In an attempt to gain total control over the Baltic population. the Russian Troops used violence. Over 665.000 Estonians. Latvians. and Lithuanians were deported to Siberia where thousands died in concentration camps. The violence continued when Nazi Germany invaded Estonia in 1944. Thousands were killed. but many Estonians managed to escape to freedom in the West. The Soviets regained control in 1944 and the Estonians continued their struggle through the 1950s. The struggle continues today in an attempt by the Estonian people to maintain their individuality and culture. Today. the Estonian population has been declining due to forced relocation of the people and colonization in the country by Russians and other Immigrants. The Soviet Union is establishing Russian as the official language in Estonia in the attempt to break the traditions and values of Estonians. The Estonians face imprisonment if they dare to speak out against the violations of their national and human rights under the Russians.
Keywords matched
deported Immigrants