with our last load we could see the new occupants, the Red Army units, arriving at their new quarters.

After we completed the move to our new facility, we had time to think and talk about what had happened. Most were hoping that the worst was over and that life would eventually get back to normal. After all, we had complied with all the wishes of our giant neighbor to the east. Others believed that the worst was yet to come.

Cadets were ordered by the Red Army to move out of their facilities.

A few days were then dedicated to getting everything situated in our new surroundings, after which we reverted back to our old class schedule. The first scheduled activity was the final horseback riding skill demonstration, which was required in order to receive the final grade. The problem was that we had neither horses nor a place where we could ride. The instructor requested we set up a table and chairs in the school yard for the issuance of the final grades. Since our riding instructor had often stressed that a horse needs to be guided via his reins same as a car via its steering wheel, one cadet came up with a brilliant idea. Someone had found a dilapidated car from which the steering wheel and floor mounted stick shift were removed. These items were mounted through the bones of the instructional horse skeleton in locations where a rider could conveniently access them, as in a car. The modified skeleton was then placed next to the instructor’s table in the courtyard. When the instructor came to this final class session, either he did not notice or he wasn’t in the mood for pranks. He went about his business without commenting about the student-provided teaching aid.

A decree was issued on June 18 that all weapons in the hands of civilians and the National Guard were to be turned in to the new order. This process took place without any incidents.

Weapons collection center in Tallinn.

On the twentieth of June 1940 the Workers’ Union leaders invited all workers to a demonstration to be held the next day to welcome the arrival of the Red Army. Going to work that day was forbidden. The group they assembled consisted of Soviet agents, Estonian Communists, local criminal elements, and Estonian agitators who had been brought across our borders. Emboldened local Communists cried out for the release of all political prisoners. Some demonstrators went to the bakeries and demanded free bread. Fearful for their lives, the bakers threw loaves of bread at the demonstrators and ran from their stores. With the city in chaos, the police were afraid that any interference from them might provoke more demonstrations, demands, and possibly bloodshed. In the evening, the downtown streets were full of roaming trucks and cars filled with boisterous Soviet soldiers singing Russian songs. They wanted the Estonian inhabitants to know who was in charge. The streets became a very dangerous place to be as there were many reports of robbing, killing, and raping of innocent citizens. The cadets were prohibited from going outside their facility wearing their uniforms but many ventured out in civilian clothes to witness this madness.

One of our tasks during this turbulence was to guard the armory of the Estonian National Guard. This facility housed the Guard’s cars, artillery, weapons, ammunition, and all the weapons recently confiscated from the Estonian population by decree of the Red Army.

The workers’ demonstration winding through Tallinn.

On the day of the workers’ demonstration we observed a large group of young men walking toward the main square. They were in civilian clothing but were walking in step and with the discipline of soldiers. Their presence there was obviously to help choreograph the event.

We were put on alert status, meaning that each cadet was armed and all doors to our building were locked and guarded. The Department of the Interior had received a notice from the Soviet delegation that if the police attempted to interfere with the demonstration there would be bloodshed.

The Soviet agitators continued to try to motivate workers to attend the rally, sometimes with the threat of arms. When they had gathered a sufficient number of participants, with the Russian armored cars in the lead, the column of workers was paraded into Freedom Square (Vabaduse Väjak) at the city center. Most in the parade participants were Russians, Red Army soldiers in civilian clothes, or workers from the Russian military bases. Soviet armored cars were at all the street intersections with Russian troops patrolling the sidewalks. By ten o’clock about 2,000 demonstrators were at the square carrying banners that carried slogans such as “Down with the war mongrel administration” and “We demand honest fulfillment of the pact with Russia.” There were about 1,000 spectators.

The workers and soldiers demonstrate for the support of the new order.

After a few speeches, the procession headed for the seat of the Estonian government at Toompea. When they found the gates to the building closed, they brought up some Soviet tanks that pointed their turrets at the gate. The tanks remained in this position for a few minutes but nothing happened. No one appeared to open the gates and no one came to listen to their demands. So the Russian soldiers started singing some Soviet songs. This prompted the Estonian spectators to start singing the Estonian national anthem which soon drowned out the singing Russians. This showed the true feelings of the Estonian people.

Disappointed, the leaders of the procession now guided it to the President’s palace in the park at Kadriorg. The procession now consisted of about 1,000 demonstrators who arrived about noon and found the gates open. When the President appeared on a balcony with his arms raised, all became very still and quiet. President Pats tried to speak but was soon drowned out by heckling and jeering. Leaving the balcony he boomed the message, “I am ready to talk with Estonians any time but I will not talk with hoodlums.”

The leaders of the procession demanded and got an audience with the President. They demanded the release of all political prisoners and the formation of a socialist government that would be friendly with the Soviet Union. The President replied that Estonia had no political prisoners. He stated he was not empowered to form a new type of government because that would violate the existing constitution. He said that changes to the government are in the works.

The procession then headed for the Central Prison in Tallinn where they arrived about three in the afternoon. Soviet armored cars parked at the front of the prison and all exits were put under guard. The demand was made to free all political prisoners. There were no political prisoners of course, so convicted spies and other criminals were ordered to be released by the Estonian Department of Justice.

After this the procession turned toward the Estonian air defense artillery group’s nearby barracks. These troops were on full alert with additional guards at the guard posts. Some Soviet officers entered the barracks to query as to why this unit was armed and threatening the “defenseless public.” Red Army tanks were positioned around the facility and machine guns were set up. The Soviets demanded the surrender of all arms. After coordination with the leadership it was determined that bloodshed must be avoided. Thus the Estonian unit agreed to disarm. The “defenseless public” then entered the facility and left with their new weapons. Afterwards, the Estonian soldiers were allowed to re-enter but were ordered to remain inside the facility. Red Army tanks and guards were positioned outside.

The armed mob now again turned its attention to the government building in Toompea. The guards were fully armed but were issued a command not to resist. They opened the gates and were promptly disarmed. The mob pillaged through the whole building. The Estonian flag was lowered from the Pikk Hermann tower and was replaced with the red flag of the Red Army. From our new location in the French school house we could see the changing of the flags. It was an awful sight! We could feel the world collapsing around us. Everything that our fathers and grandfathers had fought so hard to achieve and what we had taken an oath to protect until death was unraveling before our eyes. To stand helplessly by and not be able to do anything was a most horrible experience.

Then we got word that the mob was headed in our direction! Second Lieutenants Kubja and Kivimäe had been sent out in civilian clothing to do a reconnaissance mission. They had witnessed the removal of the Estonian flag and heard the discussion among the ringleaders to make the Estonian Military Technical Academy the next target. After providing us with the information, they were told to position themselves outside in their civilian clothes among the spectators.

Captain Kandre organized us into defensive positions inside the school. We were to arm ourselves and assume positions at every window of the first and second floors such that we could not be seen from the street. We placed a heavy machine gun so that it pointed directly at the main entrance. We were ready to defend our little piece of Estonia, but orders were given not to fire unless directed to do so.

Soon there were about 25 hoodlums at our front door, some of them armed with Russian rifles. One of these appeared to be an unshaven, shoddy individual, possibly a former prisoner. He was sporting a new officer’s belt with a sword on each hip. Col. Laurits ordered Capt. Villemson to go outside and ask them what they wanted. Villemson was told that the leaders of the Academy have committed crimes and have abused their subordinates. He was also told that a new government was in place and that we were to surrender our arms as ordered by Moscow. Villemson replied that we can only surrender our arms to the Red Army and not to civilians. While this argument was taking place a Red Army armored car pulled up in front of our building. It rotated its cannon and aimed it at our front door. The arguments and noise now continued at a higher pitch. Col. Laurits tried to get direction from higher command via telephone but was unsuccessful. Finally he stepped outside and told the hoodlums that to avoid bloodshed we would vacate the building within ten minutes, leaving our weapons inside.

Our short ten minutes was a flurry of activity. We hid some weapons inside mattresses and in the ventilation ducts and collected a few personal belongings. When we left the building we were searched and told to form a line outside. Most of us had a single bag of clothing and a laced pair of boots over the shoulder. Bearded hoodlums smelling of alcohol searched us for hidden weapons. None of them thought to look inside our boots. Many cadets thus smuggled out their personal side arms and ammunition. When all had exited the school, the mob entered. Seeing that we were just standing and watching they yelled, “What are you waiting for? Go home!”

Some cadets had no relatives or close friends in Tallinn where they could spend the night. Their only home was the Academy. Thus when the town grew quiet towards evening, they came back. They were met at the door by a bearded hoodlum armed with a Russian rifle. After much debate, the cadets were let inside to spend the night. During the night the hoodlums apparently got word from the Red Army command to vacate the premises and to turn the Academy building back over to the Estonians. It appeared the Academy was again back in business, just in time to graduate its last group of officers.

On the morning of June 22 a meeting was held by the new Estonian government, which had been imposed on the Estonians by the Russians. They ordered new security arrangements. The previous government had used the Estonian military to guard its facilities, but now all facilities were to be guarded by a new security force named the “People’s Self Defense.” Its members consisted of the previous day’s mob members who now carried red bands on their left arms.

Our Academy was given word to retrieve its weapons from the government building on Toompea. While there, one of the cadets, Ensign Rea, made his way up the Pikk Hermann tower and replaced the red flag with the Estonian flag. On the same day, we were notified that upon pressure from the Soviets our President had relieved General Laidoner from his duties as commander of the Estonian armed forces. He was replaced by Major General Jonson from the cavalry.

About a week later, a parade was organized by the Communist leadership to show support for the new Soviet-friendly Estonian government. This was to demonstrate to the outside world how the population supported the new regime. Workers were rousted out of their places of employment and military units in civilian clothing were forced to participate in this “voluntary” endeavor. The parade included the “heroes” of the revolution who had caused the old government to fall - hoodlums in the full sense of the word who had the backing of the Red Army. The cadets were forced to participate and formed a section between a workers’ unit and a Red Army unit.

When the procession started moving we started singing a patriotic Estonian song in unison. When the song ended we started again and so it went on and on throughout the parade. Onlookers liked our bravado and what they were hearing. Many threw flowers at us. Young ladies rushed up and kissed us. It was an overwhelming experience. The remnants of a free people demonstrated their compassion toward the Estonian soldier. When workers or Red Army units passed the spectators, there was stony silence. When we passed while singing, there was much noise and applause. This again showed the true feelings of the people.

Cadets were ordered to participate in the Communist-organized parade.

It had now become painfully clear how the Soviet Union had played their cards. They had caused the demise of the legal government of Estonia with their show of power and staged events. We speculated that this plan had been in place for a long time, perhaps even at the time of the signing of the Soviet military base agreements. The Soviets were very efficient at surfacing non-existing problems and laying the blame on the Estonian democracy. Piece by piece they had brought forth more and more demands, and piece by piece the Estonian government had given in to their proposals and ultimatums under the threat of violence. The takeover of the government had started in earnest on the thirteenth of June and had continued through the twenty first of June in a series of bold steps. The morale of the Estonian soldier had been shattered by all these concessions, especially by giving up their camps and barracks to the army of the unwelcome intruders.

After these events in June of 1940, the independent Republic of Estonia ceased to exist. The President of Estonia was now president in name only. He had no power and did whatever the Soviets dictated. With much pain and anger, we witnessed the following sequence of events whereby the last remnants of our democracy were dismantled:

June 27 - The President decreed that the Estonian National Guard was disbanded.

June 28 - The Estonian kroon was devalued to 1/8^th of its previous value against the Russian ruble.

July 5 - The President disbanded the parliament to allow new “elections.”

July 13 - Estonian military units were required to select military committees.

July 14 & 15 - Election of “people’s representatives.”

July 18 - The last Estonian sports event was held in a soccer match between Estonia and Latvia in Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn. After the match the people marched to the President’s palace waving Estonian flags and sang patriotic songs, crying “Long live Estonia,” “Long live our democracy,” “Long live our President,” and so on. Upon reaching the President’s residence all took off their hats and all became very quiet. It was like everyone was praying for a miracle and hoping that we could stay united and fight for a free Estonia. When Red Army tanks arrived, the crowd dispersed.

July 21 - The newly elected “representatives of the people” convened and declared the start of a Soviet state and the freeing of the nation from capitalism. The President signed a document giving up his powers.

July 22 - The banner of the President no longer flew at his residence at Kadriorg. The newly “elected” people’s representatives passed a resolution to join the Soviet Union.

July 23 - Estonian President Päts resigned.

July 31 - The President and his son were exiled. They last saw Estonia through the windows of wagon #204 as it left the Narva train station.

The cadets had little to do during those days. We spent most of our time reading and playing bridge. There was a large library in the school’s basement where we spent a great deal of time talking about the events that were taking place around us.

Class picture. Detailed memoirs for this book were provided by V. Orav 3rd row 3rd from left, H. Kubja 3rd row 4th from right, A. Võhma 3rd row extreme right, E. Reiksaar last row extreme left, J. Jaagus last row 5th from left.

On the tenth of July, 1940, we had our graduation ceremony. The event was to recognize and promote the graduates of both the Military Academy and the Military Technical Academy. The Military Academy graduated 41 ensigns and all 41 were promoted to second lieutenants. The Military Technical Academy graduated 25 ensigns and five lieutenants. The 25 ensigns were promoted to second lieutenants. Major Generals Jonson and Rotberg headed the Estonian dignitaries along with the Soviet Union’s top commanders. Major General Jonson, as Estonia’s top military man, addressed the assembly. He commented on how our environment had changed very quickly during the last semester and how these changes demanded even keener focus and commitment from the new graduates. He stressed the need to maintain inner discipline, both by officers and their enlisted men. He said that the Estonian army cannot remain a spectator and that everyone has to contribute, especially the officers who are in contact with and lead the army. He said that in doing our duty, the army represents the flesh and blood of the people of Estonia. He talked about the importance of cooperation with our Russian neighbor and stressed that our respective officers have to develop and foster each other’s respect and friendship. He hoped that each Soviet officer would find each Estonian officer to be a worthy ally.

When we returned to our school after the graduation ceremony we had one remaining task, which was to choose the army unit in which to begin our careers as officers. The selection sequence was established by academic rank, with the best students choosing first. The ones at the bottom of the class had little choice.

We had started as fresh cadets in 1936. Back then we had dreams, high hopes and aspirations of doing our best to protect the security of our tiny and beloved nation. The dreams were shattered in 1940. We had become numbed and passive spectators when a foreign power had rampaged through our fatherland, destroyed our government, and robbed our people of their freedom.

We were given two weeks of vacation after which we were to report to our newly selected military commanders.

¹ Ed. Note: The Military Technical Academy was the Estonian equivalent of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.

² Ed. Note: Toompea was the seat of the Estonian government in Tallinn. The palace at Kadriorg was the residence of Konstatin Päts, Estonia’s president.

³ Ed. Note: Col. Normak was deported to the Ural Mountains in Russia in August, 1940. He was never heard from again.