Head of Estonia's government in the independence war, later dictator of the 'era of silence'
A Tallinn lawyer and publisher of the newspaper Teataja, sentenced to death after the 1905 revolution and forced into exile. He led the Salvation Committee's declaration of independence on 24 February 1918, was interned by the German occupiers and took over as head of the provisional government in November. In the first winter of the independence war, with the Red Army 34 kilometres from Tallinn, he held the government together and pushed through British naval support, Laidoner's appointment and conscription. He served several terms as State Elder in the 1920s, and in March 1934, claiming to forestall a takeover by the far-right veterans' movement, he declared a state of emergency with Laidoner, suspended parliament and built the authoritarian regime known as the 'era of silence', becoming the first president in 1938. Deported after the Soviet occupation of 1940, he passed through psychiatric hospitals and prisons and died in a hospital in Kalinin region in 1956.
Related historical events
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionEstonian government leader early in the independence warLed Estonia’s government early in the independence war. He established authoritarian rule with Laidoner in 1934 and died in Soviet custody after deportation following the 1940 occupation.
- 1918.11–1920.10Baltic wars of independence and border settlementsEstonian government leader early in the independence warTook over as head of the provisional government in November 1918 and held it together in the first winter with the Red Army before Tallinn, pushing through Laidoner's appointment, conscription and British naval support.
Revolution and independence wars
Led Estonia’s government early in the independence war. He established authoritarian rule with Laidoner in 1934 and died in Soviet custody after deportation following the 1940 occupation.