Prisoners were cruelly tortured and many of those arrested disappeared without any trace. On the night of June 13. 1941. thousands of families were dragged from their beds. forced into trucks and sent in railway cattle cars to forced labor camps in remote parts of the Soviet Union. It is interesting to note that the deportation order had been signed on October 11. 1939. only 13 days after the Soviet Union had signed the socalled mutual assistance pact with Estonia and had pledged not to violate Estonian integrity and independence. Thus the Communists by overpowering military strength and the unrestrained use of terror and brutality crushed another free nation. This rule by force and fear had its beginnings. not in a revolt of the masses as the Soviets would have us believe. but by completely disregarding their pledge to honor a nations right to chart its own course and to direct its own affairs.
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deportation