Chapter 7.3.7: The Declaration of Independence

The need to secede from Russia became apparent to the nationalists due to two factors around the autumn of 1917.


Firstly the demoralisation of the Russian army meant that the danger of Germans invading Estonia became more imminent. In August Riga had been captured and Germans crossed the Daugava river. In October the Operation Albion took place, where Germans captured the entire Western Estonian Archipelago through an air, land and naval assault.



German forces descending on boats in preparation for the landings at Tagalahe beach in Saaremaa.


The boats on their way towards the island.




A German bridgehead on the island. 


A movie from the time showing the German operation.

The second event that made the nationalists realise that an independent Estonia was the only option was the October revolution. The consequences of bolshevik activity as well as the possible outbreak of a civil war in Russia were both seen as potentially great dangers to the Estonian people.

In addition there was also the incredible dream that nobody had been brave enough to think before, the dream that Estonians could become the sole masters of themselves.

Therefore the Estonian Provincial Assembly ignored the order to disband it had received from the bolsheviks and on the 15th of November it declared itself as the sole highest authority in Estonia, essentially signalling that everything the bolsheviks were doing was illegal and also cutting ties with St. Petersburg. On the same day mere minutes later the assembly was dispersed by force by the soldiers. A few days earlier the assembly had also instigated the need to call together the Estonian Constituent Assembly, a legislative body, which would decide on the future social order of Estonia. On the 28th of October Tõnisson proposed the idea of declaring an independent Republic of Estonia in a newspaper article for the first time.

These actions clearly signalled Estonia cutting off all relations with Russia. Although in reality they had no effect on everyday life, the bolsheviks held power with the guns of the soldiers, it did create the possibility to declare independence in a purely legal sense.



The Estonian Reserve Battalion in Tartu protesting in favour of the Provincial Assembly in Tartu in November 1917. After this 40 officers were arrested and Jaan Tõnisson was exiled.

Although the Provincial Assembly and Government were now officially disbanded, they continued their work underground. The government held a secret meeting on the 1st of January 1918 where they decided to declare Estonian independence as a sovereign republic which would declare its neutrality in the world war. As it was impossible to make this decision a reality whilst the bolsheviks were in charge, they settled in to wait for an opportune moment.

(A quick side note. Until now I have been using the dates of the old Julian Calendar. In February 1918 calendar reform took place in Russia, which meant that instead of the 1st of February the 14th February came after 31st of January. The new Gregorian calendar also took effect in Estonia. All the new dates are according to the Gregorian calendar.)

This moment arrived in February of 1918, when the peace talks between Germany and Russia failed and the Germans began a new advance on the Eastern Front. The remains of the Russian army retreated, with them the majority of bolsheviks and Russians as well. The number of Russians in Tallinn fell from about 100k the year before to just about 5k. This created a power vacuum between the escaping communists and advancing Germans which was filled by the nationalists. When the bolsheviks ordered the Estonian national units to start fighting against the Germans, the units refused, stating that Estonia was neutral in the war. Between 20th and 26th of February the nationalist took over the power from the communists in most cities and many rural communities.



The Palace of Toompea after the bolsheviks had left.

On the 19th of February the official reports of the German advance arrived in Tallinn and it was decided to call together the Eestimaa Päästekomitee (Estonian Salvation Committee) to guide the declaration of independence. It was chaired by Konstantin Pärts, Jüri Vilms and Konstantik Konik, a doctor. By the 21st of February they had finished writing the text of the declaration of independence, which was approved by the Provincial Assembly. It was decided to publicly read out the declaration



The declaration of independence of the Republic of Estonia.



“The declaration of Estonian independence” by Maksolly, depicting the Estonian Salvation Committee reading out the declaration of independence. The event never really happened.

The first attempts of declaring independence in Haapsalu (because the city was already captured) and Tartu (because the connections to the city were either disrupted or flooded with Russians escaping in panic) failed. However, in the evening of the 23rd of February Hugo Kuusner, a member of the Provincial Assembly, read out the declaration of independence from the balcony of the Endla theatre in Pärnu and with that the independence of Estonia was officially declared. The declaration of independence was also made public in Tallinn and Viljandi on the 24th of February and in Paide on the 25th. On the 24th of February the Estonian Provisional Government took office, with Konstantin Päts as the prime minister. This date is now regarded as independence day.



The crowd at Endla theatre listening to the declaration of independence.

Estonian flags were hoisted in towns across the country and people greeted the news with great enthusiasm. For many the idea of an Estonian state seemed to be too incredible to believe. Church bells were rung in the capital on the 25th of February. On the same day German forces marched in.

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