The significance of ethnicity in the Estonian return migration policy of the early 1920s

Abstract

In this article the Estonian return migration policy is analyzed from the perspective of the return migrants' ethnicity. The time period of this study covers the most intensive phase of the state-organized return of emigrants to the newly established Republic of Estonia. The survey of attitudes of the Estonian authorities towards the return of emigrants with different ethnic backgrounds leads to the conclusions that the return of ethnic Estonians was preferred to the return of non-Estonians during the first years of Estonia's independence on both economic and political grounds. The political loyalty of non-Estonians was doubted in the administrative circles of Estonia which was especially the case with regard to the emigrants that had formerly belonged to the ruling power elites. The negative attitudes towards the return of non-Estonians were further aggravated by the crisis the Estonian economy was facing at that time. As a result, a parallel with the return migration policies of other new nation-states that emerged from the ruins of the Russian empire can be drawn.

Keywords:

• Return migration
• repatriation
• citizenship
• Estonia
• ethnicity

Notes

With the Peace Treaty of Tartu (concluded in February 1920) an opportunity to return to Estonia was granted to prisoners and refugees of war as well as to other persons of Estonian origin who settled in Soviet Russia at that time. While persons belonging to the first category had an opportunity to return by presenting documents that confirmed their leaving of Estonia during the First World War or the War of Independence, all the others of Estonian origin had first to apply for Estonian citizenship. The “Estonian origin” as stipulated in the peace treaty, was interpreted, however, more broadly than just an ethnic origin – in the case of doubt of Estonian origin consideration was given to those persons who were entered into the lists of residents maintained on the territory of Estonia by the former Russian authorities. See, Peace Treaty of Tartu, 2 February 1920, Riigi Teataja 24/25/1920, 188.

Explanatory memorandum, [1920], Estonian State Archives (hereinafter ERA) 14-1-503, 285.

The actuality of the threat posed by the communist subversive activities to Estonian domestic security became very apparent with the communist coup d'état in 1924. Although the coup failed due to the lack of support from the local people, it resulted in multiple deaths, including the death of one of the Estonian ministers.

“Ülearune koorem”, Tallinna Teataja, 17 April 1919, 2; see also “Tallinna tühjendamine välismaalastest”, Postimees, 11 August 1919, 1.

Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 23 September 1920, ERA 957-11-319, 67-68

Estonians in Saratov to Repatriation Commission in Moscow, 24 April 1920, ERA 36-1-20, 11; see also, “Kõvendatud kontroll muulaste Eestisse sõiduks”, Tallinna Teataja, 6 October 1920, 1.

According to statistics, the number of non-Estonians who arrived in Estonia through the border station in Narva in 1920 and 1921 has been estimated at 2,350, that is, approximately 8% of all repatriates arriving from Soviet Russia in these years (Tooms 1922: 13). When considering the significant decline in numbers of repatriates arriving in Estonia from 1922 the total number of non-Estonians that returned to Estonia from Soviet Russia in the early 1920s could be estimated at around 2,800–3,000 (of approximately 45,000 persons who returned to Estonia through the border station in Narva in 1920–1923).

“Meie opteerimise komisjonid võtavad venelasi Eesti kodanikkudeks”, Päevaleht, 18 August 1920, 1; “Meie välisesituste tegevusest Venemaal”, Päevaleht, 27 August 1920, 2; [Editorial], Vaba Maa, 5 October 1920, 2.

See for example, Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 20 June 1921, ERA 957-11-1101, 91; see also ERA 2140-1-76.

Minister of Internal Affairs to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 12 October 1920, ERA 28-1-1, 29; see also, Ministry of Internal Affairs to Department of the Repatriation Commission in Petrograd, 5 November 192, ERA 14-1-479, 575.

Department of the Repatriation Commission in Petrograd to Ministry of Internal Affairs, 19 February 1921, ERA 14-1-522, 87–88.

See Minister of Internal Affairs to Head of State, October 1921, ERA 14-1-482, 288–289.

See for example, Mayor of the Püssi Municipality Government to Viru County Government, 16 March 1921, ERA 14-1-188, 540.

Kaiu Municipality Government to Ministry of Internal Affairs, 10 January 1921, ERA 14-1-188, 460.; see also Võru Municipality Government to Ministry of Internal Affairs, 6 September 1920, ERA 14-1-188, 103; Minister of Internal Affairs to Head of State, October 1921, ERA 14-1-482, 288.

Minutes of the meeting of chiefs of the Security Police stations, 17 June 1921, ERA 14-1-582, 207.

See for example, ERA 14-1-188, 542 and ERA 14-16-1895; ERA 14-1-188, 783 and ERA 14-13-2585; ERA 14-15-718 and ERA 14-1-923.

Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 23 September 1920, ERA 957-11-319, 68; Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 24 May 1920, ERA 14-1-522, 3.

Ministry of Internal Affairs to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 April 1921, ERA 14-1-482, 36.

Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 23 September 1920, ERA 957-11-319, 68.

[Editorial], Vaba Maa, 5 October 1920, 2.

Head of the Border Station in Narva to Chief of the 1st Division of the Estonian Army in 20 September 1920, ERA 501-1-57, 84; Head of the Border Station in Narva to Head of the Border Control Administration, 29 September 1920, ERA 501-1-57, 93.

Head of the Border Station in Narva to Chief of the 1st Division of the Estonian Army, 1 October 1920, ERA 14-1-294, 97–98; Head of the Border Station in Narva to Chief of the 1st Division of the Estonian Army in 22 September 1920, ERA 501-1-57, 85.

Chief of Staff of the 1st Division of the Estonian Army to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of War, 3 October 1920, ERA 28-1-1, 14.

A. Jaakson to Repatriation Commission in Moscow, 2 July 1920, ERA 36-1-20, 265.

Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 23 September 1920, ERA 957-11-319, 68; Minister of Internal Affairs to Minister of Foreign Affairs, July 1921, ERA 1-1-7137, n. pag.

Minutes of the meeting of chiefs of the Security Police stations, 17 June 1921, ERA 14-1-582, 207; Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Moscow to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 24 May 1920, ERA 14-1-522, 3.

Border Station in Narva to Head of the Border Control Administration, 29 April 1920, ERA 501-1-57, 16.