Estonia Timeline of Events

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Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies Sweden in the west and Finland in the north...

Timeline of Events

1582

1.15.1582

Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

1904

10.15.1904

The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Reval, Estonia for Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War.

1917

11.5.1917

October Revolution: In Tallinn, Estonia, Communist leader Jaan Anvelt leads revolutionaries in overthrowing the Provisional Government (As Estonia and Russia are still using the Julian Calendar, subsequent period references show an October 23 date).

1918

3.3.1918

Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

1919

6.23.1919

Estonian Liberation War: the decisive defeat of German Freikorps (Baltische Landeswehr) forces in the Battle of Cesis (Võnnu lahing). This day is celebrated as Victory Day in Estonia.

1920

2.2.1920

The Tartu Peace Treaty is signed between Estonia and Russia.

1934

3.12.1934

Konstantin Päts and General Johan Laidoner stage a coup in Estonia, and ban all political parties.

1940

6.17.1940

The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union.

7.23.1940

The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

1941

6.14.1941

June deportation, the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.

1944

9.28.1944

Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Klooga, Estonia.

1946

5.8.1946

Estonian school girls Aili Jõgi and Ageeda Paavel blow up the Soviet memorial that preceded the Bronze Soldier in Tallinn.

1949

3.25.1949

The extensive deportation campaign known as March deportation is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to force collectivisation by way of terror. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

1988

11.16.1988

The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR declares that Estonia is "sovereign" but stops short of declaring independence.

1989

8.23.1989

Singing Revolution: two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius-Tallinn road, holding hands (Baltic Way).

1991

8.20.1991

Estonia, annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, issues a decision on the re-establishment of independence on the basis of historical continuity of her pre-World War II statehood.

8.27.1991

The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.2.1991

The United States recognize the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

9.6.1991

The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.17.1991

Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.

1996

10.11.1996

Pala accident: a wood lorry and school bus collide in Jõgeva county, Estonia, killing eight children.

2001

9.9.2001

Pärnu methanol tragedy occurs in Pärnu County, Estonia.

2002

11.21.2002

NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

12.13.2002

Enlargement of the European Union: The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.

2003

9.14.2003

In a referendum, Estonia approves joining the European Union.

2004

3.29.2004

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members.

5.1.2004

Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.

2006

5.9.2006

Estonia ratifies the European Constitution.

2007

4.27.2007

Estonian authorities remove the Bronze Soldier, a Soviet Red Army war memorial in Tallinn, amid political controversy with Russia.