ESTONIANS IN THE SOVIET EVACUATION IN THE SOUTH URALS DURING WORLD WAR II

Abstract

The mythologization of history and presence of unexplored aspects in the history of Estonia during the Second World War period prevent the establishing good-neighbourly relations and partnership between Russia and Estonia. Estonians’ life in the evacuation in the Urals is a ‘blank spot’ in the historiography. The article is based on the archival documents and sheds light on the situation of people evacuated from Estonia to the South Urals in the period 1941-1944. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the evacuees’ composition is provided. The difficulties of Estonians’ adaptation in the Soviet rear are elicited. It is concluded that Estonians had the same problems as all evacuees in the USSR. Besides, their situation was worsened by the linguistic barrier, the level of poverty in the Urals in comparison with Estonia, impossibility to lead traditional work, the ignorance of the Soviet laws, the abhorrence of the Soviet system among parts of the evacuees. The problems arising between the locals and Estonian evacuees were caused by the differences in everyday practices and historical and cultural traditions, and not the national or religious identity. The short-term stay of Estonians in the Urals could not lead to cultural or linguistic assimilation.