History of Estonia Podcast: Recent Episodes
William of Clermont
Before the written word, the people of Estonia handed down their stories and traditions orally. History of Estonia Podcast attempts to catalog the History of Estonia starting with the land that was settled and moving along a defined timeline. Once we reach modernity, we will go back in time once again and dig into more detail and dwell on the places, events and stories that deserve to be told more thoroughly.
In this episode, we are incredibly fortunate to have General Martin Herem, the overall commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, with us. We discuss the Forest Brothers in Estonia after World War II. We are publishing this episode on March 29, 2024, which is the 20th anniversary of Estonia's accession to NATO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2xs06NpGzE
The Russian Factor in Baltic History in the 19th & 20th C with Professor Karsten Brugemann
Educational Credentials
- He earned the prestigious Dr. habil. (2013) from the University of Gießen(geesan, Germany (History Department) which is the highest academic degree in Germany
- He received his Dr. philosophy. (1999) also from the University of Hamburg, (History Department)
- He received his M.A. in History and Slavic Philology (1993) from the University of Hamburg
As far as his Professional Experience is concerned:
- Professor of Estonian and General History at Tallinn University, Institute of History since September 200
- Research Assistant at Nordost-Institut Lüneburg (Germany) from September 2005 to August 2008
- Elected Docent for General History at Narva College of Tartu University, where he also served as Head of the Humanities Department
- Visiting Lecturer in History and German Studies at Narva College of Tartu University from September 2002 to August 2004
- Research Assistant at the Archive of the Institut Nordost-deutsches Kulturwerk, Lüneburg (Germany) from April 1998 to December 2001
- Contract Lecturer (Eastern European History) at the History Department, University of Hamburg, from 1999 to 2001
- Contract Lecturer (Baltic Studies) at the Institute for Finno-Ugric Studies, University of Hamburg, from 1996 to 2002
- He began his career as a Research Assistant at the Department for Education Science, Institute for History (Eastern European History) at the University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg from January 1994 to March 1998
Karsten Brüggemann’s expertise spans the history of the Baltic states and Russia, cultural history, transnational history, and the historical dimension of sports, tourism, and music.
In this episode, we discuss the National Committee of the Republic of Estonia and its importance to the Estonian State's claim of the continuance of government during the Soviet occupation.
Calendar of Events in February 1944
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdS96R6WuaI
Anthem of the Estonian volunteer regiment in the Finnish Army 1943- 1944
We start off the new year by following the calendar that I picked up at The Estonian War Museum which follows important events and dates in the tumultuous year of 1944.
We go on to discuss Zelensky's Trip to Tallinn and Estonia's pledge to support Ukraine with .25% of GDP.
In this episode, I sit down with Toomas Hiio, the Associate Director at The General Laidoner Estonian War Museum. This is the first in-person interview of the Podcast.
Toomas Hiio, born on June 1, 1965, is a distinguished Estonian historian known for his significant contributions to the study of Estonia's history during crucial periods. He completed his education at Tallinn 32nd Secondary School in 1983 and earned his degree in history from Tartu University in 1991. Hiio is highly regarded in academic circles and holds the esteemed position of research director at the Laidoner Museum. Additionally, he serves as the research manager at the Estonian Memory Institute, showcasing his expertise and dedication to preserving Estonia's historical legacy. Apart from his academic pursuits, Hiio is also a respected reserve officer, having attained the rank of second lieutenant in 1998. Recognizing his contributions to historical research and Estonian society, he was awarded the Order of the White Star IV class in 2002.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLLGtOOkPpA Peeter Tooma - Mässajate Laul
MacFarlane, John M. (2011) Rear–Admiral Sir Johan Pitka – An Unlikely British Columbian Who Founded the Estonian Navy. Nauticapedia.ca 2012. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Admiral_Pitka.php
Vicarious Sovereignty - Becoming European The Estonian Way: With Professor Maria Mälksoo
Professor Maria Mälksoo, a leading scholar of international relations, security studies, and memory politics. She is currently working at the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, where she leads several research projects on the politics of memory and deterrence in Europe. She has a PhD in International Studies from the University of Cambridge, and has previously taught at the University of Kent and the University of Tartu. She is the author and co-author of several books and articles on the politics of becoming European, remembering Katyn, and the uses of ‘the East’ in international studies. She is also an Associate Editor of Review of International Studies, and has previously served as the President of the Central and East European International Studies Association.
The following is a link to the music video from the band Vennaskond, the song it titled: Jumal Kaitse Kuningat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abXZsiurLs
Interview with Professor Marek Tamm on the subject: What do Estonians remember of their past, i.e. not about Estonian history, but about Estonian mnemohistory?
Marek Tamm is the Professor of Cultural History at the School of Humanities in Tallinn University. He is a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and of the Academia Europaea. Graduated in history and semiotics at the University of Tartu (1998), he earned his master's degree in medieval studies from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences) (1999) and his doctorate in medieval history from Tallinn University (2009). He is the editor-in-chief of the Estonian history journal Acta Historica Tallinnensia and the editor of the Journal of the Philosophy of History. His primary research fields are cultural history of medieval Europe, theory and history of historiography, digital history, and cultural memory studies. Author or co-author of ten books, of a hundred scholarly articles published in Estonian, English, German, and French, and editor of more than thirty collections of articles or special issues.
In this episode, we discuss Estonia's foreign and security policy since the restoration of independence.
Dr Kristi Raik is the Deputy Director and Head of the Foreign Policy Programme of the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) as of 1 January 2023. She is also an Adjunct Professor of International Relations at the University of Turku, Finland. From 2018 to 2022, she was the Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute at the ICDS, and prior to that, she served as a Senior Research Fellow and Acting Programme Director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in Helsinki and an official at the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union in Brussels. Kristi has published, lectured, and commented widely on European security and EU foreign policy, including the EU’s relations with Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern neighbors. Kristi is also an expert on the foreign and security policies of the Baltic states and Finland. She has provided expert contributions to the Estonian, Finnish, EU, and NATO institutions. Kristi has a PhD from the University of Turku.
At the end of World War I, the German army was defeated, but not everywhere. In Finland, Major General Rüdiger von der Goltz represented German interests in the Finnish Civil War. When the Finnish Civil War concluded, von der Goltz fixed his eyes on Latvia and Estonia. In this short episode between interviews, we learn a little about him and the events surrounding him.
In this episode we meet with Professor Mart Kuldkepp. He is currently an associate professor of Scandinavian history and politics at University College London. He has a PhD in history from the University of Tartu, where he also obtained his BA and MA degrees in Scandinavian languages and literature. His main research topics are Estonian and Scandinavian political and cultural contacts in the twentieth century, questions of Estonians' Nordic identity, and Old Norse literature and culture. He is a member of the Estonian student society Veljesto and the Learned Estonian Society.
In this episode we meet with Professor Mart Kuldkepp. He is currently an associate professor of Scandinavian history and politics at University College London. He has a PhD in history from the University of Tartu, where he also obtained his BA and MA degrees in Scandinavian languages and literature. His main research topics are Estonian and Scandinavian political and cultural contacts in the twentieth century, questions of Estonians' Nordic identity, and Old Norse literature and culture. He is a member of the Estonian student society Veljesto and the Learned Estonian Society.
A Historical Look at Estonia's Accession to the EU & NATO with Profesor Andres Kasekamp.
In this episode, we celebrate the life of Lydia Koidula for International Women's Day. We have as a guest Tara Godwin, who is an incoming Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University for the Fall of 2023, where she will study Estonian women’s history. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Utah. She won the Marriot Library Thesis Award for her honors capstone, Gender, and National Identity: The Historical Memory of Soviet-Era Ethnic Estonian and Ethnic Russian Women
In this episode, Dr. David Feest of Hamburg University and I discuss the history of the Baltic Germans. Dr. Feest talks to us about the place of the Baltic Germans in Estonian history. He tells us about the plight of the Baltic Germans today, and we discuss who should keep the memory of the Baltic Germans alive and why their history is relevant to Estonians today.
Introduction to German Cultural History in Estonia with Doctor David Feest of Hamburg University.
In this episode, we are lucky to have Olaf Mertelsmann who is Professor of Eastern European History at the Institute of History and Archeology, University of Tartu. He holds a doctorate in History from the University of Hamburg (2000). He has taught in Estonia, Germany, and Russia. His main interests are the social and economic history of Eastern Europe, Stalinism, Soviet history, and contemporary Baltic history. He is the author of five monographs, has edited several volumes, and published more than fifty papers in journals.
In this episode we get to learn a little about Christmas in Stalin's Estonia.
In this episode, we are lucky to have Olaf Mertelsmann who is Professor of Eastern European History at the Institute of History and Archeology, University of Tartu. He holds a doctorate in History from the University of Hamburg (2000). He has taught in Estonia, Germany, and Russia. His main interests are the social and economic history of Eastern Europe, Stalinism, Soviet history, and contemporary Baltic history. He is the author of five monographs, has edited several volumes, and published more than fifty papers in journals
We meet with Professor Andres Kasekamp of the University of Toronto to discuss his book, The Radical Right In Interwar Estonia. Palgrave 2000
We talk about the war in Ukraine and how it will its outcome is likely to have an influence on Estonia.
We talk about the passing of Jüri Arrak the great Estonian artist.
A new future format is introduced in which esteemed guests will appear on the podcast.
In this episode, we look at how Estonia developed itself into a market economy. We also learn how Estonia began to integrate itself into Europe and a discussion was started about the eventual acceptance of Estonia into NATO.
Perestroika has arrived and the Soviet Union gets more than what they expected with the new reforms.
Lennart Meri Speech Hamburg, Germany February 25, 1994, Matthiae-Supper of Hansa Cities
In this episode, we learn what modernity did for Estonia, which was to allow it to get a small glimpse of the outside world with Finnish television broadcasts being picked up in Northern Estonia and also Radio broadcasts that came in from the west. We also learned about the Letter of 40 that spelled out clearly the years of Russification that Estonia had to endure.
In this episode, we learn more about student protest groups, who were really the lifeblood for retaining Estonian dignity and culture. We mostly cover the third wave of Russification which put Estonians as a minority in the cities.
In this episode, we take a look at the political leadership of the Estonian SSR during the 1950s-1970s. We learn about the Komsomol student groups and how they made their impact felt in Estonia. We also learned a little about how the suppression of the Prague Spring put a stop to liberalization in Estonia.
In this episode we see how Estonian industry and agriculture was collectivized under the Soviet Union.
The war is over and the Soviet Union took power in Estonia. Many politicians are shuffled around as Moscow is intent on keeping Estonia Politically Correct. In Marxism, bourgeois nationalism is the practice by the ruling classes of deliberately dividing people by nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion, so as to distract them from engaging in class struggle. It is seen as a divide-and-conquer strategy used by the ruling classes to prevent the working from uniting against them; hence the Marxist slogan, Workers of all countries, unite!
In this episode the Soviet Union is able to regroup and push back against the invading Germans and eventual retake Estonia. In this episode, we see how and when this is accomplished.
In this episode we cover the invasion of Estonia by the German Army. We briefly look at the local uprising against Soviet rule and the fight for Tartu before learning what German rule meant for every day Estonians.
In this episode we take a brief detour from Estonia and cover what Operation Barbarrosa meant to the Jews and Romani of Latvia and Lithuania.
In this episode we learn what happened after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and how the Soviet Union brought Estonia into the Union through deception and force of arms.
In last episode we covered the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact. In this episode we find out what the implications were of the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact and the terrible choices the Estonian government were offered. Option 1: was to agree to the Treaty on Bases, Option 2: face an overwhelming invasion from the Soviet Union. No choice at all really.
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is known as one of the most well known and impactful treaties to be signed in modern times. It kicked off the beginning of World War 2 and millions in Europe have had to suffer its consequences ever since.
In this episode we learn about Estonian Culture during the inter-war period. This is largely seen as the golden age of Estonian culture. Schools were reformed and Estonians were now both the professors and students at university and that is new development that came in this period.
In this episode we cover the Estonian Foreign Policy after its Independence. Estonia Joins the League of Nations but no countries were willing to stand up for smaller nations if it would have possibly meant war with Germany or the Soviet Union. We also learn about an attempt to have the Baltic Countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland join a pact for mutual assistance but because of conflict between Poland and Lithuania, this idea never materialized.
In this episode we cover the pre war era in Estonia. A national emergency is declared and the President of Estonia becomes head of government through a coupe d'etat and rules through decrees, while the parliament only works on topics of secondary importance. Estonia is reported to have followed the model of government created in Fascist Italy.
In this episode we look as the period between the World Wars. Estonia found it way through the Great Depression through devaluation of the Eesti Kroon by Jaan Tonisson. Also Estonia scraps their constitution and the office of President is established.
In this episode we learn about Estonia's early political parties in the 1920's. Estonia develops its first constitution and the communists try unsuccessfully to overthrow the new Estonian government and the Estonian Defense League is resurrected.
In this episode we learn how the banking system was set up in Estonia in the 1920's to offer loans. It gave way too many loans and many defaulted on their debt leaving the state in a financial bind. Eventually, with the help of western countries the debts were restructured and the Eesti Kroon is finally introduced.
In this episode we wrap up the Legend of Vana Toomas or (Old Thomas). Please share it with others that will walk the cobble stoned square one day.
The legend of Vana Toomas (old Thomas). In this episode we are going to cover something that almost everyone that has stood in Tallinn’s town hall square is probably familiar with. The weather vein of vana toomas, has sat on town hall square since the year 1530. It is a symbol of Tallinn as well as one of its legendary defenders. In 1944, Old Thomas was hit during a Russian bombardment. The burnt spire was reconstructed and a new copy of Vana Toomas erected in 1952. In 1996 the spire was renovated and the third Vana Toomas figure was put on it to guard Tallinn. The original weather vane is kept in the Town Hall. The one erected in 1952 is shown at the Tallinn City Museum.
Many different factions were vying for power in Estonia at the end of WW1. Luckily for Estonia, the time was right for Estonia to finally proclaim and be recognized as the sovereign country of Estonia.
In this episode Estonia takes advantage of the destruction that the First World War has caused to proclaim it independence.
In this period of Estonia's development Estonians become increasingly more educated than their peers within the Empire and Estonians work at making a unique culture based on their own language and history.
In this episode we follow Estonia's path into the First World War, which set the preconditions for eventual statehood.
In this episode, we learn how the first political parties formed in Estonia and how these parties tried to influence Russia's rule of Estonia during the Revolution of 1905.
In this episode we cover the period of Russification. This is a period in which the Russian language was forced upon the Estonian people through education and government. We also go on to learn how the Russian railway system brought positive results to Estonia's economy.
In this episode we cover the National Awakening. The National Awakening is a period of time after serfdom, in which Estonians were allowed to better themselves through education and hard work. With this a realization of pride for Estonian culture arose. Many began to question the dominance of the Baltic German overlords and pressed their own fundamental rights as Estonians as equals to the German upper class.
I am back and looking forward to another winter of learning and retelling Estonian history. There is more house cleaning in this episode than usual, but we do get into to talking about the Mahtra War and the Kreenholm factory in Narva. We go on to cover Spiritual Life and Education in Estonia in the 19'th Century.
In this episode we follow the lives of a young Estonian family caught up in the destruction and chaos of World War II.
We continue to follow Heiki's life. His mother struggles without being able to depend on her husband and she is forced to make some tough decisions.
We follow the Diary of Eduard Soova. We learn of his struggles in the far east and the difficulties he faced in his mission to get back home to his family.
Forced to flee the Soviet army, a large scale exodus begins. Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians and Poles leave their homelands for fear of Russian reprisals.
In this episode we wrap up the loose ends of the story and find out what became of the little boy that lost his father and left his country.
In this episode we look into a really interesting period of Estonian History that isn't really discussed much today. I am referring to a period of time that Estonians sought out a better life in desperate ways. Many fled to Russia looking for the promised land and others converted to the Russian Orthodox religion in hope that the Tsar would look more favorably on the Estonians. This will be the end of season 1 of the Book History of Estonia. I look forward to picking the Timeline up again in a not too distant future.
In this Episode we look at the legal changes and how Estonian were able to final free themselves from serfdom.
It Catherine the Great's chance to rule Estonia. We find out what changes in Estonia under her reign.
We begin to learn what Estonia looked like after the Great Northern War and how Russian rule changed the lives of Estonians.
Peter the Great and young King Karl XII square off in a vie to see who can dominate the region, and more importantly for us Estonia.
In this episode we wrap up the Swedish Era in Estonia. We start off with the fight against heresy and witchcraft before getting into Education, and Culture.
In this episode we look into agricultural and trade changes during the Swedish administration.
In this episode we discuss the Swedish style of government in Estonia and how they administered justice.
Everyone has their hand in the cookie jar that is Estonia/Livonia and no clear front runner has emerged. We will wrap up the Livonian War, and at least, a more politically stable era is ahead.
Old Livonia is falling apart and a multitude of newly developed nation states are vying for control.
The Estonian word gets published and some Estonians have access to education. For the development of the cities, especially Tallinn, this era puts some beautiful architecture out. This is a German era however.
In this episode we take a look at the early Catholic Church and the systemic problems it faced and how the Reformation was embraced in Estonia.
Episode 12 : Life of the Peasants after the uprising / and Foreign policy in the 14’th to 16’th Centuries.
The title says it all. Listen to how Estonia attempted to free itself from German rule, yet again.
We look at Estonia during the 13'th and 14'th centuries and learn how the noble class was formed and look at the emergence of manor houses. We dig into foreign policy and describe 2 battles fought on ice. We end the episode with the description of how cities evolved around strongholds.
In this episode we look at the power struggle among the different factions in Old Livonia and learn who gained power where, and how. The Sword Brothers massacre a bunch of Christians seeking sanctuary at a church on Toompea hill.
In this episode the long and bloody fight for freedom comes to an end. The Crusade was too much for the Estonians. It was either conversion or extermination. They are still here!
In this Episode the Danes take Tallinn, but not before a hard fought battle. The Islanders of Saaremaa slaughter the Swedes at Lihula and Valdemar II invades Saaremaa and takes the island. As Valdemar previously experienced, the taking of the territory was the easy part, the holding of the territory was not and the Islanders overthrew the garrison. Inspired by the Islanders, Estonians throughout the land rose in rebellion and freed every territory except for Tallinn.
Archbishop Albert finds himself in a Saaremaa Harbor surrounded by pagans. The Russians force the Crusaders out of Estonia. The Estonians are defeated at the Battle of St. Mathew's Day.
Estonians have the Germans, Livonians and Latgalians attacking from the south, Russians attacking from the east, and Danes attacking from the west. They have seen better decades. 1205-15 : at one point in Podcast my tongue got twisted and I said, "Lagonia"!
In this episode Papal permission is granted to Christianize the Pagans of Livonia and Estonia.
Ran out of time on Episode 3 on my hosting service. This was supposed to be added on to previous episode.
Episode 3 In this episode we introduce the Rus and their interaction with Estonians in ancient times and we go on to introduce ancient Estonian religion and culture, or at least what we know of it.
We start off this episode in the early metal age, where the Estonians learn to produce iron. We talk about agricultural techniques and the development of Estonia's fort system and introduce the vikings.